Roilyn Graves

Roilyn Graves is an influencer, change agent, and special education enthusiast. She is a leading force when it comes to student success in special education. With over 15 years of experience in urban special education, Roilyn remains committed to working with students, teachers, and administrative teams on by creating high-quality, equitable, and inclusive environments where teachers and students are successful.

Roilyn, who comes from a family of educators, stepped naturally into the role of educator. While in college, Roilyn spent her spare time volunteering in inner city schools working with students with disabilities. It was there that she first accepted and stepped into what she
believes to be her “natural calling”. This calling led Roilyn to join Teach for America in the fight against educational inequity. After her two-year commitment, Roilyn founded a mentoring organization, (L.A.D.I.E.S) which would support young Black and Latinx girls in navigating through a system that wasn’t designed for their success. Roilyn can often be heard telling young girls “nothing is impossible when you create the possibilities”.

As Director of Special Education for Envision Schools, Roilyn is devoted to ensuring that special education students, especially black and brown boys, receive a rigorous, hands-on, culturally relevant, and engaging education where they are held to high expectations in and out of the classroom. Roilyn has the first-hand experience in developing and implementing inclusive special education programs with high success rates. She was an instrumental founding teacher for one of Washington DC’s most successful Inclusion programs and has also served as a founding administrator where she was able to decrease the suspension rates of black and brown boys who have been labeled as special ed. Through her work, Roilyn was able to share best practices in special education with the England Board of Education in 2011.

Roilyn holds a Master’s Degree from St. Joseph’s University and a Bachelor’s degree from Howard University. She lives and works in Oakland, CA and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Roilyn loves music and spends the weekends teaching herself how to paint.