ABOUT
Bridge Educational Advocacy has been founded to support students and their families in the action of working with school districts to ensure appropriate services are delivered. Advocacy is the action of “support” that will make the difference when pursuing services for your children.
Parenting is the ultimate experience. As mothers and fathers, their children are the very essence of what a family embodies; they want to trust their school district, but schools don’t know children in the same way that a parent can. As an experienced public school administrator, university professor, teacher and parent of three beautiful daughters, the youngest with a disability, Pepi M. Silverman, Founder and Director of Bridge Educational Advocacy has the unique and comprehensive experience to work with educational systems throughout Illinois. By utilizing sound educational practices, data analysis, and a comprehensive understanding of service delivery, Bridge Educational Advocacy has the abilities to facilitate positive outcomes for the students we represent.
Pepi M. Silverman
Founder and Director, M.Ed., Ph.D. (ABD)
I founded Bridge Educational Advocacy because I have seen too many families struggle to get their children the services necessary for them to be successful. As parents, when we see our children challenged at school, we should not be met with resistance, jargon, and barricades. Breaking down those barriers should not be a parent's responsibility, but school districts can be difficult systems to navigate. Having worked in public schools for over 25 years, first as a dually certified teacher in both general and special education and then I transitioned into district level administration. I worked to develop programming from preschool through high school transition services. As an administrator, I worked to ensure that ALL students received appropriate educational services from ELL , Gifted/Talented, Health Services, Rti/MTSS, Reading Interventions, and Special Education. I was also responsible for curriculum development, instructional pedagogy, and behavioral support programming. In addition to my work in school districts, I am also an adjunct faculty member at two universities, guiding future teachers seeking careers in education. I understand the system, I know the language, and I can help to facilitate the conversations necessary to achieve positive outcomes for students.
I have dedicated my life to supporting the rights of ALL children. I have sat on all sides of the conference table. I understand all of the roles and each participant’s responsibilities and I bring that understanding to my work as an advocate. Bridge Educational Advocacy is my oppportunity to extend myself and my knowledge and experience to support families needing assistance on behalf of their children. It is with an earnest desire to make a difference that I offer my service.
Dr. Jessica Wacker
SLPD, CCC-SLP/LBS1
Dr. Jessica Wacker, SLPD, CCC-SLP/LBS1 is a passionate advocate, clinician, and educator dedicated to supporting language, literacy, and equitable access to learning for all students. She brings a strong academic and professional foundation to her work, holding a Clinical Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD) and a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University, a Master of Executive Business Administration from Quantic University, and a Bachelor of Arts with Highest Honors in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Licensed in Illinois as both a Speech-Language Pathologist and a Learning Behavior Specialist, Dr. Wacker has extensive experience working in urban and suburban public schools as well as private practice settings. As a special education advocate, Dr. Wacker partners with families in all stages of the education process from helping to indentify learning differences to ensuring students receive the services and supports they are entitled to receive based on diagnostically identified needs. She helps parents understand their rights, navigate the IEP process, and confidently advocate for their child’s unique learning needs. Through in-depth training in Special Education Advocacy from the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET), Dr Wacker has developed a deep understanding of special education services and the appropriate application of diagnostic needs to determine special education services. She supports families through difficult conversations, IEP meetings, and dispute resolution with compassion, clarity, and a focus on what’s best for the student. At the heart of her work is a belief that every child deserves to be seen, heard, and fully supported and she is here to help make that happen, one step at a time.
Outside of her professional work, Dr. Wacker finds her greatest joy in being a mom. Parenthood—with all its chaos, laughter, and love—has been her most meaningful journey, teaching her daily lessons in patience, empathy, and the power of small milestones.