Willie Ross President, CEO Bert Carter Inducted into High School’s Hall of Fame

LONGMEADOW — Bert Carter, president and CEO of Willie Ross School for the Deaf (WRSD) in Longmeadow, has been inducted into the Boonton High School (BHS) Hall of Fame, the New Jersey high school from which he graduated, in recognition of his accomplishments in his 40-plus years in the field of deaf education.

Carter is a 43-year veteran in the field of deaf education, deaf services, and school administration. He began his tenure as president and CEO of WRSD in 2013 and has overseen curriculum upgrades, the expansion of outreach programs, and a major campus renovation and expansion.

Under Carter’s leadership, in 2023, WRSD was one of only 25 schools nationally to be accredited by the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf, signifying that the school meets the highest standards in the industry. This marked the first time the school received national accreditation in its history.

Prior to WRSD, Carter served as president of the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where he oversaw major campus renovations, instituted service programs, and tripled annual donations to the organization.

Carter is an educator, mental-health practitioner, and nationally certified sign language interpreter. He holds a master’s degree in deafness rehabilitation from New York University, a master’s degree in expressive therapies from Lesley University, and a bachelor’s degree in art education from Miami University.

“I am truly honored to be included with the amazing people recognized in the BHS Hall of Fame,” he said. “I feel blessed to have been welcomed into the deaf community over the 40-plus years of my career.”