Dr. Rupard retired in 2017 after 39 years in public education spanning Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona. She came to DMS out of retirement for the 2023-2024 school year. Dr. Rupard obtained her bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI in the areas of K-8 education with a specialty in teaching the blind and visually impaired. She obtained her master’s in teaching the severe and profoundly disabled from The University of Houston in 1990. In 1999 she earned her doctorate in Applied Behavioral Studies (AKA Special Education) from Oklahoma State University. In her 40-year career Dr. Rupard has taught ages birth - 60 and was a level I sign language interpreted in TX. She has been a student, teacher, supervisor and coordinator for special education, principal and a District level director for Special Education. Dr. Rupard works part-time at DMS and has 4 grandchildren attending DMS as well as a 2024 graduate.