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Meet CEC’s 2007 Award Winners

Please join us in congratulating our 2007 Award Winners. These individuals are to be commended for their exemplary work on behalf of students with exceptionalities and the field of special education.

• J.E. Wallace Wallin Lifetime Achievement Award
• Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award
• Outstanding Research Award
• Outstanding Leadership Award
• Outstanding Public Service Award

J.E. Wallace Wallin Special Education Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Randy Sprick

Dr. Randy Sprick is living proof that one person’s efforts can change the face of education in our nation, and CEC is pleased to honor him with the 2007 Wallace J. Wallin Lifetime Achievement Award.

Behavior management and discipline issues have been of top concern to educators for decades. Dr. Sprick has dedicated more than 36 years to developing, advocating, and proliferating positive behavior management in schools. His mission is to improve school environments to enable teachers and students to thrive. His methodology involves introducing a culture of safety, civility, and academic productivity, rooted in the belief that all persons are to be treated with courtesy and respect.

Dr. Sprick, director of Safe & Civil Schools/Teaching Strategies, Inc., also holds appointment as courtesy professor in educational psychology at the University of Oregon. He launched his career working with children with emotional disturbances in the early 1970s. In the 1980s he began developing school-wide behavior protocols that combined research on behavior with an explicit teaching/direct instruction methodology. His innovative, data-driven, whole-school approach to discipline and classroom management coordinates behavior expectations across all areas of the school campus and includes both general and special education.

Dr. Sprick is a sought-after expert whose books, university courses, and in-service training programs help thousands of teachers, administrators, school psychologists, and other education professionals understand and implement positive behavior management. His ideas and publications have grown into standards of practice for serving children with exceptionalities. As a result of Dr. Sprick’s work, schools are changing old, excessively reactive and punitive language and discipline practices, and they are enjoying significantly reduced discipline referrals, improved academic performance, and enriched school climate.

Dr. Sprick, on behalf of children with behavioral challenges and the professionals who serve them, CEC thanks you for your tireless work to develop and promote positive behavior management, improving the educational experience of American students for years to come.

CEC Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year Award

Susan Osterhaus

Before CEC’s 2007 Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year, Susan Osterhaus, began teaching at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 1978, most people believed students there could not possibly grasp the necessary spatial concepts to learn higher level mathematics. With charisma and creativity, Ms. Osterhaus proved them wrong.

First, she taught her students Nemeth Braille Code, the tool for communicating mathematics. Initially, their only calculators were the abacus or expensive talking calculators. Undaunted, she developed the Osterhaus method of prime factorization using the abacus! She then obtained assistive technology – from Braille protractors to beta test versions of audio graphing calculator software – to help students maneuver mathematical data.

Ms. Osterhaus’ students did master higher math, and many went on to achieve success in college. Ms. Osterhaus soon became a sought-after consultant for assistive technology companies, and today she helps develop new math technologies which her students evaluate before the products are available to anyone else.

Though Ms. Osterhaus has high expectations for students, she makes learning fun. Students are paired to explore, look for patterns, make conjectures, explain their thinking, and discuss their findings. Her students have worked at a student coffee shop (launched by Ms. Osterhaus) and participated in Academic Bowl, Science Fun Day, White Cane Day, and other activities. Many enroll at TSBVI specifically to learn from her.

Students far beyond the walls of her classroom have also benefited from her work. Ms. Osterhaus has developed curriculum, contributed to numerous publications, and shared her knowledge through e-mail and mail, the Internet, and scores of presentations throughout North America. And, when she discovered that standardized tests were full of Braille errors and poor tactile graphics, she and a group of colleagues fought to get the tests improved.

Ms. Osterhaus, you have broadened the horizon for people with visual impairments. CEC is proud to name you the 2007 Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year.

CEC Outstanding Research Award

Dr. Samuel L. Odom

CEC proudly presents Dr. Samuel L. Odom with the 2007 Special Education Research Award. From studying preschool inclusion and peer social interaction, to developing recommended practices for early childhood education, to initiating guidelines for quality special education research, Dr. Odom has contributed greatly to special education.

A professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education today, Dr. Odom began studying inclusive preschool classes as a doctoral student 25 years ago. He observed that physically integrating young students with disabilities did not guarantee positive social interaction, and he set out to develop tools to support these children. Dr. Odom examined classroom environments that promoted positive social interactions and identified a range of helpful strategies now used by many interventionists. His later work shed light on types, costs, and outcomes of preschool inclusion. Dr. Odom’s research led to important changes in practice, and preschool inclusion has now become common in many states.

A leading expert on autism spectrum disorder, Dr. Odom conducted intervention work with preschoolers with autism beginning in the 1980s. In 1999 he participated on a National Academy of Sciences committee to identify effective educational practices, resulting in the widely-utilized report Educating Children with Autism. He recently has led doctoral students in conducting autism research, and he is directing California’s effort to establish evidence-based practices for youth with autism.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Odom organized a group of education leaders to create CEC-Division for Early Childhood’s Recommended Practices, used by interventionists nationally and internationally. As president of CEC-Division for Research in 2003, he convened a taskforce of researchers to criteria for judging special education research and continue the identification of evidence-based practice. They developed quality indicators for single subject, groups comparison, correlational, and qualitative research to help educators ascertain whether practices meet high research standards.

Dr. Odom, CEC acknowledges your important contributions and enthusiastically presents you with the 2007 Special Education Research Award.

CEC Outstanding Leadership Award

Dr. Bill Bogdan

CEC is pleased to honor a consummate leader in the special education field, Dr. Bill Bogdan, with the 2007 Outstanding Leadership Award.

Dr. Bogdan began his professional journey in 1974 as a teacher of students with multiple disabilities in Munfordville, Kentucky. He moved on to teach Cincinnati youth with LD and severe emotional disturbances from 1976-1980, and spent the following decade as supervisor/consultant for special education services for the Hamilton County Office of Education. Today, as assistant superintendent of greater Cincinnati’s Hamilton County Educational Service Center – an organization that impacts more than 140,000 students in 22 districts – Dr. Bogdan oversees services and programs for thousands of Ohio children with special needs. He is also executive director for the Southwest Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center.

Throughout his career Dr. Bogdan has been an active leader in CEC, including holding all of the state-level CEC offices within the Ohio federation, and serving as CEC’s president and president of the Yes I Can! Foundation.

Dr. Bogdan began his tenure as a leader with international CEC by chairing the Denver Convention Human Rights Taskforce to guide CEC’s actions and ensure that the Council had a strong presence as Colorado developed its statewide human rights ordinance in support of LGBT persons. The experience established his vision for bringing a more diverse perspective to CEC itself, which he put into practice while serving on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee. He fearlessly dove into CEC’s personnel policies and benefits and led the way in restructuring the Council’s governance, later leading a taskforce for the redesign of the state, provincial, and division units to more effectively serve CEC members. In addition, Dr. Bogdan served as program chair for two CEC international conventions and the 2000 International Congress on Special Education.

Dr. Bogdan, CEC is thankful for your leadership and proud to recognize you with the 2007 Outstanding Leadership Award.

Susan Phillips Gorin Award
Joan Levine

Joan Levine is a dedicated and caring professor and advisor, unflagging in her commitment to the students of California State University, Fullerton, and the members of CEC. Dr. Levine established the student chapter at CSU Fullerton. Dr. Levine not only is a tireless recruiter for the student chapter, she also ensures students are involved in worthy and interesting activities. Dr. Levine saw that CEC’s student members had key roles in the Best Buddies program, includes students in professional development activities, and frequently sends electronic messages to the members. She also works with CEC’s Chapter 188 to coordinate fundraising opportunities and support students who wish to attend CEC’s Annual Convention & Expo. Dr. Levine has accepted the challenge of not only preparing students to serve children and youth with exceptionalities, but also to develop the skills to fulfill leadership roles in their professional associations. Through Dr. Levine’s guidance and inspiration, student CEC members understand the concept of service to the community and scholarship amongst themselves.

Furthermore, the range and quality of Dr. Levine’s professional activities is exemplary. She has served on numerous advisory and community partnership committees and is the campus’s liaison to the office of Disabled Student Services. Dr. Levine is a member of the Education Partners Advisory Committee for the Orange County Department of Education and the Learning Disabilities Association state board. She also serves on the advisory committee for the Anaheim Union High School District. Additionally, Dr. Levine has compiled an invaluable book, Learning Disabilities, A Guide to Resources for Children and Adults in the Orange County Area. She also participates in activities that support families and children with special needs, such as volunteering for the Special Games and answering questions on a Web site from parents who have concerns about their children.

Dr. Levine is an outstanding teaching supervisor, and students who work with her feel supported and cared about as a person first, and a teacher second.

Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Cynthia Chambers

Cynthia Chambers, who is pursuing her doctorate in special education, represents outstanding scholarship and research as well as a passion for supporting children with disabilities and their families. Ms. Chambers has already made significant contributions to the field. She has had several practice-based articles published in CEC's journals, and she served as editorial assistant for the Young Exceptional Children series. Ms. Chambers has also presented at several CEC conferences, educational agencies, and civic clubs.

Ms. Chambers has held numerous leadership positions in CEC. Most recently, she was a member of Program Advisory Committee and the Standing Committee on Students. Through these positions, she helped design and implement student activities at CEC conferences. Ms. Chambers also reestablished an inactive student CEC chapter and served as chapter president at Vanderbilt University. Ms. Chambers has also spoken at several campuses to share information on CEC and the benefits of membership.

Ms. Chambers consistently seeks opportunities to expand her experience and enhance the lives of children with exceptionalities. While in her doctorate program, she supports families as a program interventionist. She also works with schools to identify areas of need and build consistency in interventions across environments. As an undergraduate, Ms. Chambers served as a respite caregiver, student director of Best Buddies, and volunteer at camps for children with disabilities.

Ms. Chambers has been selected for membership in Pi Lambda Theta, Kappa Delta Pi, and Alpha Lambda Delta; and she has received the Doctoral Training Early Childhood, Peabody Professional Graduate, and Outstanding Academic Student and Student Coordinator of the Year awards.

Ms. Chambers is a leader who demonstrates all the qualities of an exemplary special educator.

Outstanding Public Service Award
U.S. Senator Charles E. Grassley

For his outstanding leadership on behalf of children with gifts and talents as United States Senator from Iowa, the Council for Exceptional Children salutes Charles E. Grassley.  Senator Grassley is a nationally recognized leader in the effort to ensure that America’s three million students with gifts and talents have access to an education that is challenging, fosters growth, and is appropriate for their unique learning abilities.

Senator Grassley has made the education of America’s advanced learners a top priority in his Senate career. Over the years, Senator Grassley has demonstrated steadfast support for gifted education and the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, the only Federal program dedicated to supporting the learning needs of America’s students with gifts and talents. With Senator Grassley’s continued leadership, the Javits program provides essential resources for educators that help meet the needs of the nation’s most promising learners. Recognizing the important role of advanced learners in the global marketplace, Senator Grassley continuously leads the charge in advocating for an increased investment in the Javits program.  Senator Grassley’s commitment to students with gifts and talents has successfully raised awareness and built support for the Javits program with his fellow Senators.  This unwavering leadership, creative thinking, and unparalleled dedication, provide students, families and educators across the nation hope for the future.

The Council for Exceptional Children is honored to recognize Senator Grassley for his distinguished service to America’s future leaders.