KATY, TX, November 18, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Lori A. Irvine has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Marked by her expertise in teaching children with autism as well as those with other disabilities and emotional challenges, Ms. Irvine has led an impactful career spanning four decades in special education. Though she is now enjoying her retirement, she lends her experience as an educational consultant at LIGHTHOUSE Learning Resource in Houston, Texas. With a focus on guiding families and teachers with children who have sensory, communication and structure challenges, she manages teaching how to develop student schedules, prepares instructional materials, and designs targeted strategies and interventions on how to create a safe-sensory aware environment. Additionally, she ensures that programming needs are met and provides essential resources for teachers, educating on best practices for understanding students' needs in the classroom and in the home.

Prior to joining LIGHTHOUSE Learning Resource, Ms. Irvine was a consultant to teachers, parents and school districts through Holly and Ivy Autism Specialist from 2014 to 2025. During this period, she was prepared to provide guidance on best practices for supporting students with autism, ready to collaborate with educators and families to foster inclusive learning environments. This opportunity was available during my teaching career in Katy.

Among Ms. Irvine's most notable achievements during this time was her international work in Budapest, Hungary and Moldova over the course of four years and four visits. In Budapest, the education department was interested in how special needs programs were developed in the United States. In Moldova, she trained general education teachers to integrate students with special needs into mainstream classrooms during a national transition toward inclusive education. Her efforts in equipping educators with practical strategies and ongoing support helped them overcome their initial apprehensions. This experience reinforced her commitment to improving support systems for special education teachers both internationally and within the United States.

Ms. Irvine's teaching career began at the Margaret Chapman School for Exceptional Children in Hawthorne, New York, from 1985 to 1986. PS 176 in the projects of the Bronx, NY occurred 1986-1988. There she taught students with autism. She made an impact on secondary and adult age individuals with disabilities, while teaching at St. Mary of Providence Private Catholic School in Chicago, Illinois, from 1988 to 1989. She was asked to develop curriculum for their LIFE Skills program and implement it. From 1989-1992 Ms. Irvine taught for the Denver School District elementary program for students with autism. She held the position of special education teacher for students with autism at Central Elementary in Duncanville, Texas, from 1995 to 2001. In Boerne ISD, Boerne, TX, within Boerne Middle School South, she taught students with autism, designed a structured learning classroom, individualized communication programs as well as community-based programming from 2001 to 2005. Ms. Irvine's teaching career continued at Katy ISD from 2005-2018 before becoming a Program Specialist for elementary LIFE Skills for Katy ISD 2019-2025.

Earlier in her teaching tenure with Katy ISD, which spanned two decades in total, Ms. Irvine served as a LIFE Skills teacher from 2005 to 2017. Students with a variety of disabilities were served in her classroom. In the final year of her teaching tenure with Katy ISD, Ms. Irvine served as a Young Children with Autism Program (YCAP) teacher for children with autism from 2017 to 2018. She utilized the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) philosophy, where she designed individualized instruction plans, student schedules and routines, and implemented applied behavior analysis (ABA) techniques that promoted expectations through visuals and routine, compassion, student growth and independence. These program techniques and interventions were used within both teaching environments.

From 2019 to 2025, Ms. Irvine excelled as a program specialist and lead teachers within the elementary LIFE Skills department for the Katy Independent School District (ISD) in Texas. Ensuring compliance with educational standards and supporting staff through professional development, she was in charge of implementation of the critical skill components expected within the specialized program of the elementary LIFE Skills classrooms and assisted teachers with behavior interventions in the classroom environment as well as curriculum development.

Dedicated to the ideals of continuous learning, Ms. Irvine earned a Master of Education in educational psychology from Texas A&M University in 2009, after which she instantly applied her newfound knowledge to her own classrooms. Before venturing onto her professional teaching path, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in special education and teaching from the University of Sioux Falls in 1984. To augment her credentials in working with students with special needs, she is certified in elementary self-contained grades 1-8, generic special education, seriously emotionally disturbed and autistic pre-k-grade 12 and in English as a second language (ESOL) by the United Latino Students Association. She also completed Level 1 and 2 TEACCH training courses at the University of North Carolina in 2000 and 2002, respectively.

Reflecting on her storied journey, Ms. Irvine attributes her success to her commitment to listening and learning from experts such as occupational therapists for sensory needs as well as professors and principals in the areas of behavior. Then, applying those insights within her teaching practice. She combines research-based methods such as (ABA) and TEACCH with a focus on daily incremental successes for her students to gradually grow their confidence. Building strong relationships with parents, maintaining open communication and helping families implement classroom strategies at home have also been central components of her approach. Her passion for seeing children as individuals beyond their disabilities continues to drive her work and brings great fulfillment.

Ms. Irvine's dedication is equally rooted in personal experience; growing up alongside a brother with Down syndrome inspired her lifelong commitment to special education. Although she initially considered pursuing music education, witnessing her brother's journey motivated her to pursue a path where she could make a meaningful difference for individuals with special needs.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Irvine has contributed as a teacher trainer with Bob Hartman International Ministries since 2014, furthering educational initiatives on a global scale. Her empathy and supportive methods have seen her recognized through accolades such as the Smart Board Activity Preparation Grant, which was awarded by the Katy Independent School District Education Foundation Organization in 2013.

In the coming years, Ms. Irvine intends to expand her impact both locally and globally by pursuing additional opportunities that help schools develop programs for students with special needs while also supporting underserved communities around Houston. She is focused on advancing sensory curriculum development at LIGHTHOUSE Learning Resource by creating presentations and resources that empower parents and educators to better address the needs of children, both in the classroom and at home.

Ms. Irvine's accomplishments and future goals alike reflect her unwavering dedication to advancing inclusive education practices through expertise, innovation and compassion — qualities that continue to shape her legacy and the field of special education today.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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