Sarah Drinkwater, Assistant Superintendent, Oregon Department of Education

Sarah Drinkwater, Ph.D., obtained her doctorate in special education, with an emphasis in early childhood, in 1988 from the University of Oregon.  She worked as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in early childhood special education personnel preparation, and also taught at the University of Nevada, Reno, in the College of Education.

Her public education administrative career began in the Highline School District (WA) as a special education coordinator supporting programs preschool through transition.  She then moved to Federal Way Public Schools (WA) where she spent 8 years as a Coordinator and Director in Student Support Services.  As a Coordinator, she managed elementary and secondary special education programs, health services, Head Start and counselor services.  As the Director of the department, she also supervised ELL and Gifted/Talented programs, as well as Title I services.  She was the Executive Director of Student Services with the Peninsula School District (WA) for eleven years, overseeing all Title I/Special Education/School Nurses/Early Childhood/ELL/Safe and Drug Free Schools/Readiness to Learn programs.