Connect the Dots Education Services...because every parent can use a little help!

I have spent over 20 years working with families and children as an educator, consultant, and champion. Through the years, one thing has become clear: It can be overwhelming to parent a child, particularly when you are concerned that your child is struggling in school.

During my 8 years as a special education teacher, I saw first-hand how confusing and frustrating it can be for a parent to seek appropriate help for his child.

Many parents don't know where to begin the search for relevant resources. Laws defining the rights of children with disabilities are confusing. Meeting with school professionals can be intimidating. Sitting at a table with teachers, administrators, and other developmental professionals who are experienced and knowledgeable can strip the savviest parent of her confidence.

Advocating for your child's needs can be fraught with emotion. Parents may feel guilt that their child has a unique learning need or other challenge that's interfering with his/her progress in school. They may feel anxious that they won't make the "right" decision to help their child achieve success.

Parents need someone to help them navigate the path to support their child. I created Connect the Dots Education Services to fill this need.

Pam Williams, Principal

Pam is passionate about improving the lives of families and children, and has spent more than 20 years working toward this goal through a variety of roles in the field of human services. She has worked directly with children and parents, with corporations to refine family-friendly benefits strategies, as a parent of twins, and as a special education teacher and case manager. Pam truly understands the impacts of parenting challenges from all points of view.

Through the years Pam has taught grades preschool to 6. Before forming Connect the Dots, she spent 8 years as a special education teacher for grades 5 and 6. She has extensive expertise working with students who face challenges in the areas of expressive language (speaking and writing) and receptive language (reading and listening).

In addition to teaching, Pam has trained child care providers in special education law and curriculum design. She has helped families find high quality child care, and counseled parents regarding child development and strategies for balancing life at work with life at home. Pam also spent 5 years consulting with corporations regarding the development and implementation of employee benefits programs to support working families.

EDUCATION:

M.S. Ed., Special Education and Inclusive Curriculum Design, Wheelock College, Boston, MA

B.A., English, Elementary Education Program, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA

CERTIFICATIONS:

Teacher, Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)

Teacher, Moderate Disabilities (Grades Pre-K to 8)

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement

Wilson Reading Systems Tutor

SPECIALIZED TRAINING:

Advocacy:

SEAT 2.0; Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

Mediation Certificate; MetroWest Mediation

William & Mary Law School Institute of Special Education Advocacy

Wrightslaw Special Education Advocacy Tactics and Strategies Training Center

Wrightslaw Special Education Law Training Center

Federation for Children with Special Needs’ Parent Consultant Training Institute

Additional Graduate Coursework in Special Education:

Assessing and Instructing Students with Literacy Difficulty

Improving Spoken and Written Language Skills

Instructing English Language Learners with Language Based Learning Disabilities

Language Based Program Development (Customized Training for teachers of the Marblehead Public Schools’ Language Based Program through Landmark School Outreach, 3 years)

Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech (LiPS) 

On Cloud Nine Math Program

Study Skills: Strategies to Support Executive Function

Understanding Students with Dyslexia