This award recognizes a CEC member teacher who is in the first five years of their special education career who has shown exceptional potential for leadership in teaching, service, and/or scholarship.

The CEC Special Educator Rising Star Award recognizes a CEC member teacher who is in the first five
years of their special education career. These individuals must demonstrate CEC’s core values, which are:

o Visionary Thinking: Demonstrated by forward-thinking and courageous decision making
dedicated to excellence and influence in an evolving environment
o Integrity: Demonstrated by ethical, responsive behavior, transparency, and accountability
o Inclusiveness: Demonstrated by a commitment to diversity, caring, and respect for the
dignity and worth of all individuals
• have the ability to thoughtfully engage students, families and other stakeholders through
effective communication and collaboration;
• create a positive, inclusive classroom environment and have a positive impact on students
(inspiring learning, building relationships, teaching self-determined behaviors, etc.) OR have
made notable contributions to the students, classrooms, department, and/or school they serve;
• have shown exceptional potential for leadership in teaching, service, and/or scholarship.

Nominations may be made by an individual or CEC-affiliated organization (i.e., unit, chapter, division, or
subdivision). Self-nominations are not accepted.

*Award recipients will receive recognition on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 at 9:15 am at the annual Focus On Inclusion Conference in Indianapolis.