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Vielka Scott-Marcus is committed to ensuring that students with special needs receive equal access in the least restrictive environment.

After 10 years as a speech language pathologist in schools, incarceration facilities and long-term care centers, Vielka transitioned to education and executed various leadership roles with D.C. Public Schools, ranging from director of related services to chief of staff in the Office of Specialized Instruction. During her tenure, Vielka was charged with seeing that every school was equipped with necessary personnel and intervention programming to ensure compliance and instruction quality in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.

Vielka’s desire to more directly affect student achievement led her to the role of principal at Payne Elementary. There, she collaborated with Gallaudet University to develop the district’s only multigrade class taught wholly through American Sign Language. Currently, she refines and develops Friendship’s curriculum.

Vielka earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at Alabama A&M University, a master’s degree in speech-language pathology with a concentration in special education at Long Island University-Brooklyn, and an executive master’s degree in leadership at Georgetown University. She lives in Maryland with her husband and younger son.