Lisa Palese’s professional dedication as an advocate for students with disabilities and their families spans over 36 years. Her career has focused ensuring that students are understood, their rights are protected, and they receive the services, supports, and educational opportunities they need to succeed.

Lisa has served as an Illinois state-approved Director of Special Education for the past 12 years. Most recently, she spent seven years as Executive Director of the Mid-Valley Special Education Cooperative, leading programs and services for students with diverse and complex needs. Before that, she spent 27 years in Batavia Public School District as a special education teacher, assistant director, director, outplacement coordinator, and homeless liaison.

These roles gave Lisa extensive experience navigating IEPs, evaluations, placements, special education law, and challenging situations between families and school systems. She also taught graduate-level courses in special education law, finance, and leadership at Aurora University. Lisa holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education.

As an educational advocate, Lisa brings deep professional expertise and a family-centered perspective to the table. She helps parents understand their rights, identify what their child truly needs, prepare for important school meetings, and communicate effectively with educational teams. When concerns arise, Lisa provides a strong, informed voice—asking the right questions, challenging decisions when necessary, and working toward meaningful solutions.

Lisa believes families should never feel alone or powerless when advocating for their child. Her goal is to ensure every family is heard, every concern is taken seriously, and every student receives an appropriate education that allows them to thrive.

Lisa can be reached at lp@iepguardians.org or (630) 545-0234.