Meet Melissa (Missy)
The heart behind Missy Bee Advocacy Services
Real talk. Parent to Parent. Parent to Advocate.
Hi, I'm Melissa, but most parents know me as Missy.
If you've found me on TikTok, you probably already know me as Missy Bee. That's the name I've used to connect with parents, share what I've learned, and talk about the things families often struggle with when navigating special education.
But there's more to my story than the name. And if we're going to work together, I want you to know a little about the person behind Missy Bee Advocacy Services.
My professional background gave me more than two decades of experience working with children, families, educators, and school administrators. I hold a master's degree in Educational Leadership, along with additional graduate coursework in business administration, human behavior, and conflict resolution.
But my understanding of special education doesn't come from my professional experience alone.
My husband, Tom, and I have five children and four of our children had IEPs. We've experienced the questions, the meetings, the uncertainty, the difficult conversations, and understand the determination it takes to keep advocating for your child.
We also know that every child's journey is different. We lost one of our children at age 10, three of our children joined through adoption and three of our children graduated high school with IEPs.
These experiences have shaped the way I see advocacy. I know what it's like to understand the language of education professionally and still feel the weight of trying to get the right support for your own child.
For more than 25 years, I've worked in education as a teacher and school administrator in both public and private special education schools.
I understood the educational system from the inside. But it wasn't until my youngest son was diagnosed with autism and ADHD that I truly understood what it feels like to be a parent trying to navigate it.
And honestly? It was a learning experience I never expected—and not always a positive one.
Our family spent years navigating the special education system. From third grade through ninth grade, we found ourselves in a difficult journey with the school district that eventually led us to hire an attorney and go before the State Board of Education.
I knew education. I knew schools. But experiencing the system as a parent was an entirely different world.
I've seen both sides of the IEP table.
“That's when I realized how much a family can need someone in their corner.”
My goal isn't to make the process more complicated or to turn every conversation with a school into a battle. It's to help parents understand their options, prepare for what's ahead, and work toward the educational support their children need.
I started Missy Bee because I want families to have access to knowledge, guidance, and support that I wish we'd had during our own journey.
I've retired from education due to disability, but I haven't retired from caring about children and families.
I miss working with families. I miss helping parents understand what's happening, find answers, and feel more confident in their conversations with schools.
And I want to be honest about something: it is hard to hear about families struggling because they don't know what questions to ask, what information to look for, or how to navigate a process that can feel overwhelming.
Sometimes parents feel like they're expected to understand a system they've never had to navigate before. Sometimes they don't know what options to explore or how to make sure their concerns are heard.
After years of working with thousands of children and families, along with navigating the system for my own children, I've learned a great deal that I want to share.
Why I started Missy Bee Advocacy Services
My approach is compassionate, practical, and strategic. I want to help you understand your child's IEP, organize your concerns, prepare for meetings, and communicate clearly with the school team.
And while I want you to feel supported and confident, I also believe collaboration matters. The goal is to work with the school team, keep the focus on your child, and help make sure the supports and goals the team agrees on are reflected in the IEP.
You shouldn't have to feel like you're walking into every meeting alone, wondering what might happen or what you should say.
That's where I want to help.
When you work with me, I want you to feel like you finally have someone in your corner who understands where you're coming from.
Someone who will listen to your concerns, take your questions seriously, and help you prepare for the conversations ahead.
I'm not here to make you feel like you should already know everything. I'm not here to judge you for being overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure of what to do next.
What it's like to work with me
“You bring your story. I'll help you find your footing.”
