About Us
Jen and Laura first met while helping a family through the IEP process. They bonded instantly over their mutual passion to educate parents about raising their expectations for their children, especially those children the system has failed, and their efforts to help parents and children do so. They especially enjoy teaming up to figure out why a child is not making appropriate educational progress and then finding the right solution to ensure the child can close the gap with their peers . IEP Prep Online, LLC, was soon born so they could share their knowledge and experience with as many families as possible.
About Jen
Jen Feerick started her career as an attorney in New York City. She began advocating for the children of family and friends early in her legal career and quickly realized how often the needs of students in the special education system were left unmet. Before she knew it, Jen’s passion for special education advocacy was ignited and she became a devoted champion for families and children with special education needs. After she moved to California, she started working as a non-legal advocate for such families and students on a pro bono basis. She currently focuses on helping parents to find the right educational solutions for their students and encouraging them to work cooperatively with their school districts to create meaningful IEPs.
In 2017, Jen earned her Certificate in Special Education Advocacy from the PELE Institute in Special Education Advocacy at William & Mary Law School. She continues her special education advocacy education through her attendance at COPAA Conferences.
Also, in 2017, Jen founded Feerick Advocacy, LLC, and discovered a particular love for helping families advocate for appropriate reading services for students with dyslexia, an issue that was close to her heart because of its prevalence among her extended family members. She also assisted families with children who had other learning struggles as well, including autism, ADHD, dyscalculia, mental health diagnoses, behavior challenges, etc. She found the implementation of strategy in the special education process to be the most important aspect of her work. Jen always finds time for pro bono special education advocacy services, where she emphasizes parent education and mentoring. In doing that work, Jen has created a loving and educated network of parents whom she now asks to attend IEP meetings with any new pro bono clients, always taking the time to prepare them both beforehand.
In order to continue empowering and educating parents, Jen, along with her partner, Laura Cannon, recently founded this online education advocacy and coaching resource for parents called IEP Prep Online, LLC.
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Some fun facts about Jen: She enjoys spending time outdoors, whether it is hiking, walking her wheaten terrier, or relaxing at the beach. Jen is a certified yoga teacher, works out regularly, and loves spending time with her family and friends. In addition to passionately researching IEP topics and remediation programs, Jen spends countless hours reading about health and fitness.
Education
Fordham University School of Law
Juris Doctor
SUNY: Environmental Science and Forestry
B.S. Environmental Studies
Work Experience
Feerick Advocacy, LLC
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Guided parents in the development of appropriate individualized education plans, section 504 plans and other education plans.
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Reviewed and interpreted educational and neuropsychological assessments, explained the same to parents, along with the significance thereof, and then assisted parents in advocating for appropriate educational solutions based upon such assessments, which included remedial education, accommodations and assistive technology based solutions.
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Counseled, educated and mentored parents throughout the special education process, helping them to developed data-based progress monitoring plans and to use that data to advocate for research-based services specific to their children’s needs, all while working collaboratively and maintaining positive relationships with district personnel.
Feerick Nugent & McCartney, PLLC
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Litigation attorney with a particular focus on motion and appellate practice. Practice areas include civil rights, property rights, constitutional law, municipal law, and education law.
New York State Appellate Division, First Dep't
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Considered and reviewed the appellate record and applicable law in assigned criminal and civl cases, summarized the same for the Court, made recommendations on the outcome of the appeals, and prepared draft affirmations.
Walsh & Sheehan, LLC
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Litigated with an emphasis on professional malpractice defense, products liability, employment law, and reinsurance matters.
About Laura
Laura Cannon is primarily a reading specialist. She has brought scores of children up to grade level in reading. She began her career as a community college reading and writing instructor. While teaching and tutoring students just below the English Comp 101 level, she recognized that some of her highly intelligent students had difficulties with fundamental literacy skills. Determined to understand their underlying deficits and to help her students achieve their goals in higher education and beyond, Laura pursued and obtained a Master of Arts degree as a Reading Specialist from Columbia University’s Teacher College, a program accredited by the International Dyslexia Association.
Soon thereafter, Laura launched a private practice dedicated to providing individualized, literacy instruction for children and adolescents with reading difficulties and learning disabilities, including dyslexia and dysgraphia. She has a particular love for investigating and providing the extra supports needed for some students with profound dyslexia to learn to read. When her client base grew into a full-time roster, she decided to leave the community college environment in order to help her younger students reach their full potential.
Driven by her belief that receiving an appropriate education is a social justice issue, Laura began advocating for her clients at IEP meetings. In 2018, Jen Feerick asked Laura to attend an IEP meeting for a client and serve as an expert in dyslexia at the meeting. Jen’s detailed IEP preparation, and ultimate success for that parent, was an incredible eye-opener for Laura. Through Jen’s mentorship, Laura quickly learned how to use her knowledge of psychoeducational evaluations and reading research to bring the science of dyslexia and other learning disabilities into IEP meetings. In the process, she learned that empowering parents to advocate for their children parallels the profound satisfaction of witnessing her students turn self-doubt into confidence.
Because of their mutual devotion to raising expectations for parents and their children with learning disabilities, Laura joined Jen in creating IEP Prep Online, LLC, a passion project for them where they can share their IEP knowledge and experience.
Education
Columbia University, Teacher College
Master of Arts, Reading Specialist
CUNY: Hunter College
Bachelor of Arts, English
Work Experience
Reading Specialist
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For nearly 20 years, Laura has worked as a Reading Specialist, tutoring and remediating students with dyslexia and dysgraphia. She has brought scores of students to grade level and takes pride in helping those who others have been unable to help. She has been successfully self-employed for this entire time and currently has a full schedule​
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For her clients, Laura attends and advocates for their needs at IEP meetings, explains her expecations for the student to the parents, identifies their educational needs, and helps them create a plan of action for serving those needs.​
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Laura uses research-based methods such as Yoshimoto Orton Gillingham, The Writing Revolution, and RAVE-O.
Rockland Community College
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As Adjust Instructor, Laura taught and tutored students just below the English Comp 101 level.