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Consulting
Consulting for Schools and Districts
I partner with schools, districts, charter schools, and higher education institutions to design and strengthen systems that better serve students across a range of identities and learning needs.
My work is grounded in over 40 years in special education and school leadership, with a focus on practical, sustainable approaches that support both students and educators.
This includes extensive experience designing and leading programs for students with complex learning, behavioral, and mental health needs across the full continuum of services, from inclusive settings to substantially separate programs.
In charter school settings, this work has also included leading schoolwide approaches to support multilingual learners when dedicated structures were not yet in place.
Special Education, Neurodiversity & Complex Learners
Support for schools, districts, charter schools, and organizations seeking to strengthen special education systems while building inclusive, neurodiversity~affirming supports for autistic students and other complex learners.
About Ferone Educational Consulting
Established in 2017, Ferone Educational Consulting builds on more than three decades of consulting experience and over 40 years of educational leadership. The firm provides consulting, coaching, professional development, and technical assistance to educational organizations.
Ferone Educational Consulting is a woman-owned business that collaborates with a diverse network of trusted colleagues and specialists to provide customized support based on the unique needs of each project.
Approach
Schools are often working to meet increasingly complex student needs while navigating competing demands.
My work begins with understanding your context — what is working, what is getting in the way, and where support is most needed. From there, we develop practical approaches that strengthen systems and classroom practice without adding unnecessary burden.
with Author Christopher Emdin
How I Support Schools
Program Design & Systems
⦿ Evaluation and redesign of existing programs
⦿ Development of a continuum of services, including inclusive and substantially separate settings
⦿ Design and leadership of programs for students with complex learning, behavioral, and mental health needs
⦿ Alignment of programming with student needs and school capacity
Complex Learners
⦿ Support for students with disabilities and neurodivergent learners
⦿ Development of structures for students requiring more intensive supports
⦿ Balancing inclusive practices with specialized programming
⦿ Consideration of multilingual learners within special education systems, particularly where dedicated esl structures are limited
Mental Health & SEL
⦿ Development of school~based systems to support student mental health
⦿ Programming for students with anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges
⦿ Support for students returning from hospitalization or extended absence
Training & Coaching
⦿ Professional development for educators and school teams
⦿ Coaching to support implementation
⦿ Practical, immediately applicable strategies
Compliance & Review
⦿ Alignment With IDEA and state Guidelines
⦿ Support For Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM)
⦿ Reviews, accreditation, and Inspections
⦿ Data Collection, analysis, and reporting
Post-Secondary Transition
⦿ Development and review of transition processes
⦿ Student-centered collaboration with state agencies and key partners
⦿ Planning for post~secondary outcomes including college, training, and employment
Charter School Special Education
Charter schools, as independent LEAs, often face unique challenges in designing and implementing effective systems to support diverse learners.
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I have extensive experience working with charter schools, including founding and leading special education departments, coaching special education leaders, conducting program reviews and audits, and providing professional development to educators and leadership teams.
This work includes:
Designing special education systems from the ground up
Strengthening programs for compliance and effectiveness
Coaching special education directors and school leaders
Providing professional development for educators and leadership teams
Integrating multilingual learner supports and special education services
Evaluating special education programs and preparing schools for compliance reviews and monitoring
Janet’s consulting provided both meaningful group collaboration and individualized leadership support throughout the process. The workshops fostered reflection, shared learning, and authentic staff engagement, while the executive coaching strengthened my confidence and effectiveness as a leader. I especially valued her ability to bring deep expertise to the work while ensuring that student voice remained central in decision-making, leading to stronger and more inclusive outcomes for both staff and students.​​
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Kenyon Davis
Strand Specialist (Behavior Program), Boston Public Schools
Working with Janet was an outstanding experience for our district. Her professional development series on culturally responsive educational practices was thoughtful, engaging, and deeply impactful for our cohort of educators. Participants left each session with practical strategies, meaningful opportunities for reflection, and a stronger understanding of how to create inclusive and supportive learning environments. Janet’s expertise, professionalism, and ability to connect with educators made this series a valuable experience for our schools and district community.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Melanie Curtin
Superintendent, Weymouth Public Schools
Within the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program’s gender equity initiative, Janet connected Fellows with local nonprofits, higher education resources, internships, and professional opportunities throughout the year. She also presented on gender equity initiatives as part of a seminar series that included Noam Chomsky. She was an invaluable asset to our program.​​​
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Cyrus Konstantinakos
Asst. Director, Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program, Boston University
