Every Kid. Every School. Every Day.
On the Field, Tackling Education with You
Specialized Academic Planning Partnership (SAPP) is a professional development and educational consulting firm designed to empower educators, administrators, school leaders, and parents with strategies to tackle the real-world challenges of today’s diverse educational landscape.
SAPP’s mission is to help schools, teachers, and parents create safe, inclusive, and effective learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive.
ABOUT
Our Experts Are the Finest
Expert Support for Educators: With over 40 years of combined experience, SAPP provides customized training and resources, focusing on areas like special education, culturally relevant teaching, reading instruction, and intervention strategies. SAPP’s goal is to equip educators with tools to manage diverse classrooms and support students with disabilities and varying learning needs.
A Team-Oriented, Sports-Inspired Approach: SAPP embraces the philosophy of “tackling education together,” leveraging sports analogies to build a sense of teamwork. Inspired by concepts like being “offensive minds in a defensive world,” SAPP promotes resilience, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving—creating a shared mission where everyone has a role to play in a student's success.
Commitment to Inclusive Education: SAPP is dedicated to fostering cultural awareness, inclusivity, and access to grade-level curriculum for all students. The organization advocates for an educational culture that values diversity, challenges stereotypes, and rejects “cancel culture,” believing there’s a place for everyone in education and that collaboration is key to progress.
"Education is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it’s about recognizing the unique strengths and needs of every student, and creating an environment where every learner has the opportunity to thrive. At SAPP, we believe that when we tackle education together, we all win."
– Lori Rucker, President, Specialized Academic Planning Partnership (SAPP)
SERVICES
Empowering schools with tailored solutions
Professional Development
Equipping educators and leaders with the skills and strategies to foster inclusive, impactful learning.
Our professional development services are designed to meet the unique challenges of today’s educational landscape. Through expert-led training, workshops, and ongoing support, we help educators and administrators enhance their skills in:
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Special Education Strategies: Training to effectively support students with disabilities, ensuring access to grade-level curriculum and meaningful engagement.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Specialized training to build cultural awareness, sensitivity, and inclusivity. Our sessions cover culturally relevant teaching, strategies for supporting underserved students, and understanding Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) options.
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Literacy Instruction & Intervention: Evidence-based methods for effective reading instruction and targeted interventions to support students at various literacy levels, ensuring that all students have the foundation for success.
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Behavior and Classroom Management: Practical strategies for managing classroom dynamics, fostering positive student behavior, and creating a respectful, productive learning environment.
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Restorative Justice: Techniques for conflict resolution, community-building, and restoring relationships within classrooms and school communities.
Our services cater to elementary, middle, and secondary school educators, supporting both individual growth and team collaboration.
Collaborative Approach to IEPs
Comprehensive support to ensure every student with disabilities has access to a meaningful and inclusive education.
Our IEP consultation services provide expert guidance throughout the entire IEP process. We support educators, administrators, and families in creating and implementing IEPs that meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. Our services include:
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Understanding Key IEP Components: Clear guidance on all aspects of an IEP, including present levels of performance, annual goals, accommodations, and services, ensuring alignment with student needs and educational requirements.
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Conducting Assessments: Expert support in selecting and conducting assessments to gather the data necessary for informed decision-making, ensuring that IEPs are based on accurate and comprehensive information.
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Writing Standards-Based Goals: Assistance in writing specific, measurable, and achievable goals that align with grade-level curriculum and state standards, ensuring students make meaningful progress.
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Creating Legally Defensible Documentation: Ensuring that all IEP documentation is clear, comprehensive, and legally compliant, protecting the rights of students and reducing risks of disputes.
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Facilitating Effective IEP Meetings: Expert facilitation of IEP meetings, ensuring collaboration among all stakeholders, fostering productive discussions, and maintaining a student-centered approach to planning.
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Implementing IEPs with Fidelity: Ongoing support to ensure the effective and consistent implementation of IEP goals and services, monitoring progress, and making adjustments as needed to ensure student success.
Our IEP consultation services are designed to ensure that every student receives the appropriate support and services they need, with a focus on creating IEPs that promote growth, inclusion, and achievement.
School Safety Strategies
Creating a safe and supportive school environment that fosters both emotional and physical well-being.
We offer practical, evidence-based strategies to enhance school safety, focusing on ensuring that all students and staff feel secure, respected, and supported. Our services include:
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Threat Assessment and Prevention: Identifying potential risks early and implementing strategies to mitigate threats, ensuring both emotional and physical safety.
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Crisis Management Training: Equipping educators and staff with the skills to respond effectively to emergencies, including de-escalation techniques and safety protocols to protect both emotional and physical well-being.
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Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): Promoting a culture of respect and responsibility through PBIS frameworks that reduce disruptions, encourage positive behavior, and support emotional safety.
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Restorative Practices: Implementing restorative justice techniques to resolve conflicts, repair relationships, and foster empathy, ensuring emotional safety while addressing behavioral issues.
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School Climate Assessment: Evaluating the emotional and physical climate of the school to identify areas for improvement, with actionable strategies to enhance both safety and support for students and staff.
Our school safety strategies are designed to ensure that every student and educator feels both emotionally and physically secure, allowing schools to focus on fostering a positive, inclusive, and thriving learning environment.
Speaking Engagements
Inspiring change and resilience in education through motivational and actionable insights.
Our speaking engagements bring dynamic, expert voices to school communities, providing inspiration and practical strategies for educators, administrators, students, and parents alike:
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Motivational Keynotes: Inspiring talks that address current educational challenges, promoting resilience, adaptability, and a team-oriented approach.
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Workshops & Interactive Sessions: Engaging presentations that equip participants with actionable tools for fostering inclusive, culturally aware, and effective classrooms.
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Educational Leadership Talks: Guidance for administrators and leaders on creating supportive school cultures and leading with vision and purpose.
Our speaking engagements energize and empower audiences to drive meaningful change in education which can be tailored to elementary, middle, secondary schools, and parental stakeholders.
Lori Johnson-Rucker
Lori Johnson-Rucker, M.Ed, is an educational leader with 20+ years of experience creating inclusive learning environments. She consults with school districts and organizations on effective instruction and student success and coaches staff at all levels for professional growth. Lori holds a Master’s in Elementary Education, a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of La Verne, and multiple credentials. She is an Adjunct Professor at Cal Poly Pomona and has held leadership roles across several districts.
Dr. Jerome Rucker
Dr. J.R. Rucker, a USC professor with 24+ years in education, has served as a special education teacher, Athletic Director, and administrator. A Pine Bluff, Arkansas native, he earned his doctorate from USC and authored three books, including Get That Doctorate. Host of the Educational Truth Podcast and associate counselor for USC’s Kappa Delta Pi, he specializes in student motivation, mentorship, and cultural understanding. Dr. Rucker lives in Southern California with his wife and three daughters.
Meet our Team
CONTACT US
We’re here to support your journey toward a more inclusive, effective, and engaging educational environment. Whether you’re interested in professional development, consultations, or speaking engagements, we’d love to connect and discuss how we can partner with your school or district.
Let’s Tackle Education Together!
Fill out the inquiry form, and a member of our team will reach out shortly to discuss your needs and how we can help.
3281 East Guasti Road, Suite 700
Ontario, CA 91761
info@specializedacademicplanning.org
Tel: 909-200-8731