Episode 30 - Michelle Norman - Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE

Podcast
Written By Hannah Becker

Michelle Norman - Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE, Navy Spouse, Military Family Advocate

In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, I sit down with Michelle Norman, Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit dedicated to educating, advising, and advocating for exceptional military families navigating special education and the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).

A Navy spouse of over 30 years and mother to a daughter with cerebral palsy, Michelle transformed her family’s personal challenges into a national movement. From testifying before Congress to shaping policy changes at the federal and state levels, her leadership has amplified the voices of thousands of military families. Recognized with awards such as the MOAA Changemaker Award, the Kayla Bower Advocacy Award, and the 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Navy Spouse of the Year, Michelle continues to drive meaningful improvements for military children with special needs.

We discuss the origins of her advocacy journey, the mission and impact of Partners in PROMISE, and the biggest barriers families still face in the EFMP and IEP systems. Michelle also shares practical advice for spouses who want to make a difference, reflections on her congressional testimony, and her vision for the future of military special education and disability policy.

Whether you’re a military parent, advocate, or leader, this episode offers hard-earned lessons, strategies, and a call to action for building a stronger support system for exceptional military families.

Important Links:

Here are a few links to resources mentioned in the interview:

Guest Bio:

A native of San Antonio, TX, Michelle is a Navy military spouse and the Executive Director and Founder of Partners in PROMISE (PiP), a non-profit organization focused on protecting the rights of military children in special education and disability communities to ensure they receive equal access to an education.  Through research, PiP develops data-informed solutions that equip military parents, inform leaders, and enable exceptional military students to thrive.

Her daughter is the inspiration behind Michelle’s advocacy.  She was born prematurely at 27 weeks, resulting in multiple medical diagnoses, including cerebral palsy.  After years of navigating the complexities of the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and the special education system, Michelle realized she was not alone in her struggles as a parent and caregiver.  She became a passionate advocate for all military children with special needs and their families, leading to her testifying before Congress.  Her determination and background in problem-solving as a previous engineer have resulted in top-level changes over the last decade within the EFMP (multiple NDAA provisions), State Education, and Disability communities.

Twenty years later, Michelle felt a calling to advocate at a higher level.  She is pursuing an M.A. in Government with a concentration in Law and Public Policy from Regent University.

Married to Rear Admiral Cassidy Norman, USN, for over 29 years, they have two children.  They enjoy traveling, watching college football, and volunteering within the community.  RDML Norman is currently the U.S. Fleet Forces Director of Operations, Plans, Doctrine, Policy, International Engagement, and Fleet/Joint Training (N3/N5/N7) in Norfolk, VA.

Michelle encourages military spouses to get involved and speak up to support military families.  In 2023, she was appointed to the Virginia Council of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) and serves on multiple military and veteran Advisory Boards.  She was awarded the MOAA Changemaker Award, the William and Mary PELE Law Clinic Kayla Bower Advocacy Award, and the 2019 AFI Navy Spouse of the Year for her advocacy efforts.  She looks forward to the challenges of Cassidy’s larger roles with the Navy and supporting the quality of life for all military families.

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Hannah Becker
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