Jannean Dixon had always wanted a career in which she could help people, but as a student she didn’t know in what capacity.
She initially enrolled in nursing school at Southeastern Louisiana University but found it wasn’t what she was looking for. That’s when a friend suggested she take a course in special education.
“I had never had any experience with anyone with special needs, but from the very first day I was hooked,” says Dixon. “It was such a profound challenge—but one that would be life-changing for the people you were going to help.”
As Business Reports details in its latest Entrepreneur feature from the new issue, Dixon is now working to build her new business, Cornerstone Educational Consulting, after spending 10 years as a special education teacher. The firm helps parents of special needs children navigate the educational system and the Individualized Education Program process.
Dixon says she’s excited about how her new venture will allow her to help special needs children and their parents. All special needs children are required to have an IEP outlining a child’s learning needs, services the school will provide and how progress will be measured.
The IEP process can be a complicated and stressful time for parents, whose child’s education depends on the document being properly prepared.
“I’ve had moms who have called me in tears because they’ve just gotten notice that the IEP meeting is coming up,” Dixon says. As the mother of two young girls, she understands the anxiety.
“These parents are like all parents—their child is the center of their world,” she says. “When you can ease a mother’s mind and give her some hope and confidence, it’s just so rewarding.”
Dixon has about a dozen clients thus far, and she made the tough decision to stop teaching in order to focus on building her business. She’s also ramping up her efforts to get the word out about her firm and aims to have 40 clients by the end of the year.
Read the full Entrepreneur feature. Send you comments to editors@businessreport.com.
