WESTMINSTER — The Windham Northeast Supervisory Union has lured away the state Agency of Education’s top administrator for special education to fill its own vacancy.
Heather Willis-Doxsee will start her job as director of student services for the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union on Oct. 1, said Superintendent Andrew Haas. She will be paid $120,000.
Willis-Doxsee and her family currently live in Bellows Falls, having moved to Vermont from Florida when she got the job at the Vermont education agency last year.
Willis-Doxsee has been a fourth-grade teacher in Georgia and a special education administrator in several school districts in Florida, for both local public school districts and the state Department of Education.
“Dr. Willis-Doxsee’s commitment to student success, their deep understanding of special education, and their ability to lead with both compassion and vision make them the perfect fit for this role,” said Haas. “We are excited to welcome them to our team and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students, families, and staff.”
Currently, 31 percent of all the students in the four-town district receive special services, Haas said, who himself is a former WNESU special services director.
As the director of student services, Willis-Doxsee will focus on enhancing the support structures for all students within WNESU, ensuring that every child has access to the resources they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, he said.
He said she will also “work closely with teachers, administrators, and parents to continue building a strong, inclusive community that prioritizes the well-being and success of every student,” Haas said.
“I am honored to join Windham Northeast Supervisory Union as the Director of Student Services,” said Willis-Doxsee, in a release. “I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated educators, families, and community members to support our students in reaching their full potential. Together, we can create an environment where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.”
Willis-Doxsee attended the WNESU board’s meeting Wednesday evening, and introduced her family, which includes six children and her husband.
She said when she and her family moved to Vermont, they could have moved anywhere, but they chose Bellows Falls. They even live on School Street, she said.
“We fell in love with the community,” she said, noting her children were in local schools and one had had its first day of kindergarten earlier on Wednesday.
She said the family could often be seen walking around the village.
“Welcome everyone,” said WNESU Chairwoman Cheryl Charles of Westminster. “We’re unanimously delighted.”
Willis-Doxsee received her doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale in 2015, and her master’s degree in special education from Florida State University in Tallahassee. She is a graduate of Flagler College, where she also taught.
Contact Susan Smallheer at ssmallheer@reformer.com.