Dr. Supreet Anand has been working in the field of education for more than twenty-five years. She currently serves as the deputy director for the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA). As the deputy director for OELA she informs policy on English Learners (ELs) and supervises OELA’s role in disseminating information about educational research, practices, and policies for ELs through the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. She also supervises the discretionary grant programs under Title III. Previously, Dr. Anand worked as a supervisory group leader leading a state support group in the Office of State Support (OSS) at the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED). Ms. Anand holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics and language education from University of Maryland, College Park; an MS in applied linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. and an MA in English literature from Punjab University, India.

Dr. David Cantrell serves as Director for the Office of Program and Grantee Support Services, with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), in the U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC. He is responsible for overseeing the technical assistance investments funded by OESE serving all 50-states, the U.S. Insular Areas, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Technical assistance services address a wide range of educational topics designed to increase the educational outcomes of children and youth. He has 29-years of educational experience serving as Director, Special Education and Student Support Services, School Administrator, and Special Educator. 

Hamed Negron-Perez Education Program Specialist in the Office of Safe and Healthy Students.  He is the Competition Manger for ED’s School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant program, a Federal Programs Officer for the Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant program and serves as the Contract’s Office Representative for the Title IV-A TA Center.  Hamed is a former Secondary School Principal and Science Teacher with over 14-years of experience.  Hamed retired from the US Navy Reserves after 25-years of service.

Christine Pilgrim has served as an Education Program Specialist for the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the past ten years. In this role, she has supported implementation efforts of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) through her work as a program officer for a number of States, and led OSEP’s Data Implementation Team which oversees the analysis of States’ State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report submissions and the Determinations process.  In addition, she facilitates the collaborative efforts between OSEP and other offices within the Department to ensure coordinated support to States as they engage in efforts to improve outcomes for all students. 

Tara Ramsey is the Director of the Office of State and Grantee Relations in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the Department of Education. She was previously the director of Migrant Education, Indian Education at the Department. Prior to working at the Department, Tara taught English in Mexico, was an instructor at a community college, and was a discretionary grants director.

Patrick Rooney is the Director of the Office of School Support and Accountability. In that capacity, he administers several of the Department’s formula grant programs, including Title I, Part A; Title I, Part B; Title I, Part D; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; 21st Century Community Learning Centers; and McKinney-Vento Homeless Education.  

Ruth Ryder is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy and Programs – Formula Grants in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) at the U.S. Department of Education.  In this role, Ms. Ryder oversees a broad range of management, policy, and program functions related to formula and discretionary grant programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA).  Ms. Ryder was previously the deputy director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which she joined in 1988. Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Ryder was a program administrator in a Washington state school district. There she had responsibility for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title 1 and Title II programs, state-remediation, gifted education, outcome-based education, and state- and district-wide testing programs.  Ms. Ryder has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and elementary education and a master’s degree in special education.