From Classroom to Advocacy: Why Alan Driggers Left Teaching to Fight for Families

What happens when a seasoned special education teacher realizes the system isn't built to support the very students it's supposed to serve?In this powerful conversation, Karen Mayer Cunningham sits down with former educator Alan Driggers, who recently left the classroom after 14 years to become a full-time special education advocate. Alan shares what it's really like behind the scenes in public education: the lack of training, inconsistent processes, data collection failures, and systemic barriers that leave both teachers and students in the dark.You’ll hear:Why Alan became the 504 coordinator with zero trainingWhat happens when advocates show up—and schools call in their attorneysWhy behavior support programs fail without accountabilityThe real reason many students never get evaluated under Child FindWhat led Alan to finally walk away and join the advocacy movementHow teachers are unintentionally getting it wrong—and how it impacts IEPsWhether you’re a parent, teacher, or advocate, this episode will open your eyes to the cracks in the system—and how one educator decided to do something about it.Mentioned in this episode:The 2-Day Special Education Advocacy IntensiveThe Academy: 250+ hours of training for anyone who sits at the IEP/504 tableJoin the waitlist for the Advocate MastermindEmail: [email protected]. Learn. Lead. Support the show✨ When we get it right for the child, we get it right for everybody. ✨👩‍⚖️ Hosted by Karen Mayer Cunningham, Advocate & Special Education Boss®Each week, Karen shares real stories, legal insights, and no-nonsense strategies to help you navigate special education with clarity and confidence.👉 Subscribe & never miss an episode — new episodes drop every week!🎓 Join The Academy: Weekly live trainings + 250+ hours of advocacy tools & expert resources🔗 Learn more at The Epic IEP™ Academy  First month free, after that, cancel anytime. 📱 Follow Karen on:TikTok & Instagram: @specialeducationbossYouTube: Special Education Academy🧠 Want to level up your advocacy game?Check out the Advocate's Bookshelf — a curated collection of must-have tools, guides, and legal references every special education advocate should own. From federal code to diagnostic manuals, these are the essentials that help you advocate with clarity and confidence.📚 Browse now: https://amzn.to/3RiQPLl(As an Amazon Associate, Karen may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.)Because when...