We were lucky to catch up with Shemica Allen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shemica, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The overall mission of Personalized Learning Solutions is to assist parents/guardians of students with special needs in their quest for a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state laws protecting children with disabilities. We are seriously committed to building and supporting a collaborative team of parents/guardians, advocate, school personnel, and community resources with an emphasis on continuous assessment of the child’s educational needs in all settings while supporting and guiding the parents/guardians through the process. This was the mission of my business pre-COVID and now that parents want to learn more about their rights and special education laws my mission is to help educate parents so they can become the best advocates for their child and advocate for appropriate educational services. My personal goal is to stop the sharing of wrong/incorrect information to parents therefore sometimes delaying their child’s right to a free an appropriate education.

Shemica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Personalized Learning Solutions, LLC is an educational consulting firm specializing in providing special education advocacy and consultation services to parents/guardians as well trainings to parents & educational professionals. Personalized Learning Solutions, LLC was formed for the expressed purpose of providing parents, guardians, and clients expert assistance and representation as they navigate the maze of Special Education and Section 504 services in the public school systems. Much care and attention is given to parent/guardian concerns and a child’s social, emotional, and educational needs.

Personalized Learning Solutions was awarded two contracts in June 2019 & May 2021 from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for the Vocational Rehabilitation division to offer Employment Services & Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to individuals with disabilities who are receiving employment assistance services. Personalized Learning Solutions is committed to providing the most current development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and Section 504 Plans. Our philosophy is to work collaboratively with schools as well as to help parents/guardians develop a mutually trusting and respectful relationship with the school so the child can be better served. An objective of Personalized Learning Solutions is to help parents and schools work together in the best interest of the child.

Personalized Learning Solutions, LLC was founded by Shemica S. Allen who is a former educator with over 15 years of teaching and administration experience working with students with disabilities and their parents/guardians. Shemica received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas in 1999 and a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a specialization in Adapted Physical Activity in 2005 from Texas Christian University. She is certified to teach Special Education and Physical Education and also received her Principal certification in 2010.

Shemica actually began her teaching career in 2000 teaching cardiac education classes in two cardiac rehabilitation programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She started subbing and teaching in public education in 2000 and her first teaching position was teaching Adapted Physical Education and coaching Special Olympics in Fort Worth ISD. She later moved on to teach a self-contained Life Skills class and coach Special Olympics at a middle school in Mansfield ISD. She kept advancing her career in the area of Special Education after she received her Principal certification and later gained experience as a Lead Case Manager/Response to Intervention Coordinator at a middle school in Crowley ISD, Special Education Team Lead at a high school in McKinney ISD, and Vocational Adjustment Coordinator in Garland ISD. She also has experience as a Content Mastery Teacher, Homebound Teacher, and In Home Trainer. Shemica has completed the Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) which is a nationally developed and recognized year-long course that will help her better serve current and future clients. SEAT is a year-long course funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded to the University of Southern California’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities in partnership with COPAA. She also has completed Advanced Advocate Training: Representing Parents in Impartial Hearings through COPAA. Shemica has attended hundreds of ARD/IEP, 504, and Student Support Team (SST) meetings. Shemica also has extensive training in facilitating Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD)/IEP committee meetings which requires effective communication, problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution.

Current Work With Organizations:

Named to the Continuing Advisory Committee for Special Education (CAC) for Texas in December 2017 to help make decisions that will improve Special Education in the state. Shemica was elected Co-Vice Chair of the CAC in February 2018 and Secretary in February 2019 & 2020.

Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0 Instructor & Teaching Assistant where she will help to train others to advocate for students with disabilities.

Previous Grants Manager for Dominique CARES helping the non-profit with it’s Parent Empowerment Workshops.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been marketing using social media. Personalized Learning Solutions has both a Facebook and Instagram page where information on special education topics, events, etc. is posted daily. Shemica has started a private parents Facebook group called Special Education IEP & 504 Plan Support Group. The main purpose of the group is to be a place for parents & guardians to ask questions and share their experiences with the special education process in their respective district.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for Personalized Learning Solutions is client referral and social media following. Excellent customer service is a key component to our business structure which leads to many client referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://personalizedlearningforall.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personalizedlearningsolutions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/personalizedlearningsolutions & https://www.facebook.com/groups/iepand504plansupportgroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemicasallen/