Angela Roland

I am guided by a family-first philosophy, and I have dedicated my career going to bat for those who feel they don't have a voice. My career path, which began in the classroom as a paraprofessional, led me to my current role as Director of Services at the Florida Department of Education, is defined by a commitment to clarity, compliance, and advocacy. From public, private, for-profit, and charter schools working with students with disabilities, I have gained a broad lens and understand the real-world needs of not only students with disabilities but all students and the very families who support them. Having been the liaison for multi-million-dollar state funded grants and reviewing and approving policy and procedures for state corrective actions, I flourish in interagency collaboration and advocacy. I am driven by creating positive alliances that protect student rights and empower families to thrive! 

Transforming complex state policy into district and community level solutions. From ESE Coordinator to State Lead then Program Director at a State Educational Agency, I specialize in: 

• Strategic Oversight - Managing IDEA state-funded projects for over 180,000 students with disabilities, strategic planning for state performance plan and annual performance report for federal indicators.
• Conflict Resolution: Holding one of the highest Bureau records for parent/district mediation.
• Legislative Navigation: Expert in interpretation of Florida Administrative Code, Florida Statutes and federal law.
• Cross-Departmental Orchestration: Aligning Hope Florida with the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services and Office of School Choice to create a seamless continuum of care for students with disabilities and their families.

With a career defined by both high-level state oversight and a deep-rooted empathy for the families I serve, I am spurred on by the challenge of dismantling bureaucratic silos to create seamless, integrated systems of support. My goal is to continue building strategic, mission-driven alliances that support a greater cause and empower families and students to thrive. 

It sounds cliche' but I am a lifelong learner who holds a Master of Education specialization in Special Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and ESE (Summa Cum Laude) from Flagler College. This academic foundation, paired with their Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM) designation, provides a strong framework for my work in legislative compliance and student advocacy.