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The Ohio Parent Mentor Project is excited to welcome Barbara Beal as a new Parent Mentor for the North Central Educational Service Center, bringing years of experience supporting children with disabilities, families, and educators.
Barbara served as a teacher and Disability Coordinator for Head Start, having worked with children, families, educators, therapists, and school teams. Those experiences have given her a strong understanding of how communication, collaboration, and trusting relationships can help families feel supported as they navigate their child’s education.
Barbara also brings the perspective of a parent. As a mother of two children, Barbara supported her son throughout his 13 years of school as he navigated a speech and language disability. That experience strengthened her commitment to understanding the needs of children with disabilities and helping families become confident partners in their child’s education.
As a Parent Mentor, Barbara looks forward to helping parents better understand and navigate their child’s special education journey, build confidence in communicating for their needs, and develop strong, collaborative relationships with their school teams.