Why Should YOU Apply for the Board of Directors?
Like many of you, CEC has been my professional home for many years. One of the most gratifying experiences I have had to date was serving on the CEC Board of Directors for six years and serving as Chair of the Board of Directors last year. Serving in this capacity has helped me grow as a leader, advocate for our profession, our members, and individuals with disabilities, and help build an organization I believe in.
As Immediate Past President, I have the honor of serving as an ex officio member of CEC's Leadership Development Committee (LDC). The LDC identifies, recruits, and develops a well-qualified and diverse pipeline of volunteers for leadership positions responsive to the current and future needs of CEC. I am asking our members to consider applying to serve on the CEC Board of Directors and advance the field of special education.
Yes - I mean YOU! Our members are the backbone of CEC. Every volunteer brings a special skill, experience, or knowledge to our organization. With the help of our volunteers, we are THE largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities.
CEC rolled out a new strategic plan as we celebrated our 100th anniversary in 2022. As the world around us continues to change and evolve, CEC must proactively respond to those changes. The new plan continues our legacy of work, such as our strong advocacy on Capitol Hill and commitment to being an inclusive organization. In addition, we identified some of the most vital priorities in our field. We elevated them to the highest ranks of our work, such as embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in every aspect of our plan.
Over the next five years, the CEC board and our more than 20,000 members, volunteers, and staff will work towards making our vision a reality; to create a world of high-quality education that is inclusive and equitable for individuals with disabilities. We will also strive to cultivate, support, and empower education professionals who work with individuals with disabilities by:
- Advocating for education professionals and individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents
- Advancing professional practice and scholarly research
- Promoting diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility
- Building networks, partnerships, and communities
If you want to advance your profession, enhance the value of CEC, and support individuals with disabilities, please consider applying for the CEC Board of Directors. Serving on the board is an amazing opportunity for you to give of yourself while giving to others.
The deadline to complete Phase 1 of the application is Monday, May 22, 2023.
Forward. Together.
Danielle Kovach, Ed.D.
Immediate Past President
