Dr. Cassie Martin serves as the Executive Director of Special Education at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). For more than 25 years, Cassie has dedicated her professional life and learning to advancing equitable and inclusive education for students with disabilities in support of strong educational outcomes for all students across the educational system.

Throughout her career, Cassie has specialized in the creation, implementation, and scaling of inclusive practices and systems within Washington public schools. She was the architect of the Inclusionary Practices Demonstration Sites Project, which continues to be a valued resource, providing learning hubs across Washington. She is widely recognized for her ability to build and sustain strong coalitions across the state through relationships grounded in trust, accountability, and a consistent focus on positive outcomes for students and families. Her partnerships with school districts have centered on inclusive instructional practices,  service delivery models rooted in educational benefit, systems change, and organizational transformation that support all learners.

Cassie has served on the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council for the past two years. During her time on the Council, she has seen numerous connections between the Council’s mission and the work happening across Washington’s education system. She strongly believes in the power of including the lived experiences of students, families, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in shaping policy and practice through authentic co-design.

As part of her leadership role at OSPI, Cassie has been instrumental in the design and implementation of Washington’s Inclusionary Practices Technical Assistance Network (IPTN), a statewide effort aimed at reducing exclusionary practices across Washington schools. The network focuses intentionally on student groups who experience the highest levels of exclusion, recognizing that meaningful systems change requires centering those impacted by barriers that reinforce exclusion. Through this work, IPTN supports schools and districts in building more inclusive educational environments where every student belongs and thrives, with the network focusing on improving inclusionary outcomes for Black children with disabilities and students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

Cassie’s work closely aligns with the mission of the Council because both are grounded in advancing inclusion, belonging, equity, and self-determination for individuals with disabilities. The partnership between OSPI and the Council is especially important because it creates opportunities to bridge systems-level educational work with the voices and lived experiences of individuals, families, and communities directly impacted by policies and practices.

Being part of the Council has helped strengthen connections between OSPI’s statewide priorities and the broader developmental disabilities community. Cassie values the opportunity to collaborate across agencies and organizations, learn from advocates and families, and ensure that educational systems are responsive to the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities throughout their lifespan - creating the conditions that drive choice and opportunity.

Looking ahead, Cassie is excited to continue advancing collaborative work with the Council focused on inclusive systems, reducing exclusionary practices, strengthening partnerships with families and communities, and ensuring that students with disabilities experience meaningful belonging and opportunity in schools and beyond.