Empowering Leaders. Transforming Education.
Partnering with leaders to create impactful, sustainable change in systems of support for students, educators, and communities.
Fernandes Support Services LLC believes every child has the right to high-quality, inclusive public education — regardless of ability, background, English language proficiency, or funding challenges. We believe every leader has the potential to drive meaningful change and improve student outcomes.
We understand the realities that educators face daily: shifting program mandates, the increasingly complex needs of students and families, staffing shortages, reduced technical support, and shrinking budgets.
We are committed to empowering leadership and administrative teams with the tools, training, and knowledge needed to create effective, impactful, and sustainable change.
We analyze, provide actionable recommendations, collaborate and co-design solutions tailored to your unique needs.
We help develop special education teacher leaders and coordinators, revamp instructional frameworks and models of support, and design processes to monitor and ensure programmatic compliance.
Our approach to implementation includes evidence-based best practices, applied knowledge, creative problem-solving, and candor.
Schedule a no-cost consultation today to begin building stronger, more sustainable systems of support.
Strategic. Compassionate. Impactful.
Dolly Fernandes is the Founder and Lead Consultant of Fernandes Support Services LLC, bringing over twenty years of experience in special education, leadership development, and systems improvement across tribal, public, and virtual school settings.
As a program director, Dolly has led transformative initiatives to build culturally responsive multi-tiered systems of support, strengthen inclusive practices, and reduce the over-identification of students in special education. Her work emphasizes equity, collaboration, and sustainable capacity-building within schools.
Dolly served as Assistant Principal, Academic Administrator, Regional Manager, and Program Specialist for a state department of education. Across these roles, she has guided teams in data-driven decision-making, instructional leadership, and compliance, while fostering professional learning communities that empower educators to lead.
Dolly holds a Master’s in Education and post-graduate certifications in Special Education, Educational Leadership and Technical Writing. She is dually certified as a Principal and Special Education Teacher in both Washington and Arizona.
Grounded in the belief that strong teacher leadership drives student success, Dolly partners with schools and districts to develop confident, capable, and equity-minded Special Education Leaders.
Areas of Support
Special Education Teacher Leader Development
Teacher Leader Development has been proven to increase job satisfaction, strengthen buy-in for school improvement initiatives, and improve student outcomes.
Given the ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining experienced Special Education Teacher Leaders and Coordinators, many schools turn to their most effective special education teachers to take on leadership roles. However, administrators often find that they lack the specialized expertise to fully support these teachers in developing the skills, knowledge, and policy understanding needed for success.
Fernandes Support Services LLC partners with schools and districts to build internal capacity by cultivating Special Education Teacher Leaders and strengthening existing leadership practices.
Our Special Education Teacher Leadership Development Program provides hands-on, context-specific professional development and coaching designed to meet the unique needs of your school and community. Participants engage in ongoing learning focused on:
Active problem-solving and decision-making grounded in real school challenges
Instructional and inclusive practices that elevate outcomes for all learners
Policies, regulations, and compliance specific to special education
Collaboration and communication across teams and departments
Through a blend of coaching, practical training, and leadership development, Fernandes Support Services LLC equips schools to “grow their own” Special Education Teacher Leaders — building sustainable leadership from within.
Special Education and Section 504 Audit
Schools and districts face increasing demands to ensure that their special education and Section 504 programs are both compliant and effective. Yet, the complex intersection of federal, state, and local regulations often makes it difficult to see where systems are thriving — and where they need refinement.
Fernandes Support Services LLC provides comprehensive program audits designed to assess the quality, compliance, and effectiveness of your Special Education and Section 504 services. Our approach goes beyond compliance checklists to evaluate how well your systems support student access, equity, and achievement.
Each audit includes:
Policy and procedural review aligned with IDEA, Section 504, and state regulations
Analysis of student data, documentation, and service delivery for accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with best practices
Stakeholder interviews and feedback from administrators, teachers, and service providers
Identification of strengths, risks, and areas for improvement
Actionable recommendations and implementation guidance tailored to your school or district
Our goal is to help you build standardized policies and practices that are compliant and student-centered — ensuring every learner receives the services and supports they deserve.
Get in Touch
Schedule a no-cost consultation today to begin building stronger, more sustainable systems of support.