Traci Royal has been named the exceptional children regional consultant for the Reich College of Education (RCOE) at Appalachian State University.
Her position with the RCOE involves a collaborative partnership between the Exceptional Children (EC) division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the RCOE. She will provide technical assistance to the school district leaders in the Northwest (region 7) and Western (region 8) regions of North Carolina in all matters related to special education including program planning and development, management and evaluation, program compliance, and continuous improvement.
“On a daily basis, I will be supporting Exceptional Children district leaders who supervise the programs for students with disabilities from preschool through 12th grade,” said Royal.
“Having been in their shoes, I hold the highest respect for the work that they perform and want to find ways to help make their jobs easier,” she noted.
“Starting this school year in total remote learning environments or hybrid learning models poses many challenges for district EC leaders,” she said. “Together we will continue to learn creative ways to provide instruction and meet the needs of our students even during these unprecedented times.”
"Together we will continue to learn creative ways to provide instruction and meet the needs of our students even during these unprecedented times."
“I am looking forward to the day when I can visit and network with the leaders I support face-to-face,” she added.
Royal received her bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her master’s degree in school administration (k-12) from Gardner Webb University.
Before joining Appalachian, she has been an EC teacher (elementary, middle, and high school levels) with Cleveland County Schools and Stokes County Schools; Assistant Director of Special Programs and Director of Special Programs for Stokes County Schools; and EC Program Executive Director for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools.
When asked why she chose Appalachian State University Royal said, “I am excited that this position is affiliated with the Reich College of Education affording me the opportunity to collaborate with an institution of higher education around current trends and practices in the special education field as well as innovating the preparation of special education teachers.”
Traci Royal
