Gerald Nelms, a native Georgian from Cobb County, is a graduate of the University of West Georgia; where he received his Bachelors Degree in Biology. After spending several years working in corporate America, he went back to school and became a teacher. As a teacher, he taught high school Science, Coached Soccer, and taught Exceptional Students, in the regular classroom and also in the team-taught setting. While he was teaching school, Mr. Nelms obtained his Masters and Specialist Degrees in Educational Leadership.

During his 10 years of teaching high school, Mr. Nelms recognized the fact that most parents of Special Needs Students were not aware of their rights or what services they could ask for within the school system. He then decided to help parents of Exceptional students, as a Special Needs Advocate. As an Advocate, he made sure that parents understood their rights as outlined under the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA) as well as providing guidance and assistance to parents when they had concerns about the level of services that their students were receiving in the classrooms throughout the state of Georgia. After over four years as an advocate, he joined The Pollan Law Firm as a Paralegal.

Education:

University of West Georgia, Carollton, Georgia
Bachelor of Science
Major: Biology

University of West Georgia, Carollton, Georgia
Masters in Education
Major: Educational Leadership

University of West Georgia, Carollton, Georgia
Specialist
Major: Education

Past Employment Positions:

Westllake High School, Talented & Gifted Instructor

Educational Advocacy Associates, LLC, Special Needs Advocate

Ombudsman Educational Services, Center Director