Stronger Together: Co-Teaching, Wellness, and Inclusive Support That Works - Andrea Walker

How do you build a special education program that honors students *and* sustains teachers? In this compelling episode of *Brighter Together*, Andrea Walker—Senior Manager of Student Support Services for KIPP OKC and KIPP Tulsa—unpacks what it takes to serve students with IEPs in high-need urban schools without sacrificing staff wellbeing. From co-teaching models that make inclusion real to “Wellness Wednesdays” and team retreats that preserve mental health, Andrea shows how investing in adults leads to better outcomes for students. She also shares how her own trauma-informed lens as an educator and administrator shapes how she leads—with honesty, humility, and fierce belief in possibility. If you’ve struggled to balance compliance with compassion, or are seeking ideas to retain your SPED staff while lifting up your learners—this episode delivers both strategy and soul. Because when schools support their teams… students soar.