KF

Kathy Freeman

Educational Diagnostician at Amarillo Independent School District

I’m Kathy Freeman, an educational diagnostician, teacher, and advocate with 40 years of experience working with students of all abilities. I’ve spent my career helping children, families, and educators understand the learning process and how to support students in reaching their full potential. Throughout my years in education, I’ve worked with students across the spectrum, from those in general education to those with significant learning, behavioral, and developmental disabilities. My work has always centered on collaboration: partnering with teachers, parents, and school teams to identify student needs, develop effective interventions, and create meaningful Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). As the parent of an adult son with special needs, my professional and personal worlds often overlap. That dual perspective has given me a deeper understanding of how emotional, complex, and rewarding the journey through special education can be for families. It is what drives my passion for helping others navigate the system with confidence and compassion. These days, I write about education, inclusion, and advocacy. I advocate for parents and children with disabilities, helping them navigate the complex world of special education and secure the services and supports their students need to succeed.

Articles

Cover image for Implicit Bias in the IEP Room: Rethinking Referrals, Labels, and ‘Readiness
Education
Implicit Bias in the IEP Room: Rethinking Referrals, Labels, and ‘Readiness
<p class="mb-4">One of the most effective ways to manage bias in educational settings is to confront it directly through structured professional devel...
December 17, 2025Read article
Cover image for The Power of Connection: Finding Purpose in Every Child We Serve
Education
The Power of Connection: Finding Purpose in Every Child We Serve
<p class="mb-4">A phrase that I have based my entire career as an educational diagnostician, as well as a parent, is this: "The decisions that we make...
December 13, 2025Read article
Cover image for The Quiet Crisis: Supporting the Mental Health of Special Needs Caregivers
Health and Mental Wellness
The Quiet Crisis: Supporting the Mental Health of Special Needs Caregivers
<p class="mb-4">Supporting the mental health of parents raising children with special needs requires intentional, sustained efforts by local agencies,...
December 7, 2025Read article
Cover image for Start at 14: Early Planning for Services, Waivers, and Work
Education
Start at 14: Early Planning for Services, Waivers, and Work
<p class="mb-4">One of the most effective ways to address the gap between school and adult services is to start planning early. While federal law unde...
December 5, 2025Read article
Cover image for Literacy-Rich Homes: Simple Ways Families Can Grow Strong Readers​
Education
Literacy-Rich Homes: Simple Ways Families Can Grow Strong Readers​
<p class="mb-4">To support early literacy, families can shape their home environments in ways that naturally invite reading. This doesn't require expe...
November 27, 2025Read article
Cover image for The Literacy Link: How Language Development Drives School Success
EducationCommunication and Speech
The Literacy Link: How Language Development Drives School Success
<p class="mb-4">Language is more than words, it’s connection, culture, and the foundation for every learning experience a child will have.</p><p class...
November 26, 2025Read article
Cover image for Family Feud Over Fractions: Why Homework Sparks Household Tension
Education
Family Feud Over Fractions: Why Homework Sparks Household Tension
<p class="mb-4">Many families experience homework as a daily source of stress rather than a meaningful educational activity. After a full school day, ...
November 25, 2025Read article
Cover image for The Power of Purpose: Lessons from a Teacher’s Life Redirected
Education
The Power of Purpose: Lessons from a Teacher’s Life Redirected
<p class="mb-4">Teaching doesn’t start as a job, it starts as a whisper in your heart that says, <em>“This is where you’re meant to be.”</em></p><p cl...
November 19, 2025Read article
Cover image for Paused Progress: How Screen Time Is Rewiring Childhood Milestones
Education
Paused Progress: How Screen Time Is Rewiring Childhood Milestones
<p class="mb-4">As an educator with decades of experience, I have watched a noticeable shift in young children’s developmental readiness. Children ent...
November 18, 2025Read article
Cover image for When Shop Class Disappears: The Silent Crisis in Hands-On Learning
Education
When Shop Class Disappears: The Silent Crisis in Hands-On Learning
<p class="mb-4">Over the past few decades, many high schools have scaled back or eliminated hands-on programs like shop class, auto repair, woodworkin...
November 12, 2025Read article
Cover image for Creating Thinkers, Not Memorizers: The Future of Educational Practice
Education
Creating Thinkers, Not Memorizers: The Future of Educational Practice
<p class="mb-4">My son, a college student studying wildlife biology, has always had a remarkable ability to retain facts about animals. He can recite ...
November 10, 2025Read article
Cover image for Hunger in the Classroom: The Urgent Need for School-Based Food Security
Education
Hunger in the Classroom: The Urgent Need for School-Based Food Security
<p class="mb-4">As educators, we witness the harsh realities of child hunger with painful regularity. Students arrive at school exhausted, irritable, ...
November 9, 2025Read article
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