To Table of Contents at Easterseals . And if I hadn ' t been in Easterseals , I would never be here . I [ have ] been very lucky for a clueless kid who didn ' t know what she wanted to do when she was in college . I ' ve been really lucky to have this magnificent career and meet these wonderful people and have the opportunity to serve . It ' s not by my own design , it ' s all been serendipity .
How did you prepare to start working in the Department of Education ? My husband was very sick in 2018 and 2019 while I was working for the American Physical Therapy Association . I had left Easterseals , my daughter had gone off to college , and it was time to try something new . I am grateful beyond words for my time with the American Physical Therapy Association . When the pandemic hit , it made me think about what it is that I really want to do between Ralph ' s illness and the pandemic . I was getting restless and wanted to do something to serve . I had always been a Joe Biden fan . In fact , before the pandemic , I took my mom to the Iowa Caucus so she could caucus for Biden . I believed then , and believe now , that he was the person with the right temperament for what our country needs right now . So , I started talking to people who were involved in the campaign saying , “ What would you think if I wanted to work for the Department of Education ?” I got some positive feedback . Then it became clear that Biden would be the next president . I think for me , what was most attractive was that I had spent all this time working , mostly at Easter Seals , to see how the policies we write in Washington are actually implemented when real people are involved and what needs to happen for the policy to be meaningful .
I have helped shape the policy
Ralph and Katy Neas of the federal law , but I also was able to learn from the Easterseals affiliates that made it real for kids and families . My time at the US Department of Education is a great way to have this next chapter of my career . [ The pandemic ] has taken a huge toll not only on kids and families but on school systems , people who work in schools . [ It ] made me realize how vulnerable the whole education system is for everybody . To be a part of a group of people that wants to try to help is an honor . I feel like my whole career has prepared me for this moment . I feel the folks that I get to work with every day are just magnificent ;