The White House Office of the Press Secretary today made the following announcement:

The President intends to nominate Joanne M. Wilson to be Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration at the Department of Education. She is Founder and Director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind and also serves as a consultant to the Connecticut Board of Education and Services for the Blind, the New Jersey Orientation and Adjustment Center for the Blind and the New York Commission for the Blind. Wilson was formerly a Continuing Education Instructor at Louisiana Tech University where she taught Braille and Mobility for Blind Students. She taught second and fourth grade in Ames, Iowa. She is the Founder and Chairperson of the Louisiana Rehabilitation Services Council and is a member of numerous other civic and professional organizations. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Iowa State University.

Regarding President Bush's selection of Wilson for the position, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said: "Joanne Wilson is a former teacher with a wealth of experience creating educational and professional opportunities for people with disabilities. She is uniquely well-qualified to lead our Rehabilitation Services Administration."

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