Special Education and Section 504

Eric Richards has 35 years of Executive/Administrative experience focused and the rights and aspirations of children and adults with disabilities and their families.  He served as Executive Director of non-profit organizations in Michigan, Iowa, and Nebraska (1983-2002) before moving to Oregon to become Director of Operations in the Oregon Department of Education’s Office of Special Education (2002-June 2010).  He then served as Student Services Coordinator and Assistant Director of Student Services for Salem-Keizer School District 24J from July 2010 to June 2016, and has been Director of Student Services for Salem-Keizer School District 24J since July 2016.

Eric holds a Masters Degree in Counseling from Central Michigan University, a Masters Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Iowa State University, and an EdS from Lewis and Clark College in Educational Leadership.  He also completed the Initial School Administrative Licensure and Continuing School Administrative Licensure Programs through Lewis and Clark College.