Richard Villa

Speaking/Consultation Areas: Motivation, inclusion, school restructuring, creativity, and collaborative teaming

Presentation Style: Humor, personal anecdotes, and practical teaching and administrative options

Richard Villa received his doctorate from the University of Vermont in Educational Administration. Dr. Villa currently is President of Bayridge Educational Consortium in Colchester, Vermont. His primary field of expertise is the development of administrative and instructional support systems for educating all students within general education settings. Dr. Villa has taught basic skills for students enrolled in grades 6, 7, and 8; biology, chemistry, and physics for students in grades 7 and 8; students eligible for special education in grades 7 through 12; governmental studies to students in grade 12; and education courses to graduate and undergraduate university students. Dr. Villa has served as President and Chief Negotiator for a teachers union,Special Education Coordinator, Pupil Personnel Services Director, and Director of Instructional Services and Staff Development.

Dr. Villa is recognized as an educational leader with the commitment and the conceptual, technical, and interpersonal skills to inspire and work collaboratively with others to implement current and emerging exemplary educational practices. The result has been the inclusion of children with intensive cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges as full members of the general education program in the districts where he worked and with which he has consulted.

Dr. Villa has authored over 40 articles and book chapters regarding school restructuring, collaborative teaming, staff development, and administrative and instructional strategies supportive of including students with disabilities. He has co-edited three books for teachers, administrators, and parents: Creating an Inclusive School, Restructuring for Caring and Effective Education: An Administrative Guide to Creating Heterogeneous Schools, and Creativity and Collaborative Learning: A Practical Guide for Empowering Students and Teachers

Dr. Villa has presented at international, national, and state educational conferences and has provided technical assistance to the United States, Canadian, and Honduran Departments of Education, university personnel, and public school systems.