Sheila Iseman - educational consultant

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any feedback on Sheila Iseman of SCI Educational Associates, Inc?

[Anonymous]

Loved her -- so experienced and knowledgeable. Good at looking at the big picture -- not just school stuff. We used her for MCPS, but she may have experience with DC, too.

[Anonymous]

She was invaluable in helping us with our son. Very knowledgeable. The hearing officer made the decision about FAPE based primarily on her recommendations. Great at IEP meetings for getting what you FAPE! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

She is the best! Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Iseman makes a large part of her income from serving as a paid "expert" witness at divorce and custody trials, testifying on matters in which she has no expertise to include making psychological assessments. If you pay Dr. Iseman to say something, she'll say it, whether or not it is backed up by the factual evidence. She may have started in her career as an objective advocate, but she's nothing more than a hack who will say what she's paid to say at this point.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. When we visited a SN school, Sheila Iseman was the consultant recommended for due process and getting public funding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Iseman makes a large part of her income from serving as a paid "expert" witness at divorce and custody trials, testifying on matters in which she has no expertise to include making psychological assessments. If you pay Dr. Iseman to say something, she'll say it, whether or not it is backed up by the factual evidence. She may have started in her career as an objective advocate, but she's nothing more than a hack who will say what she's paid to say at this point.

That is not at all my experience with her. On the contrary, she always performs her own observations and draws her own conclusions from it.

[Anonymous]

We are currently working with Sheila and have been for about 8 mos. She has been a tremendous asset to us already. I agree with the PP that she sees the big picture. In our case this included identifying a significant health issue in our child that not even the medical doctors picked up on! I like her style a lot - assertive, but not adversarial. She has made some very good recommendations regarding other resources that we should consider pursuing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are currently working with Sheila and have been for about 8 mos. She has been a tremendous asset to us already. I agree with the PP that she sees the big picture. In our case this included identifying a significant health issue in our child that not even the medical doctors picked up on! I like her style a lot - assertive, but not adversarial. She has made some very good recommendations regarding other resources that we should consider pursuing.

This was very close to our experience as well. She recommended that we follow up with a neurologist based on something she noticed during her observation of our child at school and she turned out to be right. She is also very good at writing IEP goals.

[Anonymous]

We used her services a few years ago to develop an IEP, and after going through the process, realized that we could've done just as well ourselves and the school. Schools develop IEPs in conjunction with parents as a rule. I wish we'd have known that going in.

[Anonymous]

When we visited Ivymount MAP, sheila Iseman was the educational consultant they recommended for getting a school system to pay for private placement. She must be good.

[Anonymous]

I've been happy with her, but just about choked when I got the last bill. She must be charging us every time she thinks of my child while washing the dishes, grocery shopping, etc. Her advice has been good so far, but I feel a bit like I'm paying "the muse" from that Sharon Stone movie

[Anonymous]

If choosing between her and an attorney, use an attorney. We got no where with her but then hired attorney and we made progress. Almost same price.

[Anonymous]

What is her hourly cost?

[Anonymous]

Not sure about her but we pay 250 for someone else. Heard it can vary from 200 to 350