About
Meet Dr. Joe Pumphrey
A special educator, coach, and mentor who believes every person already has the strengths they need — sometimes they just need help finding them.
Joe lives in Scituate with his wife, two kids, and dog — and enjoys exercise, athletics, cooking, and live music in his free time.
Dr. Joe Pumphrey utilizes over a decade of experience as a school administrator, classroom teacher, special educator, high school athletics coach (baseball, football, track), and executive function coach/mentor to help individuals of all ages and abilities reach their goals.
Through his years of teaching and coaching and his extensive doctoral research into self-determination skills, Dr. Pumphrey has developed a unique approach to working with students and adults that focuses on developing skills through the lens of self-determination and self-awareness — so that each individual can one day set and reach their own goals, independently, no matter the challenge.
Dr. Pumphrey will help you capitalize on your strengths, understand your challenges, and set meaningful goals in collaboration with your support team to help you be your best.
Teaching philosophy
Built on belief, not deficit
Joe's work is guided by a simple idea: people grow fastest when they feel seen, capable, and in control. His approach blends research, classroom experience, coaching, and a genuine respect for every learner's pace.
Strength-based
Every person has existing strengths. Our work begins by identifying them, building on them, and using them as the foundation for new skills.
Holistic
School and life are connected. We look at the whole person — emotions, environment, relationships, habits, and goals — not isolated symptoms or grades.
Reflective
Growth happens when people understand themselves. Reflection builds the self-awareness that turns strategies into lasting habits.
Self-determined
The ultimate goal is independence. We teach self-determination and self-advocacy so each individual can set and reach their own goals, now and into adulthood.
Career timeline
The path to Be Your Best
From the classroom to the district office to one-on-one coaching, every step of Joe's career has shaped the way he supports students and families today.
Providence College
2000 – 2004
Joe earned his B.A. at Providence College, where the seeds of his career in education were first planted — a path shaped by a belief that every learner deserves to be understood as a whole person.
Teacher & Case Manager, The New England Center for Children
2011 – 2014
At NECC, a world leader in autism education, Joe managed student cases, coordinated individualized programs, supervised staff, and ensured program fidelity — a foundation in evidence-based, individualized teaching.
M.S. in Education, Simmons University
2014
Joe earned his master's in Severe Disabilities at Simmons University, where he was honored with the Douglas Eli Schuch Award for outstanding commitment to the social and educational integration of children with special needs.
Special Education Teacher & Liaison, Scituate Public Schools
2014 – 2023
For nine years in Scituate, Joe designed and implemented IEPs, coordinated services, supported student transitions, mentored staff, and built bridges between families, school teams, and outside agencies — while also coaching high school athletics.
Ed.D., Northeastern University
2021
Joe's doctorate in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership centered on self-determination skills — the very abilities that help individuals set goals, make decisions, and advocate for themselves across school and life.
Assistant Director of Student Services, Hanover Public Schools
2023 – 2026
Joe led district-wide special education programming and student support services, chaired IEP meetings from pre-K through age 22, supervised and mentored staff, managed out-of-district placements, and developed compliant policies and procedures.
Director of Pupil Services, Avon Public Schools
2026 – Present
Joe now leads district-wide Pupil Services — special education, McKinney-Vento, ELL, mental health, nursing, and Title IX — overseeing compliance, programming, staffing, and budgets while collaborating with families and community partners.
Founder, Be Your Best Educational Services
Today
Through Be Your Best, Joe works directly with students, adults, parents, and families — executive function and ADHD coaching, parent consultation, academic coaching, and young adult mentoring — in person on Boston's South Shore and worldwide via video.
Credentials
Education, licensure & experience
Ed.D., Northeastern University
Doctorate in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership with research focused on self-determination.
M.S. in Education, Simmons University
Recipient of the Douglas Eli Schuch Award for outstanding commitment to the social and educational integration of children with special needs.
B.A., Providence College
Where the journey in education and service began.
Massachusetts Administrator of Special Education
Licensed administrator with deep experience in IEPs, 504 plans, evaluations, compliance, and transition planning.
IMSE Administrator OG & SEI Endorsed
Certified in IMSE's Orton-Gillingham approach for administrators and endorsed in Sheltered English Immersion.
High School Athletics Coach
Baseball, football, and track — coaching that shaped a whole-person approach to growth, discipline, and confidence.
Family-Centered Practitioner
Trained and experienced in collaborating with families, caregivers, schools, and support teams to build lasting progress.
Joe also serves as Director of Pupil Services for Avon Public Schools, bringing district-level leadership experience in special education, student services, and compliance to every family he works with — including deep expertise in IEPs, 504 plans, and the school evaluation process.
Let's get acquainted
Tell me a little about yourself or your student — I'd love to hear what you're working toward.