WATERLOO - Helping students with disabilities has undergirded Patrick Clancy's career in education.

He worked with them as a teacher, consultant and administrator for 22 years before joining Waterloo Community Schools as director of special education in 1997. Special education duties remained part of Clancy's job four years later when he became the district's associate superintendent for educational and student services.

"I know I'm a very strong advocate of those with disabilities," Clancy said. "I went into education because of special education, to be a part of special education."

Clancy's focus will remain on a segment of special-education students - the visually impaired - when he leaves for a new statewide position later this month. He will become superintendent of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton and administrator of the State System for Vision Services. His last day in Waterloo is July 15.

"I think this is a job that's got his name on it," said Dewitt Jones, who just retired as Waterloo's superintendent. "I think it's an excellent fit."

"Patrick has made significant contributions to our district," said Bev Smith, associate superintendent of human resources and equity. "His background and knowledge in special education - paired with his leadership abilities - have enhanced our understanding of the importance of providing a full continuum of services for students with disabilities.

"He is highly respected by his colleagues and employees," she added. "I will truly miss his insight."

Clancy is "viewed in the state of Iowa as one of the leaders" in special education, said Jones.

"His knowledge of special education and student services has just been outstanding. It's a huge loss for Waterloo and a great gain for Vinton, no question."

Clancy, 58, earned a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education from Mankato (Minn.) State University and a master's degree in special education, with an emphasis on students facing severe disabilities, from the University of Northern Iowa. He also has completed some post-graduate work from UNI in educational leadership.

His work experience before becoming a district administrator started with five years of teaching disabled students in Decorah and Waterloo. For the next 17 years, he held various positions in Clear Lake with what is now part of Area Education Agency 267. He worked as a special education consultant, principal and coordinator.

Clancy said that he has "greatly benefited" from his time working in the Waterloo district. His duties during more than a decade have touched most program areas.

"I really felt that I've been enriched by that experience."

But the superintendent's job piqued his interest.

"I look forward to the leadership opportunity, to being a superintendent," Clancy said. "The numbers of children educated on campus at Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School is very small."

That's a change from how it once was.

"In the past, most came there," he said, of visually impaired students. "And the services have now been much more distributed around the state."

The total number of visually impaired children from birth to grade 12 that are served around the state is still relatively small, though, about 400.

Educators now seek to serve disabled students in the "least restrictive environment." Frequently, that means at local schools with special education services. However, a range of options remain necessary to meet every students' needs.

"The specialty school does serve a purpose in that continuum of services," Clancy noted, particularly when a child has "significant" needs. "If a child's needs cannot be met in that general education setting, then it's not the least restrictive environment.

"It might even be for some children a short-term placement," he added. "Just because somebody comes to a specialty school doesn't mean they will always be educated there."

The possibility of serving in a coordinating role for those students around the state was another enticement of the position for him. The statewide administrator is a new component of the job.

Clancy said there has been coordination of services between the state's Board of Regents, the Braille School and the State Board of Education. Naming an administrator creates a more "intentional" effort, so officials can "make sure we have effective and efficient services across the state," he said.

"I see my charge as really being able to ensure that children who are blind or visually impaired have access to services no matter where they live."

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.