2027 Professional Awards: CEC Special Education Lifetime Achievement Award

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The CEC Special Education Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a CEC member who has made continued, sustained, and impactful contributions to the field of special education and fostered positive outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.

 

Eligibility

The CEC Special Education Lifetime Achievement Award recipient must: 

  1. Be a current CEC member at the time of nomination and granting of the award
  2. Demonstrate CEC’s core values:
  • Visionary Thinking: Demonstrated by forward-thinking and courageous decision-making dedicated to excellence and influence in an evolving environment.
  • Integrity: Demonstrated by ethical, responsive behavior; transparency; and accountability.
  • Inclusiveness: Demonstrated by a commitment to diversity, caring, and respect for the dignity and worth of all individuals.

In addition, nominees must have made continued, sustained and impactful contributions in any, or up to all, of the following areas:

  • Strong emphasis on leadership competencies that have a positive impact on the education system
  • Effective personnel preparation and/or retention or workforce diversification
  • DEIA initiatives (related to practice/instruction, professional development, etc.)
  • Development of effective programs or services (e.g., identification, assessment, instruction)
  • Bridging research and practice
  • Professional development and/or publications
  • Implementation of improved teaching techniques
  • Improved evaluation procedures
  • Improved administrative procedures

 

Recognition and Benefits

The award recipient will be:

  • Provided with complimentary registration to attend the CEC Convention & Expo
  • Recognized, and receive a commemorative plaque, at an Awards Luncheon
  • Given a $500 cash honorarium; and
  • Featured in a press release on the CEC website (https://exceptionalchildren.org)

 

How to Nominate

Nomination Materials

  • A letter/statement of support from the nominator
  • Three (3) additional letters/statements of support, not including the nominator's, from a colleague, supervisor, or other professional
  • The nominee's Vita/Resume

Nomination Process

  • All application materials must be submitted together to CEC Headquarters by September 30, 2026.
  • Alternatively, responses can be emailed to Stephen Alleyne at salleyne@exceptionalchildren.org.
  • Please use file name(s) to clearly indicate reference to the nominee and award. (e.g., “Smith_Lifetime_Award.docx” or “Smith_Lifetime_Nomination.docx”).
  • All materials become the property of CEC and will not be returned.
We use Submittable to accept and review our submissions.
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