Title: Executive Director and Founder
Company: Advocating 4 Kids Inc.
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Cheryl Ann Poe, executive director and founder of Advocating 4 Kids Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in special education advocacy.
With over a decade and a half of experience, Ms. Poe has established a successful career in special education advocacy. Since 2015, she has served as the executive director and founder of Advocating 4 Kids Inc. Her experience includes roles as an in-home clinician for Family Determination from 2010 to 2021 and as the owner of KND Personal Care, a self-directed home health care business serving Medicaid recipients in Virginia, where she worked for four years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in therapeutic recreation from Virginia Wesleyan College in 1991 and a Master of Arts in urban education and counseling from Norfolk State University in 2001. She also serves on the board of directors for the Mid-Atlantic Group Psychotherapy Society, and has been a board member of the Council of Advocates and Attorneys, a parent leader for the National Association of Education of African American Children with Learning Disabilities, and co-chair of the Social Justice and Racial Equity Committee at COPPA. Additionally, she is the founder of the Black Collective Advocacy Network.
Ms. Poe specializes in guiding parents through the complex special education process. She reviews students’ records, advocates for adjustments in services, and accompanies parents to meetings. In addition to direct advocacy, she coaches parents navigating their child’s education and transitions to college, including securing ADA accommodations. She is also developing a subscription-based membership program offering advocacy training and expert-led discussions on topics like ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. She is deeply passionate about improving outcomes for Black students in special education and is currently collaborating with Howard University on a research project addressing systemic disparities in Virginia, including disproportionate disciplinary actions, under-identification in gifted programs, and low graduation rates among Black neurodivergent students.
Ms. Poe has led impactful initiatives, including the Advocating Law Plaque research project with Dr. Katherine Riley from Howard University. This year-long project interviews Black families in Virginia to identify barriers to special education access, with findings to be shared with policymakers. She and Dr. Riley received a grant from the National Law Center for Youth to support this work. She also filed a systemic complaint with the U.S. Department of Education regarding inadequate services during COVID-19, prompting an investigation. In light of her impressive undertakings, she has been a recipient of several accolades, including the Jefferson Cup of Leadership and Person of the Year from Virginia Beach’s Omega Psi Phi chapter. Ultimately, she believes students with disabilities can succeed with the right support, and she aims to continue to expand her research nationwide and develop training programs to empower Black parents and advocates to drive positive change.
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