What If Every Classroom Had a Special Ed Teacher—Every Day?

What if the dream of fully inclusive education wasn’t just a dream? In this episode of Brighter Together, we explore a radical vision with Heather Rupert, Special Education Coordinator and School Psychologist at Penn Hills Charter School. What happens when entrepreneurship meets equity in a K–8 classroom? Heather reveals how students—some as young as five—are interviewing for jobs, running real businesses, and gaining life skills before they even reach high school. But it’s not just about innovation. It’s about inclusion. Heather challenges the norms with her call for a special education teacher in every classroom. Every day. Her co-teaching dream flips the conversation on access and support—and dares us to think differently about what’s possible. If you’re a school leader, educator, or policymaker tired of Band-Aids and ready for bold, system-level change—this conversation is for you.