~ B.A. – Appalachian State University, 1970

 ~ M.A. – Appalachian State University, 1972

 ~ Ed.D. – University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1979

Dr. McKethan has directed both small and large urban district special education programs. “leading-edge” innovations are the hallmarks of his leadership.  Using Federal resources and involving parents, community leaders, and educators, Dr. McKethan led the development of a local shared vision for the education of disabled children. He was a leader among his peers by first using technology to capture and manage EC student information.  Dr. McKethan’s focus on instruction for disabled children resulted in a system-wide initiative on educating handicapped children in regular classrooms using co-teaching and learning strategies.  The initiatives resulted in many disabled children being reassigned from “zone-based” special education separate classrooms back to their “home-based” schools.   In response to Federal and State accountability initiatives, Dr. McKethan led planning efforts that resulted in a master plan to create expanded options for serving more disabled children in their “home” schools.  Dr. McKethan served as a reviewer of NASDSE proposals on disproportionate minority representation in special education.  More recently he has worked as a Special Project Manager for School Reform in the Cumberland County (NC) Schools.  He also serves as a consultant for special education services at MicroScribe Publishing, Inc. 

His professional memberships include CEC, CASE and the ELA.  Dr. McKethan served on the North Carolina Legislative Commission on Children with Special Health Care Needs and the NC State Board of Education Accountability Compliance Commission. He is the recipient of the NC CEC Felix Barker Award for exemplary leadership in special education and the NC Department of Public Instruction Distinguished Service Award.  Dr. McKethan is a multi-state and national consultant and workshop presenter.  In addition, he is the author of a number of articles on Section 504 and formerly authored “Section 504 Compliance Keys,” a column in the Section 504 Compliance Advisor.   Dr. McKethan is the author of Section 504: From Referral to Placement, available from LRP Publications.