Williams to lead Special Education Department

Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Dr. Karen Lehman, Director of Special Education. Lehman was hired in July 2011. Dr. Tracy Williams will succeed Lehman as the interim director for the 2014-15 school year.

“It has been a privilege to serve the students with identified disabilities and their families these past 3.5 years,” said Lehman.

Williams has been in education for 32 years, including 20 years in various teaching and leadership positions for Walla Walla Public Schools. Williams spent six years as Director of Special Programs in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the Spokane Public School District, two years as Director of Curriculum for ESD 123 and four years as Assistant Professor and Department Chair for Curriculum and Instruction at Seattle Pacific University.

Williams earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University, Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Northwest Nazarene College and Bachelor of Arts from Whitworth College.

Williams’ current district project of developing an online clearinghouse for curriculum to support the new rigorous Common Core learning standards in Math and English/Language will continue under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent Dr. Linda Boggs, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment and Technology Director Forrest Baker.

“We are fortunate to have a talented leader like Tracy Williams available to step in and guide this important department,” said Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan. “She has many connections in the district from her previous experience and has built her reputation based on trust through sound leadership.”