Will Meyer

is a special education attorney, community leader, proud parent, and current President of the South Orange–Maplewood Board of Education. A South Orange resident since 2019, Will lives with his wife, Katie, Executive Director of Strategic Innovation at the College Board, and their two children: Henry, a sixth grader at South Orange Middle School, and Josephine, a second grader at South Mountain Elementary School.

Will has served on the Board of Education since January 2024 and currently serves as Board President. During his first term, he has helped navigate a superintendent transition, significant changes in district leadership, three challenging budget cycles, development of a five-year strategic plan, implementation of new academic programs and curricula, negotiation of new collective bargaining agreements, and completion of major capital improvements across district schools.

Will has served three years each on the Policy and Governance Committee, including two as Chair, and the Finance, Facilities and Technology Committee; two years on the Special Services and Executive Committees; and one year each as Chair of the Data and Student and Family Affairs Committees and as an ad hoc member of the Negotiations Committee. His external service includes liaison roles with the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission and the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Delegates’ Assembly, membership on the Essex County School Boards Association Nominating Committee, and two years as Essex County alternate representative to the NJSBA Legislative Committee. In 2026, he earned the New Board Member Boardsmanship Certification through the NJSBA Board Member Academy, which provides training in the governance skills and responsibilities of school board service.

Through these responsibilities, Will has developed a deeper understanding of SOMSD’s academic, financial, operational, and governance challenges, and the work required to translate Board priorities into meaningful progress. He has emphasized professionalism, civility, and collaboration throughout his service and is proud of the progress the Board has made toward a more collegial and productive working environment.

Born and raised on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Will is a product of public schools. He earned a B.S. in Print Journalism from Emerson College and a J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law. He is admitted to practice law in New York.

Professionally, Will brings more than 20 years of experience advocating for the educational rights of children with disabilities. He began his legal career representing incarcerated youth with disabilities and low-income tenants through clinical programs in Washington, D.C., before spending six years at Advocates for Children of New York, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children’s right to education. There, he represented children from low-income families in special education disputes, trained families and professionals, and supervised pro bono attorneys.

Since 2012, Will has practiced at a New York City law firm devoted exclusively to representing families of children with special needs. His work focuses on resolving disputes with school districts and securing the educational services and placements children need to thrive. He also mentors attorneys, oversees the firm’s technology planning and policy, and regularly teaches continuing legal education courses nationwide. He is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).

Will’s professional experience has given him a deep understanding of the challenges families encounter when navigating public education, particularly when students require additional support. Even in adversarial settings, he values collegial relationships, respectful engagement, and collaborative problem-solving as essential tools for achieving meaningful results.

That perspective is complemented by his experience as a district parent and community volunteer. Before joining the Board, Will served as Vice President of Policy Initiatives for the SOMA Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), represented SEPAC on the SOMSD Presidents’ Council, and was co-chair of programming for the South Mountain PTA.

Together, his professional advocacy, community involvement, and Board service have given Will an interconnected understanding of public education: the experience of families seeking support for their children, the importance of effective district leadership and operations, and the responsibilities of governing a complex public school system. He believes this combination of experience and institutional knowledge provides a strong foundation for building on the district’s progress, addressing persistent challenges, and ensuring a rigorous, inclusive, and vibrant education for every student.

Outside of work and Board service, Will enjoys adventures with his family, including recent trips to New Mexico for a Pueblo feast day and to Spain to witness a solar eclipse. He loves seeking out culinary treats off the beaten path, cheering from the sidelines at his son’s baseball games, and immersing himself in his daughter’s art projects.