Building Effective Education Systems with Meagan Gillcrist

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 76 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, Frances Shefter speaks with Meagan Gillcrist, the Executive Director and Founder of AlignEd. Meagan shares her journey, from over a decade of experience as a special education teacher to overseeing special education programming and ultimately founding AlignEd. AlignEd is focused on creating systems to support both general and special education before the need for formalized IEPs arises, emphasizing proactive strategies to ensure the success of students and teachers alike.  Episode Summary: Introduction:  Frances Shefter, host of Stress-Free IEP®, welcomes Meagan Gillcrist, Executive Director and founder of AlignEd (https://www.aligneducation.org), an organization dedicated to helping schools implement effective systems that bridge the gap between general and special education. In this episode, they explore how Meagan uses her extensive experience as a special educator to create practical, sustainable frameworks that support teachers in meeting diverse student needs. The discussion focuses on building systems that proactively support students, reduce teacher burnout, and ensure that Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are implemented with fidelity. Conclusion:  The episode concludes with Meagan encouraging schools to focus on resourcing what they already have and collaborating with teachers to implement systems effectively. She offers her services to schools nationwide and provides contact information for those interested in AlignEd’s support. Learn more about Meagan Gillcrist:  * Connect with Meagan on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/meagan-gillcrist   * Follow AlignEd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aligneducation  * Visit AlignEd’s Website: http://www.aligneducation.org   * Follow AlignEd on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aligned4success *********************************** Stress-Free IEP®:  Frances Shefter is an Education Attorney and Advocate who is committed to helping her clients have a Stress-Free IEP® experience. In each podcast, Frances interviews inspiring people to share information, educate you, empower you and help you get the knowledge you need. Watch more episodes of Stress-Free IEP®:  * On website: https://shefterlaw.com/blog  * On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCff0foIeCETrWbtsQSDwckQ Connect and learn more from your host, Frances Shefter:  * https://shefterlaw.com/#contact-me  * https://shefterlaw.com  * https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesshefter  * https://www.facebook.com/ShefterLawPA  * https://twitter.com/shefterlawpa  * https://www.instagram.com/shefterlawpa  * https://www.tiktok.com/@shefterlawpa