Success is a journey

not a destination

Shayna Raphael

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences, a Master of Arts in Education with a Special Education Endorsement, and a Master of Science in Education Administration. I also hold graduate certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis and in Diversity and Inclusion. I live in the South Puget Sound region of Washington State with my husband and two daughters, and my work is grounded in both professional expertise and the realities families, educators, and institutions face when navigating complex systems.

My career began in speech and language services, but quickly expanded into broader systems-level work. After teaching in self-contained classrooms for students with emotional and behavioral disorders, I moved into the role of Behavior Intervention Specialist, supporting students directly while coaching teachers and administrators. I’ve led placement consultations, developed behavior intervention plans, and helped design school-wide supports to ensure students can access general education and feel successful. My work has always centered on real-world application—whether I’m collaborating with families or helping districts build structures that meet legal and ethical standards.

Since 2017, I have worked as a private educational consultant and expert witness. I support families, schools, and legal teams through expert witness testimony in education-related litigation and hearings, behavior-focused Independent Educational Evaluations, and audits of district practices, policies, and procedures for alignment with law, policy, and standards. I provide support for hiring practices, evaluation systems, and HR protocols, and I develop curriculum and professional development for district-wide implementation. I train school staff on legal compliance, including misconduct investigations, and I offer specialized expertise in isolation and restraint law, including documentation and staff training. I also design behavioral systems such as MTSS, consult on placement and transitions, and conduct Title IX and Civil Rights investigations. My mentoring work includes coaching for both educators and parents.

In addition to my education work, I serve as a child safety advocate through multiple national and local roles: I am the President of the Claire Bear Foundation, a national nonprofit focused on child safety, advocacy, and education; a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Collaborative for Safe Infant Sleep Family Advisory Group; a consumer safety representative on the ASTM Committee for infant and child product standards; and a member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Review Team. My work in child safety advocacy is directly aligned with my education practice. In both domains, I focus on protecting children through evidence-based strategies, adherence to policy, and objective analysis of systems and outcomes. I apply the same standards of clarity, documentation, and procedural integrity whether I’m auditing district operations or reviewing product safety standards.

I believe every student deserves access to excellent education and behavioral supports—and every family and institution deserves transparency, accountability, and respect. My work is grounded in legal precision, collaborative problem-solving, and a refusal to soften harm. I build systems that are equitable, sustainable, and immediately usable, and I’m proud to support families, educators, and institutions in creating environments where children can thrive—and where preventable harm is no longer ignored.