National Institute 2019

Monica Verra-Tirado
Chief
Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services


Monica Verra-Tirado, Ed.D, was appointed as Chief of the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services within the Florida Department of Education in 2012. She is responsible for Florida’s implementation and general supervision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004), coordinating Florida’s State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report, and managing the distribution of IDEA Part B and Part B Preschool grants. Dr. Verra-Tirado provides leadership in numerous PreK–12 statewide initiatives and oversees an array of discretionary projects. Dr. Verra-Tirado is committed to collaborative partnerships among families, school district personnel, and agency representatives to ensure that Florida’s educational programs meet the needs of ALL students. She facilitates the State Advisory Committee (SAC) for the Education of Exceptional Students. Dr. Verra-Tirado looks forward to communications with legislators, instructional leaders, agency partners, and parents. Since joining the bureau, Dr. Verra-Tirado has worked towards promoting inclusion, shifting from compliance to results accountability, increasing visibility in districts as well as improving the graduation and dropout rates among students with exceptionalities. Dr. Verra-Tirado gained extensive experience at the classroom, school and district levels, including serving as director of exceptional student education in a Florida district before joining the bureau.

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