Dr. Richardson is joining New Horizons Regional Education Program as the Program Coordinator for the Center for Autism 9-12 and Newport Academy ED/ID programs. Dr. Richardson supervises the campus located at Woodside Lane.

Dr. Richardson has over 18 years of teaching and leadership experience in the field of special education, most recently serving as the Assistant Director and Acting Senior Director of Learning Support – Special Education Services for Norfolk Public Schools. She started her career in education with Williamsburg/James City County Public Schools and has served in various teaching and leadership positions locally with Hampton City Schools and in other divisions in Northern Virginia. She has supported and/or supervised all aspects of special education programming within the school division, as well as programming for students receiving services through a continuum of service delivery models including itinerant, public separate day, private day, specialized school settings, hospitals, residential settings, detention, jail and home-based services.

Dr. Richardson is a lifelong learner and holds a doctorate degree in Adult Education, an Ed.S. in Special Education Leadership, and a masters in Cross-Categorical Special Education all from Regent University. She also holds a masters in Human Resource Development from The George Washington University and received her bachelor of arts degree in Speech Communication/Dispute Resolution from James Madison University.

Dr. Richardson is passionate about using a systems approach to build efficacy and leadership capacity with teachers and staff, strengthen relationships with and empower parents, build community, and foster positive academic and social-emotional outcomes to ensure access and opportunity for all students.