Your Next Podcast Guest

DJ will help move your listeners from from simply managing a classroom to truly inspiring every kid in it.

With over 31 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach and training facilitator, DJ has moved from the front lines of education to founding Inclusiveology, a business dedicated to transforming how we support neurodivergent kids and those that simply learn differently.

DJ will take your audience behind the scenes of an instructional model that moves the needle for so many kids and frees up space for teachers to facilitate learning rather than lecturing.

DJ, a smiling woman with blonde hair and tortoiseshell glasses, stands with arms crossed wearing a white blazer over a blue floral dress with a brown belt. She radiates warmth and confidence. Sunlit bare branches create a soft golden background behind her.

What Does Your Audience Want To Know?

Session Topics

General Education Teachers

From “sage on the stage” to “guide on the side”: How to stop doing all the work and start building independent learners.

Teachers are exhausted because they’re carrying too much. This topic makes the case that releasing learning to kids isn’t just good pedagogy, it’s how teachers reclaim their time and energy.}

Talking points

  • Why the “I Do, We Do, You Do” model changes everything for diverse learners
  • What student-led learning actually looks like in a K–8 classroom
  • The mindset shift from problem-solver to solution-centered facilitator
  • One thing a teacher can try tomorrow to start releasing responsibility to kids

Special Education Teachers

Inclusion isn’t a placement, it’s a culture: what belonging really looks like for neurodivergent kids.

Districts say the word “inclusion” constantly, but few classrooms truly practice it. This topic reframes inclusion as a daily, relationship-centered practice, not a compliance checkbox.

Talking points

  • Language matters: person-first language and the words that build (or break) belonging
  • The difference between physical presence and genuine belonging in a classroom
  • How lived experience with neurodivergency shapes DJ’s approach to advocacy
  • Reframing neurodivergency as a strength, not a deficit to be fixed

Overwhelmed Teachers

You can’t pour from an empty cup: building sustainable, inclusive teaching practices without burning out.

Inclusive teaching sounds like more work to an exhausted teacher. This topic makes the case that the right systems and structures actually give time back, and that teacher wellness is the foundation of student success.

Talking points

  • The role of predictable routines and clear structures in calmer classrooms
  • Why inclusion done right reduces teacher workload, not increases it
  • Addressing the fear of “not doing enough” for diverse learners
  • What it looks like to leave school proud instead of depleted

instructional Coaches & School Leaders

The toolbox every teacher needs: practical assistive technology and low-tech tools that level the playing field for every kid.

Assistive technology isn’t just for kids with IEPs. This topic gives coaches and leaders a practical framework for building school-wide tool fluency that removes barriers for all learners.

Talking points

  • The misconception that AT is only for kids with an IEP or 504 Plan
  • DJ’s favorite low-tech and high-tech tools that are classroom-ready today
  • How Universal Design for Learning shifts the design of instruction, not just the accommodations
  • What coaches can do to build a school-wide “toolbox” culture

Homeschool Families & Parents of Neurodivergent Kids

Presumed competence: raising and teaching kids who learn differently with confidence and joy.

Parents and homeschool families of neurodivergent children often don’t know where to start. This topic meets them with warmth, practical tools, and the foundational belief that every kid is capable.

Talking points

  • What “presumed competence” means and why it changes everything for a child
  • Debunking the myth that kids with disabilities need a separate setting to thrive
  • Simple strategies from the Gradual Release Model that translate beautifully to home learning
  • DJ’s personal story: growing up with a neurodivergent sibling and what it taught her

Let’s Get Into A Great Conversation!

Suggested Interview Questions

  • You’ve had an extensive career in education spanning over three decades. What was the specific moment or “spark” that led you to transition from the classroom to founding your own business?
  • “Inclusion” is a buzzword in many districts, but it’s often misunderstood. In your view, what does true inclusion actually look like in a daily classroom setting?
  • What is the core mission that drives your work every day, and why is it so critical for the current educational landscape?
  • How has your perspective on teaching and leadership shifted from your first year in the classroom to where you are today?
  • You are a strong advocate for the “I Do, We Do, You Do” framework. Why is this model the “one that works” for fostering student learning and independence? For a teacher listening who feels overwhelmed, what are the essential components of the Gradual Release Model they can implement tomorrow?
  • What are some of your favorite “low-tech” or “high-tech” tools that help remove barriers for neurodivergent students or those with disabilities?
  • Can you share a personal story – perhaps about a specific student or a “failed” lesson – that fundamentally changed how you view student-centered learning?
  • How has your own background and personal history shaped the way you approach advocacy and relationship-building in schools?
  • If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about how we support and grow teachers today, what would it be?
  • You’ve built a vibrant platform for educators. Where can our listeners go to find your resources, join your community, and continue the conversation?
DJ, a woman with blonde hair and tortoiseshell glasses, gazes thoughtfully upward with her chin resting on her hand. She wears a white blazer over a blue floral top. Warm, sunlit bare branches are softly blurred in the background.

Ready to bring this conversation to your listeners?

DJ would love to connect and explore the best fit for your audience, format, and goals.

Every episode is an opportunity to equip one more educator with the tools, mindset, and confidence to build a classroom where every kid belongs. 💙

Request DJ