Leadership CEC - Program Overview
The Leadership CEC program is designed to develop knowledge and leadership skills in CEC members who are new or emerging leaders and have been nominated for participation by a CEC unit or division.
Intended to strengthen the pool of individuals to serve as future unit and division leaders, learning opportunities are designed for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the CEC organization, its resources (for both individuals and units/divisions), supports available for units/divisions, and leadership functions and competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities).
Virtual sessions, presented by CEC staff and leadership, include a mix of whole-group and break-out activities designed to help participants engage with each other and ask questions about how CEC operations serve the overall organization. Through its meetings, shared resources, and networking opportunities, Leadership CEC helps strengthen future leadership for CEC's units and divisions and participants’ potential impact.
Learn More About Leadership CEC
Leadership CEC participants will:
- learn from CEC staff about CEC’s programs and service and how they support CEC’s vision, mission, and strategic plan, and its units/divisions;
- establish mutually beneficial relationships with leadership peers across CEC;
- identify new ways to have a purposeful impact in CEC; and
- collaborate with other inspired leaders to cultivate a successful and effective organization.
- The program will have 20-25 participants. Preference will be given to ensuring as many units/divisions as possible are represented and to individuals who are new to service, or aspire to serve, in a unit/division. Two participants from one unit/division will occur only if slots would otherwise go unfilled. Nominees’ demographic information will be reviewed to ensure a cohort balance (geographic, unit/division size, gender, etc.)
- Commit to a one-year program of up to 12 monthly sessions.
- Complete a participation agreement.
- Complete a brief goals/interest survey.
- Advise the CEC staff program liaison if they are unable to attend a session.
- View the session recording if unable to attend a session.
- Complete a brief survey following each session.
- If possible, attend the CEC Convention and Expo and Leadership Institute*
* CEC does not provide financial support for attending these events.
Participants who attend at least 75% of the sessions will receive a certificate of completion.
Members by Cohort
| Nominee | Nominating Unit/Division |
|---|---|
| Katie Abrams | Iowa |
| Samantha Anderson | Utah |
| Gwynee Carey | Tennessee |
| Abigail Chavis | Georgia |
| Carla Clardy | South Carolina |
| Lisa Didion | Kansas |
| Caroline Fitchett | Division for Autism and Developmental Disabilities |
| Melissa Fogarty | Texas |
| Laura Gomez | Division for Autism and Developmental Disabilities |
| Tracy Gordon | Illinois |
| Stephanie Gross | New York |
| Stephanie Hand | Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health |
| Meri Havenat | Illinois |
| Jillian Hershey | Ohio |
| LaSheba Hilliard | Tennessee |
| Natalie Hlady | Manitoba |
| Kimberly Krammer | Michigan |
| Erin Loomis | Ohio |
| Justine Parnell | Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health |
| Shauna Phillips | Michigan |
| MaryAnn Pierce | Utah |
| Letitia Render | Georgia |
| Renee Rochefort | Alaska |
| Rachel Shahrivar | California |
| Kathyanne Sheffield | Division for International and Special Education Services |
| Tara Tedrow | Iowa |
| Jude Wolf | California |
| Teresa Youngblood | Arkansas |
| Becky Zingsheim | Wisconsin |
The Ohio CEC Unit has had participants in each of the three cohorts of the Leadership CEC program. Each of them had experience in various roles on the Ohio board and were nominated largely because of their motivation and dedication to CEC initiatives and membership. A key thread with all was the relationships built within the board and their participation level, to the extent that the nominating president knew that the individuals were prepared to make the commitment to Leadership CEC. Everyone who has participated has expressed that the meaningful sessions have resulted in a better and deeper understanding of CEC as an organization, as well as takeaways that pertain to improving our Unit.
As a result of the Leadership CEC program, our participants have deepened their understanding of CEC and brought back ideas for our unit. These include updates to the website, committee member engagement, and membership drives, to name a few. These have resulted in a more cohesive leadership team with an increased capacity to support and engage our unit members.
Dr. Jennifer Webb
Past President, Ohio CEC
Leadership CEC was a great experience! I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about CEC Leadership and ways to build community. The program definitely helped me build leadership skills and learn about pathways to leadership and ways to further engage in the CEC Community.
Gianna Marshall
Iowa CEC
2023-24 Cohort Member
Leadership CEC has been an amazing opportunity to be able to connect, network, and learn from some of the brightest minds in exceptional education across all of the CEC divisions. I've especially loved learning new and better ways to enhance our own special interest divisions while advancing the field together as a whole.
