Valerie Williams named OSEP Director

12/13/2021

John Eisenberg
NASDSE Congratulates Valerie C. Williams On Her Appointment As Director, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education
 
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) is pleased to congratulate Valerie C. Williams on her appointment as Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education.
 
Sworn in as director on Dec. 13. 2021, Mrs. Williams served commendably as NASDSE’s Senior Director of Government Relations and External Affairs. NASDSE supports state-level special education administrators to improve outcomes and functional results for students with disabilities.
 
Previously, Mrs. Williams worked with nonprofit organizations and the U.S. Congress, serving on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, advancing disability policy and civil rights. Before her work in policy, Mrs. Williams had nearly 20 years of experience in finance and budgeting with several federal agencies for multi-million dollar acquisition programs.
 
She has held numerous board memberships in local, state, and national organizations dedicated to ensuring the education, self-determination, independence, and empowerment of children and adults with disabilities. She believes inclusion must be intentional and requires collaboration and communication.
 
As OSEP Director, Mrs. Williams will be responsible for communicating the Administration's priorities and initiatives in early intervention and the education of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities; responding to constituency concerns and needs and providing leadership for the development of national consensus on the issues facing special education. She will also be responsible for the effective implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal special education law, advising the OSERS Assistant Secretary, and providing leadership to the policy development, management, and resource allocation activities of OSEP, including IDEA monitoring and grant administration.
 
Mrs. Williams is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University. She has a unique perspective, having experience on Capitol Hill, in advocacy organizations, supporting state special education leaders, and as the parent of a son with Down syndrome.
 
“While we will miss Valerie and her unparalleled dedication to students with disabilities,” said NASDSE Executive Director John Eisenberg, “We can think of no greater choice to serve as Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the U.S. Department of Education. We are pleased and look forward to working with her in this role.”
#####
The National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), is the national nonprofit organization that represents the state directors of special education, the IDEA Part B data managers and the IDEA 619 coordinators in the states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Agency, the Bureau of Indian Education, the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States.