Education Advocates of America

When Jamie Kirschner founded Education Advocates of America, she was not leaving education behind. She was expanding its reach. After nearly three decades as a teacher, administrator, and ESE (Exceptional Student Education) specialist, she had seen too many families of children with disabilities struggle to access the resources guaranteed to them by law. 

“I realized that families were being told half-truths, not out of malice, but because many educators didn’t know all the procedural rights themselves,” Kirschner said. “Once I learned how deep that gap was, I knew I needed to bridge it.” 

That realization became the foundation for an organization now serving clients across multiple states. Education Advocates of America (EAA) works directly with parents, school districts, and community agencies to ensure that children with unique learning needs receive the support and accommodations they are entitled to. 

Kirschner’s journey began in a self-contained classroom of fifteen students, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. “I was twenty years old, with an assistant who was eighty-five,” she recalled. “Some days I cried on the way home because I felt I wasn’t giving those kids what they needed.” 

Her curiosity led her abroad to teach in London, where she studied how international schools approached literacy and social development. Returning home, she served as a special education teacher, ESE coordinator, and later, principal of Edison Park Elementary in Fort Myers, a public school known for integrating the arts into inclusive education. 

“I loved that environment,” she said. “When children with disabilities could shine through art or performance, their confidence in everything else grew.” 

Her years in leadership made one truth undeniable: many families were unaware of their educational rights, and even fewer knew how to advocate effectively for their children. That knowledge gap inspired her to establish a resource that would make those rights accessible and actionable for parents nationwide. 

Kirschner launched Education Advocates of America from her dining room table. “I didn’t even know what an LLC was,” she said with a laugh. “I just knew something had to change.” 

A friend referred her to the Florida SBDC at FGCU, where she met consultant Andrea Walker. What began as a single consultation evolved into a long-term mentorship. 

“I walked in thinking, maybe this is crazy,” Kirschner said. “But Andrea believed in me before I fully believed in myself. She helped me focus my mission, develop my pricing, and connect with the professionals I needed to make it real.” 

Over the course of several months, the SBDC helped her refine every component of her business model, from branding and marketing to accounting and operations. “They took me from concept to structure,” Kirschner said. “They helped me understand not only what I wanted to do, but how to sustain it.” 

Even years later, as EAA expands across state lines, Kirschner still reaches out to the SBDC for guidance. “The classes and webinars they offer are invaluable,” she said. “When I feel like growth is happening too fast, I go back to the foundation they helped me build.” 

Today, EAA employs advocates in multiple states and continues to grow. The agency offers direct advocacy in school meetings, professional development for educators, and guidance for corporations looking to provide educational advocacy as part of their employee benefit programs. 

Kirschner’s long-term vision is national. “Our goal is to be in all fifty states,” she said. “Every family should have access to someone who can help them navigate the system without fear or confusion.” 

Her influence now extends beyond family advocacy. As a founding board member of a national nonprofit, Kirschner will soon travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in conversations on Capitol Hill focused on expanding access to special education resources. 

“I’m not just one voice anymore,” she said. “We are a chorus of advocates speaking together for change.” 

Looking back, Kirschner credits much of her confidence to the encouragement she received from the SBDC at FGCU. “They made me believe this dream was possible,” she said. “They gave me structure, accountability, and perspective. I tell everyone I meet who wants to start a business: call the SBDC.” 

Education Advocates of America continues to expand its impact, working with schools, districts, and families to ensure that children with special needs receive the education they deserve. 

“What drives me every day,” Kirschner said, “is knowing that we’re helping parents find their voice. Once that happens, real change begins.”