I know special education from inside the system.
I hold a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. I spent years in the classroom teaching special education across a range of eligibility categories, and I chaired a special education department before moving to the district level.
As a Compliance Specialist, I oversaw special education practices and operational frameworks district-wide, and I’ve also worked in private day school settings with students across the full range of need. I know what IDEA and Arizona law establish for student and parent rights, and how those requirements are applied in practice. That work showed me how much a family’s understanding of the process can change the outcome for their child.
I believe every student is capable, and deserves access to their peers and their curriculum in the environment that best fits their strengths and needs. That belief is why I do this work. I help families become informed and equal partners with their child’s school team so that families can participate meaningfully in decisions about their child while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the student.
Jamie Mitchell, M.Ed.
Founder
A School Shaped by What Families Need
The evaluations, IEPs, school decisions, and family experiences I encounter through this work continue to sharpen my understanding of what children and families need from a school.
That perspective is helping shape Luminate Academy of Arizona, a private special education school being developed around specialized instruction, meaningful family partnership, responsive support, and a clearer connection between what a student needs and what happens in the classroom.
Families who want to help build it before it opens can become a Founding Family.
Get clear before the next decision.
Start with a complimentary 30 minute consultation to identify what deserves closer attention, what information may still be needed, and which level of Luminate support best matches your family’s needs.