Meet your guide:

Audrey Bartholomew, PhD

For over 25 years, I’ve worked with students with disabilities and the educators who support them. Over the last decade and a half, I’ve focused on preparing new special educators and seen firsthand that keeping great teachers isn’t just about their skills—it’s about the structure, systems, and support they have as teachers. We partner with school districts to build those foundations, strengthening special education programs through sustainable systems, targeted professional development, and support for individualized, flexible instruction

I founded Three Roots Education Consulting to help schools develop special education programs that work in real classrooms—where teachers feel supported, students feel successful, and systems are sustainable.

Why Three Roots?

Structured, inclusive systems reduce
frustration and help teachers focus on
students.

Teachers who are skilled and supported
feel equipped and valued in their roles.

Instructional approaches must be
individualized and flexible to meet
diverse student needs without overwhelming staff.

All successful, sustainable special education services require these three foundational elements.

These beliefs guide every aspect of my work, ensuring that the solutions I provide are practical, sustainable, and tailored to each district’s unique needs. By strengthening these foundations, I help schools create lasting improvements, retain their best educators, and build programs where both teachers and students can thrive.

Selected Professional Experiences

  • Special Education professor with extensive experience in special education law, teacher preparation, and evidence-based teaching practices.

  • Experienced professional development provider in secondary transition planning, training multiple districts on Indicator 13 and high-quality transition plans.

  • Expert witness in due process cases, providing analysis on special education compliance and best practices.

  • Nationally recognized speaker, presenting at over 25 national conferences on special education best practices.

  • Advocate and leader in inclusive education, founding Maine Inclusive Postsecondary Education and serving on the executive board of the Maine Chapter for the Council for Exceptional Children.

Specific Skills and Trainings

  • Secondary Transition and Assessment

  • Community-Based Instruction

  • Special Education Law and Compliance

  • Inclusive Support Plans

  • Functional Behavioral Analysis

  • Collaborative and Proactive Solutions

  • Structured Teaching

  • Co-teaching

  • Universal Design for Learning

  • Assistive Technology

Accomplishments