Margaret Ackerman

Dr. Margaret Ackerman’s passion for children with disabilities and educational leadership is evident in her professional career and studies. She is excited to serve as faculty for coursework and capstone assignments in Walden University’s Education Leadership program. With over 30 years of experience in education, her areas of expertise include leadership, special education, teacher education, behavior management, and differentiated instruction.

After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she was hired as a special education teacher at Rivermont School in Lynchburg with a classroom of students with emotional disabilities, where she became principal. She earned her master’s degree in special education at the University of Lynchburg and her doctorate in educational leadership at UVA. She also served in various leadership positions across the Commonwealth, such as - Vice­ President and President of Virginia’s CCBD; President and Vice President of Piedmont Area Reading Council; as well as leadership positions with Virginia's CEC, and Central Virginia’s Coalition of Private Providers Association. In addition, she served on accreditation teams for VAISEF and is now their co-chair of governmental relations.

After a decade with Rivermont Schools, she left to start the Special Education Program at another university where she served as chair and faculty of this program, and their associate dean of online learning. During this time, she served 6 years as Vice-President, President Elect, and President for VACTE (Virginia's Association of Colleges of Teacher Education), as well as a founder of various student organizations, and on accreditations teams for NCATE and CAEP. She was also part of a panel for choosing the Virginia Teacher of the Year for a few years. Her most recent honor was being appointed to serve on Virginia’s Board of Education. She has since returned to Rivermont Schools as their Senior Vice President overseeing 18 schools for students with special needs across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dr. Ackerman received a postgraduate professional license from the Virginia Department of Education which endorses her to teach elementary education, K-12 students with learning, emotional and intellectual disabilities as well as serve in administration and supervision of K-12 students. She has volunteered in the community as a CASA volunteer, and she and her husband have taken in foster children with special needs prior to her return to Rivermont Schools.