SLATE OF CANDIDATES FOR 2008-09 EXECUTIVE BOARD
In order to be a member of TCEC you must also be a member of the Council for Exceptional Children.
The Nominations Committee respectfully submits the following names of candidates running for a 2008-09 Executive Board position. Questions or comments should be directed to Randy Seevers, TCEC Nominations Chair. Voting on-line will begin June 4th (membership number required) and close at 11 am on June 20th , 2008 prior to the annual TCEC Conference Luncheon. Election results will be announced and new officers installed during the luncheon.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES
Secretarial Candidates
Frank Dykes, Ed.D.
Current position: Assistant Professor of Special Education in the School of Education at the University of Texas-Tyler.
I am interested in seeking the position of recording secretary. I believe that members of an organization need to be willing to serve in order for the organization to grow. Also, this would be an excellent learning experience for me. Prior to my coming to the university, I spent 19 years in public education. I have served as a classroom teacher for general education and special education, educational diagnostician, special education director and director of human resources.
I believe that my varied experience in the field of special education, along with my previous experience of being the recording secretary for the Texas Council for Administrators of Special Education (TCASE) have prepared me to be an effective officer for TCEC and I look forward to serving the membership.
Rochell McWhorter, M.S.
Current position: Educational Diagnostician with Lindale Independent School District; Doctoral candidate at Texas A&M.
I am very interested in running for the office of Secretary on the Board because I am interested in continuing my service to TCEC. I believe that the professionals involved with students with exceptionalities need a professional organization where they can learn relevant and timely information, be supported in their professional work, and learn from one another. This is my 17th year as a public educator. I have professional experience as both a Content Mastery Teacher and as a Diagnostician. Furthermore, I have had numerous experiences in implementation of peer tutoring programs in various locales and I am currently working on a project that involves transitioning students with disabilities into post-secondary education.
Due to my service to TCEC over the past two years, I believe that I am the best candidate for the position since I will continue to add continuity to the office of Secretary. Additionally, I feel that as I contribute my viewpoint as a practitioner in the field of Special Education, I will continue to add value to the Board as a whole. I believe that the future of TCEC is a very bright one and I would like to continue serving TCEC to make a difference for students with exceptionalities and the professionals who work with them.
Jessica Rueter, M.Ed.
Current position: Educational Diagnostician with Northwest Independent School District; Doctoral student at Texas Woman’s University.
I am interested in seeking the position of secretary because I would like to take a more active role within TCEC. As a board member, I would become more involved with TCEC and will be able to assist fellow members and colleagues. I have fourteen years of experience in public education; eight years as an inclusion special education teacher, lead special education teacher, and six years as an educational diagnostician. In January 2008, Northwest ISD central office administrators asked me to lead the district’s learning disabilities team (i.e., LD Cadre) in writing guidelines and procedures for identification of students with learning disabilities. In addition, I am an adjunct lecturer for Texas Woman’s University through the co-coordinated alternative certification program for educational diagnosticians at Region XI Educational Service Center. I have been employed as an adjunct lecturer since January 2007.
I believe I am the best candidate for the position of secretary as I have experience of organizing and leading teams and departments. I also strive to excel in the activities, positions, and organizations that I am a part of and look forward to the opportunity to be a part of TCEC.
Vice-Presidential Candidates
Tana Hubbard, M.Ed.
Current position: Director of Special Education of Burleson Independent School District; Doctoral candidate at Texas Woman’s University.
I am interested in seeking the position of vice-president. The Texas Council for Exceptional Children will afford me an excellent opportunity to continue to grow not only as an individual but also as a leader. I share the vision and mission of the Council of Exceptional Children in that I, too, believe that our continuous efforts to impact the lives of students with disabilities are paramount. While my involvement with CEC at this point could be defined as primarily being on the periphery, that is, attendance at both state and national conferences, I am ready to transition into the place of being actively involved in the organization. I believe the vice presidency will allow me the opportunity to accomplish this personal desire.
I have been actively involved in the field of special education since the Fall of 1997, when I began my career as an elementary life skills teacher. Being intrigued with the evaluation process, I returned to school to obtain my diagnostician’s certificate through Texas Woman’s University. I served in a diagnostician’s role for four years, all of which were in large 5A school districts. It was during this time that I became interested in special education administration, I returned to school once again to gather my principal’s certificate at the University of Texas at Arlington. I continued my career in the role of special education coordinator for three years prior to being named the director of special education in Burleson ISD. I have returned to school once again, Texas Woman’s University, and have completed doctoral level coursework and hope to complete this course of study and be awarded my doctorate degree in December of 2008.
I believe that my commitment to the organization along with the administrative experience that I have acquired the past five years will allow me to perform the duties of the vice president in a fashion that will support positive outcomes. In my current position, I have successfully initiated a systems level change through the development and implementation of a departmental continuous improvement plan. My ability to identify global organizational needs, design needed strategies for change and effectively communicate those changes will lend support in my service to Texas Council for Exceptional Children.
Edward Schultz, Ph.D.
Current position: Assistant Professor of Special Education at Midwestern State University in the West College of Education; Special Education Program Coordinator.
I am interested in seeking the position of vice-president. The reason I am interested in serving the TCEC is because I believe one of the reasons why my career has been so rewarding to me has been my involvement with CEC and TCEC. I also believe that the effectiveness of my teaching is directly correlated with this involvement. It would be a privilege and an honor to be able to increase my level of involvement.
Prior to teaching at the college level, I have spent most of my adult life working with individuals with disabilities. I have served as an educational diagnostician and a special education teacher serving students with high-incidence disabilities. My background also included working 11 years at the North Texas State Hospital with children and adolescents as well as adults with emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Currently, my primary duties are teaching both graduate and undergraduate special education course to future special educators.
The experience that I have and my qualifications lead me to believe that I am the best candidate for the job. I have been an active member of CEC since 2001 and have been actively involved as a speaker at conventions, planning committees for subdivisions of CEC, and an unofficial recruiter for new members. Our TCEC student chapter is very active in our community and a visible presence at TCEC. I also believe that my knowledge of the current state of special education in the United States, my knowledge of history of special education, and my overall experience and passion make me an ideal candidate.
