The Board of Trustees for the Arkansas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired and Arkansas School for the Deaf interviewed a total of 10 certified and qualified candidates for both superintendent positions. At its meeting tonight, the board voted to name Walsh as superintendent.
“Nicole Walsh has years of experience in deaf and hard of hearing education from around the country and is the perfect candidate to lead the Arkansas School for the Deaf. All Arkansas students deserve a quality education in an environment tailored to their needs, and I know Nicole will help us fulfill that commitment. She will also be a key partner in our effort to improve the Arkansas School for the Deaf and the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired as we make long-delayed investments in these critical institutions,” said Governor Sanders.
“Ms. Walsh’s extensive certifications and experience with both deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students make her the perfect person for this role,” Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said. “Not only is she an educator, but Ms. Walsh is committed to ensuring students at both schools receive a high-quality education, have access to state-of-the-art facilities, and receive the supports they need to excel both at school and in life. Students at both schools deserve the best education possible, and I look forward to working with her, as we focus on improving educational options at both schools.”
“The board interviewed several qualified candidates; however, Ms. Walsh’s education philosophy and qualifications positioned her as the front runner,” Board Chair Robert Fagan said. “As a certified teacher for both deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students, Ms. Walsh brings a broad, fresh perspective to addressing the challenges at the schools. We look forward to working with her as she transitions to her new role, and we are confident students will thrive under her leadership.”
“I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as superintendent,” Walsh said. “Although there is much work to be done to improve student learning and facilities, I am eager to roll up my sleeves and collaborate with experts at both schools and ADE, as well as families and the community, to maximize learning opportunities and create an educational experience that deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired students throughout the state deserve. Together, these schools will become a model of excellence for the nation.”
Since February 2023, Walsh has served as the Exceptional Student Education coordinator for deaf/hard of hearing and visual impairment for the Florida Virtual School K-12. In that role, she coordinates services and evaluations for deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students statewide to ensure services meet state and federal compliance laws. She also works with agencies that provide services to students.
Walsh also currently serves as the deaf/hard of hearing content expert for the Resource Materials and Technology Center, a position she has held since 2021. In that role, she develops training and instruction materials for teachers of deaf/hard of hearing students and provides guidance to the Florida Department of Education.
From November 2017 to February 2023, Walsh was a deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired teacher and program specialist for Volusia County Schools in Florida, where she provided coaching support to general education and special education teachers. In that role, she supervised 27 staff including interpreters and teachers of deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students. She also taught students and oversaw the department’s budget.
Walsh began her career as a teacher of the deaf at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, followed by serving as a special education teacher at Woodland Park School District in Colorado. She moved to Florida in 2016 and began teaching students with autism in Flagler County, Florida.
She is a graduate of Flagler College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education and Elementary Education in 2010. She received a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2021 from the American College of Education. She holds the following certifications: Deaf/Hard of Hearing K-12, ESE Generalist K-12, Elementary Education K-6, Reading and ESOL Endorsed, Visual Impairment K-12, and Educational Leadership.
In 2021, Walsh was named president of the Florida Educators for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, a position she held for three years. She also has advanced skills in American Sign Language.