About Us
Steinberg Education Group was founded on the belief that families and educational systems deserve thoughtful guidance, ethical advocacy, and collaborative support when navigating complex educational decisions. Grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience, our work focuses on bringing clarity to challenging situations, strengthening communication and understanding, and supporting sustainable outcomes for students.
We recognize that special education decisions can feel overwhelming and deeply personal, which is why our approach emphasizes professionalism, empathy, accountability, and practical problem-solving. Through structured support and informed partnership, we help families and educational teams move forward with greater confidence and alignment.
Our Story
Nearly 30 years ago, Darcy and Jared began their journey together as high school sweethearts. While Darcy’s formal career in education began in 2003 during their first year of marriage, it was their experience as parents that profoundly deepened their understanding of advocacy, educational systems, and the importance of meaningful support for families.
Their oldest child, a daughter, demonstrated from an early age the kind of curiosity and intensity many families may recognize in their own children. During early childhood programs, she rarely settled into a single activity for long. Instead, she moved enthusiastically from one experience to another—absorbing conversations, sounds, ideas, and the world around her with remarkable energy and awareness.
As kindergarten came to a close, concerns were raised regarding her reading development. A comprehensive educational evaluation ultimately identified a disability and opened the door to specialized educational supports. While the evaluation provided important answers, it also marked the beginning of a much larger journey of learning, advocacy, and navigating complex systems. Over time, additional pieces of the puzzle came into focus, including a broader understanding of her neurodivergent profile and twice-exceptional (2E) strengths and challenges.
Like many families, their experience highlighted how differently children can learn, process, and engage with the world—even within the same household. Where their daughter faced certain challenges, their son often demonstrated strengths in those same areas, while experiencing different needs of his own. Also neurodivergent, he benefited from accommodations through a 504 Plan, providing access and support within the educational setting without specialized instruction.
Together, their children’s unique educational journeys created a deeply personal understanding of both the strengths and limitations of educational systems. Those experiences required ongoing collaboration with schools, thoughtful advocacy, and at times, difficult conversations aimed not at conflict, but at creating better outcomes and stronger support structures.
Through those experiences, a clear philosophy emerged—families need clear guidance, ethical advocacy, and support grounded in both expertise and empathy. They deserve professionals who can help translate complex systems, foster collaborative problem-solving, and keep the focus on sustainable, student-centered outcomes.
That philosophy continues to shape the work of Steinberg Education Group today. The organization was built on the belief that advocacy does not need to be adversarial to be effective, that clarity creates confidence, and that informed, collaborative decision-making leads to stronger outcomes for students, families, and educational systems alike.
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Our Core Values
Clarity
We believe families and educational teams make stronger decisions when complex information is made understandable, actionable, and accessible. We are committed to bringing clarity to processes, communication, and next steps so individuals can move forward with confidence.
Collaboration
Meaningful outcomes are built through productive relationships. We value open communication, thoughtful problem-solving, and partnership between families, educators, and systems.
Respect for Individuality
Every student brings unique strengths, challenges, perspectives, and experiences. We honor neurodiversity and believe educational support should be responsive to the whole child and tailored to individual needs.
Sustainable Outcomes
We focus on solutions that support lasting growth, meaningful access, and long-term success. Our goal is not only to address immediate concerns, but to help build systems, relationships, and supports that remain effective over time.
Ethical Advocacy
We advocate with professionalism, integrity, and respect for all individuals involved in the educational process. We believe effective advocacy can be collaborative, solution-focused, and grounded in the best interests of students.
Accountability
We believe trust is built through consistency, transparency, and follow-through. We hold ourselves to high professional standards and encourage thoughtful accountability within educational systems to support informed decision-making and meaningful student outcomes.
Empowerment Through Knowledge
We believe informed families and educational teams are better positioned to participate as confident, equal partners in decision-making. Our work is grounded in education, guidance, and building long-term capacity—not dependency.
Compassion with Professionalism
Educational decisions are often emotionally complex and deeply personal. We approach every interaction with empathy, professionalism, and respect while maintaining clear structure and thoughtful guidance.
How Steinberg Education Group differs...
Steinberg Education Group approaches advocacy differently by combining lived experience, systems-level understanding, and doctoral-level expertise in special education leadership. Our work is grounded not only in advocacy, but in a deep understanding of how educational systems operate, how decisions are made, and how effective collaboration and strategic action can lead to meaningful outcomes for students. While many advocacy organizations rely primarily on volunteers or individuals with limited systems experience and specialized knowledge, Steinberg Education Group brings professional expertise in special education practice, compliance, implementation, and educational leadership. This perspective allows us to provide thoughtful, informed guidance that helps families navigate complex situations with clarity, strategy, and purpose.
Meet The Team
Darcy's Bio
With a PhD in Special Education Leadership and more than twenty years of experience, I specialize in due process compliance, IDEA procedural safeguards, evaluation practices, and the implementation of special education systems. My career has taken me from classroom teaching and case management to program coordination and district-level leadership, giving me a full understanding of how decisions are made and how services are delivered across PK–12 settings. I have worked in both urban and suburban districts throughout Minnesota, which has allowed me to see how special education operates from the bottom up and the top down. My didactical coursework for my PhD focused on a national lens, not just Minnesota. Because I’ve been in the classroom as well as the district office, I understand the real constraints educators face, how eligibility and placement decisions are made, and where compliance and best practice intersect. As the parent of 2 exceptional children, I also appreciate the emotional and logistical weight that families carry. I respect the vital role parents and caregivers play, and I value collaborative problem-solving rather than adversarial approaches. My goal is to empower—not overshadow—your voice in the process. I am committed to equity in education and believe all learners deserve access to well-designed programming that leads to meaningful progress—whether they are identified with a disability, are gifted, or are twice exceptional (2E). Every student deserves a pathway to success, and every family deserves clarity. Special education can feel overwhelming, especially when it’s filled with acronyms, procedures, and high stakes. I’m here to provide objective support, help families understand what matters and why, and ensure due process rights are upheld while fostering productive relationships with schools. If you’d like to explore how my experience can support your child or family, I welcome the chance to connect for an introductory conversation.
Jared's Bio
I serve as an Advocacy and Family Engagement Strategist with Steinberg Education Group. I bring more than 20 years of experience in customer service, people management, negotiation, and advocacy across the higher education and banking sectors. Throughout my career, I have focused on helping individuals understand complex processes, engage meaningfully in decision-making, and communicate their priorities effectively—especially in high-stakes, emotionally charged situations. My work centers on supporting families as they navigate the special education system. I help translate complexity into clear, actionable understanding, while ensuring families feel both informed and confident in the decisions they are making. My connection to this work is also deeply personal. About ten years ago, my journey with special education began when one of my children was identified as struggling with reading and later qualified for services. As a parent of a student with an IEP, I understand firsthand how overwhelming and emotionally demanding this process can be. Sitting on the family side of the table carries both a need to trust educators and a responsibility to ensure your child’s needs are fully understood and appropriately supported. That balance is not always easy—even for parents familiar with the system. That lived experience shapes how I work with families. I approach each situation with empathy, respect, and practicality, recognizing both the emotional weight and the importance of thoughtful, informed decision-making. In my role, I often serve as a first point of contact for families. I take time to understand your concerns, help clarify your goals, and guide you toward the level of support that best fits your needs. I also help families prepare for conversations, organize their thinking, and engage in advocacy with clarity and confidence—while maintaining constructive, collaborative relationships with schools. I believe effective advocacy does not have to be adversarial. When families understand their rights, options, and the language of the system, they are better positioned to participate as informed, equal partners in decision-making. I am deeply committed to this work because I have seen its impact—both in my own family and in the families we support. My goal is not only to help achieve strong outcomes, but to ensure families feel heard, prepared, and empowered throughout the process.