As staffing shortages worsen and special education referral rates increase beyond capacity, Oakring focuses on supporting the special education compliance needs of K-12 schools. We partner with K-12 schools that need support related to diagnostician training needs, early career mentorship for school psychologists, professional development for educators, eligibility auditing, and psychoeducational evaluation procedures.

Oakring specializes in helping teams improve the integrity, consistency, and efficiency of their evaluation processes, whether it’s from the initial stages of referral or when an evaluation is at eligibility determination. Whether you’re facing audit risk, staffing transitions, difficulty interpreting or using referral data, or workflow challenges, we offer practical consulting support that meets your district where it is.

The story. One year into her licensed career as a school psychologist, Emily became the only school psychologist at a 10-building district. Staring down 32 referrals for early childhood and K-12 students for the month of September alone, Emily streamlined evaluation processes, redesigned testing procedures, trained new diagnostician staff, and developed virtual assessment methods that remain in use. She also drank a lot of coffee (like, a whole lot).

Your colleague. Emily is an experienced educator and licensed school psychologist, with a commitment to helping schools serve students with care, clarity, and compliance. She has a passion for building strengths-based supports that lead to long-term success for students and the educators who support them. With over a decade of experience in K-12 and higher education, and having completed 600+ IEP evaluations from consent to eligibility, she has experienced the day-to-day challenges of special education compliance. Colleagues recognize her for making technical processes feel simple, with work that is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and humble expertise. She founded Oakring to help public schools navigate the difficulties of special education compliance, without losing sight of the students.

The nitty-gritty. Emily is a school psychologist with active licensure in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Her background includes work as a school psychologist at a large school district in Northeast Indiana and, before that, as a full-time professor and academic program director at a nonprofit university. She continues to teach psychology as an adjunct professor, with a focus on child development, child psychopathology, and psychological assessment.

Learn more about Emily here.

The name Oakring is inspired by the rings of an oak tree. Some rings mark seasons of ideal conditions and flourishing; others mark seasons affected by strain or fire. Each ring tells a story of growth and resilience over time; together, the rings signify our experiences and identity.

Oakring’s work in special education compliance is rooted in the idea that our growth includes challenge, support, and progress. We partner with public schools to support compliance processes from referral to eligibility with care, clarity, and respect for the people doing the work and for the students we serve.

Just like the rings of an oak, every success and every challenge shapes our identity. Together, we grow.