In this episode of Brighter Together, Shar Mahoney—Director of Special Education at MSAD 11 in Maine—shares how her personal experiences with dyslexia and classroom struggle shaped the way she supports students, staff, and families today.

 

Shar discusses how to foster mutual respect in IEP meetings, how to navigate emotionally loaded parent conversations, and how to guide families through the often-unspoken grief of transition—when a child no longer qualifies for services.

 

A conversation filled with practical empathy, leadership wisdom, and lived experience that reshapes what advocacy can look like.