National Professional Organizations
Member, Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children
As a member of DEC, I have volunteered to be a reviewer of proposals submitted for the DEC Annual Conference since 2010. This task involves evaluating and scoring 7-10 proposals in a "blind" review process, in terms of the proposal's relevance to the conference theme, to early childhood professionals, and to children and families themselves.
Also as a member of DEC, I have recently been awarded the opportunity to serve on the first ever student editorial board for Young Exceptional Children. The Student Editorial Board’s primary role is to assist in reviewing manuscripts submitted to YEC. In addition, members of the board provide input on various topics and YEC initiatives and discuss issues regarding manuscript submission and peer review process. Board members also assist YEC by helping promote the journal to the public.
As a member of DEC, I have volunteered to be a reviewer of proposals submitted for the DEC Annual Conference since 2010. This task involves evaluating and scoring 7-10 proposals in a "blind" review process, in terms of the proposal's relevance to the conference theme, to early childhood professionals, and to children and families themselves.
Also as a member of DEC, I have recently been awarded the opportunity to serve on the first ever student editorial board for Young Exceptional Children. The Student Editorial Board’s primary role is to assist in reviewing manuscripts submitted to YEC. In addition, members of the board provide input on various topics and YEC initiatives and discuss issues regarding manuscript submission and peer review process. Board members also assist YEC by helping promote the journal to the public.
State Professional Organizations
Member, Ohio's Subdivision of Division for Early Childhood (ODEC)
As a member of ODEC I have served as the Membership Chair since 2005. As membership chair my responsibilities include maintaining a list of current subdivision members, following up with all members to ensure accuracy of contact information in ODEC database, developing procedures for following up members who have not renewed, representing ODEC as needed at local/state/national conferences, and developing membership materials that can be posted on the web and/or easily disseminated.
As a member of ODEC I have served as the Membership Chair since 2005. As membership chair my responsibilities include maintaining a list of current subdivision members, following up with all members to ensure accuracy of contact information in ODEC database, developing procedures for following up members who have not renewed, representing ODEC as needed at local/state/national conferences, and developing membership materials that can be posted on the web and/or easily disseminated.
Local Service
Member, Starting Point Transition Consortium
The purpose of the consortium is to assist school districts in prompting a positive transition for students from preschool to Kindergarten. Members meet monthly to problem solve issues around transition and develop strategies that could be implemented by all school districts in Cuyahoga County. In addition, members discuss how to use community partners, such as childcare centers, to inform the community about the importance of early registration for Kindergarten.
Member, Cuyahoga County Ready Schools Committee
The Ready Schools Committee was created in conjunction with the Starting Point Transition Consortium. The committee is working in collaboration with participants from Ohio State Support Team Region 3 and the Cuyahoga County Educational Service Center to develop a strategy for implementing Ohio's Ready Schools framework. The purpose of the Ready Schools framework is to change the belief that children need to be "ready" for Kindergarten as opposed to schools being "ready" for preschoolers to enter Kindergarten with a varying range of experiences and abilities.
Member, Eastern Cuyahoga County Childcare Network
The purpose of the network is to give directors or designated representatives from community childcare and preschool programs an opportunity to collaborate. As a representative from a school district preschool special education program, my goal as a member of the network is to provide information to the preschools and childcare centers about including children with special needs in their programs and provide support as appropriate. My goal is to improve Child Find practices in the district and educate the community about the importance of inclusion and increase the acceptance of itinerant special education services.
The purpose of the consortium is to assist school districts in prompting a positive transition for students from preschool to Kindergarten. Members meet monthly to problem solve issues around transition and develop strategies that could be implemented by all school districts in Cuyahoga County. In addition, members discuss how to use community partners, such as childcare centers, to inform the community about the importance of early registration for Kindergarten.
Member, Cuyahoga County Ready Schools Committee
The Ready Schools Committee was created in conjunction with the Starting Point Transition Consortium. The committee is working in collaboration with participants from Ohio State Support Team Region 3 and the Cuyahoga County Educational Service Center to develop a strategy for implementing Ohio's Ready Schools framework. The purpose of the Ready Schools framework is to change the belief that children need to be "ready" for Kindergarten as opposed to schools being "ready" for preschoolers to enter Kindergarten with a varying range of experiences and abilities.
Member, Eastern Cuyahoga County Childcare Network
The purpose of the network is to give directors or designated representatives from community childcare and preschool programs an opportunity to collaborate. As a representative from a school district preschool special education program, my goal as a member of the network is to provide information to the preschools and childcare centers about including children with special needs in their programs and provide support as appropriate. My goal is to improve Child Find practices in the district and educate the community about the importance of inclusion and increase the acceptance of itinerant special education services.