Welcome
Waymire Advocacy & Training Services
A Catalyst for Positive Change
About Us
Who We Are
In a world filled with challenges, the path to success is often paved with obstacles. But at Waymire Advocacy & Training Services, we've made it our mission to light the way, guiding individuals and organizations toward their full potential. Our journey began with a vision: to be a catalyst for positive change in education.
Waymire Advocacy & Training Services (WATS) was founded by Sandi Waymire, a dedicated educator with a passion for empowering others. Drawing on her background in education, Sandi envisioned a company that would break down barriers to success, all while ensuring accessibility for every student, parent, and school.
Our Vision
To be a catalyst for positive change in education.
Our Mission
Empowering students with learning challenges through collaborative advocacy with parents in the education setting and by working closely with teachers and classroom staff to implement targeted interventions to meet the needs of all learners.
About Sandi
Sandi is a wife, mom, and Lollie (aka grandma) who embarked on her teaching career later in life. While raising her children, she homeschooled them for a few years and was actively involved in their public school education. During this time, she became a substitute teacher and discovered a passion for teaching. Sandi pursued special education, driven by the belief that children who leave elementary school without reading skills face significant academic challenges.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Sandi secured her first teaching position in a self-contained middle school classroom an hour away from home. This experience taught her a great deal about education and child development. While in this role, she completed a Master's in Special Education at UALR.
Two years later, Sandi found a position closer to home in a self-contained, STAR (all autism) elementary classroom. Here, she refined her skills and implemented evidence-based practices that helped her students thrive academically and in life skills. During this period, she also earned an Education Specialist in Leadership - Special Education Director degree from Arkansas State University, aiming to broaden her impact through administration.
However, after a brief tenure as an administrator for a developmental preschool, Sandi realized her true passion lay in hands-on, face-to-face training with teachers. This led her to establish Waymire Advocacy and Training Services. Although her expertise was developed in a self-contained setting, the practices she advocates have proven effective as Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions in general education. Sandi’s goal is to provide professional development and hands-on training to equip all staff working with children with effective and proven tools.
Our Services
In Class Training
Professional Development
Professional Development
Teachers receive many hours of professional development. However, they are seldom given in-class coaching on implementation of new knowledge.
Our WATS staff goes into the classroom to coach teachers and other classroom staff to assist in turning that knowledge into action.
Professional Development
Professional Development
Professional Development
With the growth of inclusion, there is a much greater need for understanding the challenges of teaching students with learning challenges. WATS teaches simple, proven strategies that are utilized in the self-contained setting and have worked well in the general education setting.