About Us
Who We Are
At Waymire Advocacy & Training Services (WATS), we believe every student can learn when educators are equipped with the right tools, support, and practical strategies. Our mission is simple: help schools remove barriers to learning while fostering collaborative advocacy among teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and families to address learning challenges and ensure every child succeeds.
Founded by veteran special educator Sandi Waymire, WATS was built on decades of experience across the full continuum of special education—from self-contained classrooms and autism programs to inclusion, instructional coaching, and statewide professional development. These experiences revealed a common truth: educators want to do what's best for students, but too often they lack the practical training necessary to create positive change in everyday classroom settings.
That's where WATS comes in.
Our professional development goes beyond educational theory. We provide evidence-based, classroom-tested strategies that educators can implement immediately to improve instruction, strengthen collaboration, and increase student success. Whether we're coaching teachers, training paraprofessionals, supporting administrators, or partnering with families, our focus remains the same: practical solutions that make a lasting difference.
We believe the best professional development doesn't overwhelm educators with additional tasks. Instead, it empowers them with the confidence, knowledge, and tools to enhance what they already do—better.
Because when educators grow, students thrive.
Our Vision
Empowering educators through collaborative advocacy and practical, evidence-based strategies that address learning challenges, ultimately driving positive change for all learners.
Our Mission
Empowering educators, families, and school communities through collaborative advocacy with practical, evidence-based strategies that address learning challenges, strengthen collaboration, and drive positive change to improve outcomes for all students.
About Sandi
Sandi is an educator, wife, mother, and Lollie (grandmother) who discovered her passion for teaching later in life. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), Sandi began her career in self-contained special education classrooms at both the middle and elementary levels, including a STAR (all autism) classroom. These experiences built her expertise in individualized instruction, evidence-based practices, behavior intervention, communication supports, life skills instruction, and adapting curriculum to meet diverse learning needs. While teaching, she earned a Master's degree in Special Education from UALR and later an Education Specialist degree in Leadership – Special Education Director from Arkansas State University, which broadened both her classroom expertise and her understanding of special education leadership. Her experience spans the full continuum of special education services. She has served as a self-contained special education teacher, an instructional specialist providing statewide professional development, coached educators, and most recently taught in high school inclusion and co-taught classrooms. Working alongside general education teachers has given her unique insight into the challenges of inclusive education—from balancing rigorous academic standards with individualized supports to creating classrooms where every student can meaningfully access grade-level learning. This practical experience has reinforced her belief that effective inclusion requires intentional collaboration, evidence-based instructional practices, and practical strategies that teachers can implement immediately. Although Sandi briefly served in educational leadership, she realized her greatest impact comes from working directly with educators. This insight fueled her passion for collaborative advocacy, leading her to establish Waymire Advocacy and Training Services (WATS). Today, Sandi draws on her extensive experience from self-contained classrooms, autism programs, inclusion settings, instructional coaching, and statewide professional development to provide practical, evidence-based training that educators can implement right away. Her mission is to equip teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and families with strategies that improve outcomes for students with learning challenges while also strengthening instruction for all learners. She firmly believes that the best professional development fosters positive change by equipping teachers with practical strategies they can begin using the very next day.
How we help schools
School Success Discovery Session $300
Every school faces a variety of learning challenges, but the symptoms often mask the real issues at hand. A lack of engagement, poor collaboration, behavior concerns, low test scores, or struggling inclusion classrooms frequently signal a deeper, underlying barrier that needs to be addressed.
The School Success Discovery Session is designed to empower principals in identifying these root causes and developing practical next steps that foster positive change within their schools.
What is included:
- A pre-session questionnaire to pinpoint your school's three greatest instructional or organizational challenges.
- A 30–60 minute Zoom consultation with your principal or leadership team to discuss these challenges and identify the most impactful area to begin your collaborative advocacy efforts.
- Tailored practical recommendations that meet your school's unique needs.
- Four focused professional learning videos (10–15 minutes each) designed for teachers to view during PLCs, common planning time, or faculty meetings. Each video includes actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately, along with discussion prompts to encourage meaningful team conversations.
If additional support is desired, the Discovery Session serves as the foundation for customized coaching, virtual professional development, or on-site training tailored to your school's specific needs.
Because lasting school improvement begins with identifying the right problem to solve.
Classroom Coaching & Implementation Support $1,200 per full day
Professional development is a crucial first step toward creating positive change, but it’s essential to recognize that professional development alone doesn’t transform schools. The real impact depends on what teachers do following professional development.
WATS Classroom Coaching is designed to bridge the gap between learning challenges and implementation. By working collaboratively with teachers, paraprofessionals, and instructional teams, we model effective practices, provide real-time feedback, and empower educators to confidently apply new strategies in their own classrooms.
Our coaching approach emphasizes collaboration rather than evaluation. Recognizing that every classroom is unique, our support is tailored to meet the specific needs of your students, staff, and overall school goals.
Classroom Coaching may include:
- Classroom observations
- Side-by-side instructional coaching
- Modeling evidence-based instructional strategies
- Behavior support and classroom management
- Inclusion and co-teaching support
- Lesson planning and differentiation
- Immediate feedback and collaborative problem-solving
- Action steps for continued growth
Investment: $1,200 per day
Schools that start with a School Success Discovery Session are eligible for a $300 credit toward Classroom Coaching or any full-day WATS professional development.
Customized Professional Development
Every school has unique strengths, challenges, and goals. That's why WATS prioritizes customized professional development over a one-size-fits-all approach. Our training is tailored to meet the specific needs of your staff and is designed to provide practical, evidence-based strategies that educators can implement immediately, fostering collaborative advocacy within your school community.
Whether you're addressing learning challenges, strengthening inclusive practices, supporting self-contained classrooms, or improving behavior supports, each training session focuses on real classroom challenges and practical solutions that drive positive change.
Popular Professional Development Topics
Inclusion That Works
- Effective co-teaching strategies
- Practical accommodations and modifications
- Building collaborative classrooms
- Supporting all learners while maintaining high expectations
Teaching Through Play
- Ideal for self-contained classrooms, developmental preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary
- Using purposeful play to teach academic concepts
- Building communication, social, and executive functioning skills through play
- Evidence-based strategies that increase engagement and learning
Behavior: Work Smarter, Not Harder
- Understanding behavior as communication
- Preventing challenging behaviors before they begin
- Practical classroom management strategies
- Creating positive learning environments without power struggles
Additional topics can be developed to meet your school's specific needs.
Professional Development Investment
- Half-Day Training (up to 3 hours): Starting at $1,000
- Full-Day Training (up to 6 hours): Starting at $2,000
- Multi-Day Coaching and District Partnerships: Custom pricing available
Schools that begin with a School Success Discovery Session receive a $300 credit toward any full-day professional development or classroom coaching package.