Valve controllers and methods of their use are described. Valve controllers of the type described herein can be used to operate valves that are out of manual reach by the operator. One embodiment of a valve controller includes proximal and distal controller heads connected to each other via a hollow elongate shaft. Each of the proximal and distal controller heads includes a rotatable pulley wheel that is connected to a valve control engagement member for engaging a handle of a valve operable to shift the valve from a first position to a second position. The rotation of the proximal and distal pulley wheels, and thereby the proximal and distal engagement members, is coupled via a cord that runs through the hollow elongate shaft and around a circumferential portion of each pulley wheel. In one general aspect, a user can operate a valve by positioning the distal valve control engagement member of the distal controller head over the valve handle, and rotating the proximal engagement member, causing the distal engagement member, and thereby the valve handle, to shift.