Meet Our Team

Meet Our Professional Special Education Advocates

All our advocates have extensive training and a solid background in the provision of special education services and support to students with disabilities.

Melissa Mangino

Owner and Special Education Advocate

Melissa is excited to help parents across the country navigate the school system, negotiate IEP & 504 plans, and consult in complex casework, including behavior and gifted. Melissa has an “insiders perspective” as an experienced district Special Education Senior Supervisor, a district Supervisor over inclusionary practices, a district-level compliance teacher, and a school-level ESE coordinator and ESE teacher. This in-depth experience serves as the foundation for her practice. The services provided are founded upon understanding and a collaborative framework rather than conflict and adversarial relations.

Melissa is the oldest of 5 children, and growing up, she served as an advocate for her brother, who was diagnosed with Aspergers at a young age. Melissa has a degree in education and is certified in Exceptional Student Education. While Melissa was obtaining her Master’s degree from Barry University, she interned as a special education teacher for students with Autism. She gained more personal experience by working so closely with students with profound disabilities. Melissa has in-depth experience in inclusionary practices, extensive knowledge of state board statutes and rules, and has developed procedures and processes based on special education best practices and legalities across the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This experience allows Melissa to be able to advocate for families who need support navigating the educational system at any level from Pre-K to FAPE 22.

By understanding and identifying with families of children with disabilities, Melissa became passionate about advocating for students in the school system and is excited to work with families in developing a mutual understanding between school and home.

Melissa can be reached directly at melissa@florida-advocate.com.

Gina is thrilled to help parents navigate and understand the complex system of special education. Since graduating from college in 2013, she has had the opportunity to learn and negotiate the complex world of special education. Gina has personally facilitated 500+ IEP meetings, 400+ Manifestation Determination Meetings, and 100+ meetings with advocate/attorney representation to resolve a variety of conflicts. Gina started her educational journey as an Exceptional Student Education Teacher in 2013 at a charter school where her love and passion for special needs students continued to grow. In 2019, Gina shifted her career from the classroom to a district-level Resolution Specialist to gain another perspective on the complex world of special education. Through this lens, she was able to help families and schools work through adversity and find a resolution to a variety of different conflicts. At a very young age, Gina met a young lady with Down’s Syndrome and formed a close friendship that continued to grow over the years. From that day on, she knew she was meant to advocate for children with disabilities. Gina has a degree in Elementary Education (K-6), Exceptional Student Education (K-12), Reading Endorsement, and ESOL Endorsement and has extensive training and exposure through internships with St. Petersburg College. Gina also obtained a certificate for successfully participating in and completing an IEP Mentorship Course in 2022. The focus of Gina’s practice is to help prepare children with disabilities across the country for further education, employment, and independent living while maintaining a collaborative approach between the school and parent. Gina strongly encourages inclusive practices while holding all students to high expectations to encourage progress toward independent living and employment. In all capacities, Gina has been able to identify with parents and build a healthy relationship for the benefit of the student. This mutual respect between parents and Gina over the years has helped hundreds of students reach their maximum potential. Gina is excited to begin working with families and students in this new capacity to continue advocating for children as she has throughout her career in special education. Gina can be reached directly at gina@florida-advocate.com.

Gina Jamieson

Special Education Advocate

Claudia Roberts

Special Education Advocate

Claudia Roberts advocates for the educational rights of children and young adults with disabilities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando counties. Claudia has been an instructor for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) national advocacy training program for the past five years and provides frequent trainings to families in the Tampa Bay area. Claudia is a graduate of the Florida Partners in Policymaking Program offered through the Florida Developmental Disabilities council. She has a doctor of jurisprudence with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and practiced law in Texas and New Mexico prior to leaving the practice to focus on advocating for her children. Claudia is not licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and does not give legal advice to our clients.

Claudia is a parent and grandparent. Two of her adult children received special education services in school. She has advocated for children with a myriad of disabilities including ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mental Health disabilities (Bi-polar Disorder, Anxiety Disorder) and intellectual disabilities among others. But children do not fit into categories and their needs should be met by building on their strengths and personal goals.

The focus of Claudia’s practice is empowering parents to make good educational decisions for their children and family. Advocating for our children and teaching them to advocate for themselves is a life-long journey. It is the support and vision of a loving family that ultimately leads to the success of children with disabilities.

Success means independence and it is the goal of any good education plan for students to achieve independence and to fully participate in the educational setting. Inclusive academic settings and high expectations are crucial to preparing students to live and work independently.

Claudia consults with parents, reviews educational evaluations, makes recommendations for educational programming and services, attends IEP meetings, 504 meetings, and educational planning meetings with parents and students, and advocates for the child’s rights. The best education for the child may be outside of the public schools and Claudia works with parents to obtain the services of private schools and charter schools.

Claudia can be reached directly at claudia@florida-advocate.com.

Paige is delighted to be your first contact when connecting with Florida Professional Special Education Advocates. Paige graduated from Texas A&M University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in special education.

She followed by finding a passion in teaching those with severe and profound disabilities for the next 5 years in the life skills setting. Paige then spent the next 5 years as an ARD/IEP Facilitator helping students receive the appropriate support and services they needed to be successful.

Currently, Paige is working on receiving her master’s degree in special education along with an educational diagnostician’s certification.

Paige Keto

Executive Assistant