Minnesota
MINNESOTA
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sonia Smith |
| Title | Director of Special Education |
| Year Started as State Director | 2023 |
| sonia.smith@state.mn.us | |
| Website | education.mn.gov |
Sonia Smith
Bio
Sonia R. Smith, J.D. is the Director of the Special Education Division. The division is responsible for federally mandated monitoring activities, and providing support, training and technical assistance to educators and other stakeholders that provide services to students with disabilities and their families.
With more than 25 years of experience in education, Sonia brings a multistate perspective. She has worked in various capacities at the state, district and campus level, serving as a special education director, assistant school principal, district assessment coordinator, school advocate-special education specialist, and a resource specialist teacher.
Sonia earned a J.D. with an emphasis in alternative dispute resolution from Mitchell-Hamline School of Law, a master of education in special education, a master of science in professional counseling, a master of arts in organizational leadership, and a bachelor of science in organizational leadership. She also holds a certificate in conflict resolution, theory and practice, a certificate in mediation, a director of special education license, a K-12 principal license, and a K-12 teaching license in multiple states.