HAMMONDSVILLE — Longtime educator Christina Henderson is taking on a new administrative role as special education director for the Edison Local School District.

An Amsterdam resident, Henderson joined the district on Sept. 3 and has spent nearly three decades in the special education field. Most recently, she was the transition to work coordinator at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School and said she has always been focused on a career in administration.

“This is my 29th year in education,” she said. “It’s always been a goal to be a special education director and it was the route I wanted to take.”

In a way, she has also returned to her roots as an Edison Local alumna. Henderson graduated from the former Edison North High School, now Stanton Elementary, in 1991 and says she walks the building’s halls today but sees things in a different light.

“I see familiar faces and I get the chance to work with people I’ve known all my life, people I knew when I was a student, so I’m coming home.”

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and special education in 1996 and a master’s degree in educational administration in 2000 at Franciscan University of Steubenville, followed by her transition to work endorsement from Kent State. Henderson began as a special education teacher for cross-categorical grades K-2 at Toronto City Schools and moved on to the high school, where she also served as a track coach and was a volleyball coach at Stanton. She headed to the JVS for one year but moved with her husband, Aaron, when he was relocated to Michigan for his job. She worked there at Lake Orion Schools for two years but later returned home to raise her twins, J.D. and Sophia, who are now juniors at Edison High School. Henderson went on to work in the TTW program at the Harrison Career Center before heading back to the JVS, where she helmed that program until this year.

“When I got my administrative degree 24 years ago, it was my goal to be a special education director. When opportunities came up before, my children were younger and it was not a good time. Now that they are older, I felt I could make my move and be effective in this position.”

Henderson said she is focused on serving Edison students and families to the best of her ability.

“At the JVS, I had students with a variety of different disabilities from different school districts in the county and dealt with outside agencies with a focus on transitioning students to careers,” she said. “In this role, I am involved with special needs from preschool to graduation and I get to focus on Edison Local kids.”

While she’s no longer in the classroom, Henderson is still busy overseeing the district’s special education program to ensure the students succeed. She said the transition has been smooth and she is fortunate to have the support of district leaders and colleagues, plus she is learning the ropes along the way.

“It’s very different and there is a lot to learn, but the support has been phenomenal,” she added. “I’m learning the role and how to best serve the students and families in this district. I think learning this role and what is needed and how I can best do it for them is my goal. I want to be very effective at this role.