Tim Villegas

About Tim Villegas

Tim Villegas is an internationally recognized expert in inclusive education and has served as MCIE’s Chief Growth Officer since 2026, after previously leading communications beginning in 2020. With over 16 years of experience as a special education teacher and program specialist, Tim, a self-described inclusionist, has been a strong advocate for learners with extensive support needs to be included in general education settings.He launched the Think Inclusive blog and podcast in 2012, producing over 200 episodes. Tim has also appeared on over 20 podcasts and presented at numerous conferences. In 2020, he founded the newsletter The Weeklyish and, in 2023, produced the audio documentary series Inclusion Stories.

Experience

1. Director of Communications

   Maryland Coalition For Inclusive Education

   Aug 2020 — Present

   Tim joined MCIE in 2020 as the Director of Communications to- Develop and execute strategic communications plans to promote inclusive education and MCIE\'s partnerships with school districts across the United States- Lead and safeguard the MCIE\'s brand identity, ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms- Cultivate media and influencer relationships to expand MCIE\'s reach and thought leadership- Lead the communications and marketing efforts for MCIE, leveraging extensive background in inclusive education- Act as a primary media contact and spokesperson, representing MCIE to the public- Monitor media coverage and public opinion to inform communication strategies- Produce and maintain the weekly Think Inclusive podcast, which became the official podcast of MCIE in 2020, including writing, editing, sound design, and coordinating interview schedules- Produce additional video and audio content for use with educational partners to move inclusive practices forward- Write a semiweekly blog called The Weeklyish, which focuses on what is happening in the world of inclusive education- Maintain an editorial calendar for the blog, podcast, email marketing, and social media- Implement and manage MCIE\'s website and work with designers and developers for additional changes if needed- Develop articles, presentations, and media kits to communicate MCIE\'s message- Serve as a copy editor or ghostwriter for various communications materials- Develop communication strategies to engage key stakeholders, including donors, partners, and community members- Manage the communications budget effectively to maximize impact- Manage the communications team.

Education

• California State University, Fullerton

  Teaching Credential, Moderate/Severe Disabilities

  2003 — 2005

• Azusa Pacific University

  BA, Psychology

  1996 — 2000