March Leadership Message
Hello TED Family!
Is it too early to say spring is just around the corner? Here’s to warmer, longer days for our northern colleagues! I am pleased to report that the board continues to engage in meaningful conversations to elevate TED as a professional organization. For those who read, listened to, or attended a virtual Washington update, our collective advocacy is making a tangible difference.
We hope to see many of you at the CEC Salt Lake City Conference March 11-14. Please mark your calendars that the TED General Business Meeting will be held March 12th at 5:00PM in Ballroom G. The CEC conference is a unique opportunity for TED members, other CEC divisions, and thousands of special education teachers and administrators to network and dialog. CEC is an excellent opportunity for TED members to build partnerships and generate ideas that make their research more relevant and their teacher preparation programs more responsive to the needs of today’s classrooms.
I, personally, am excited to head to Salt Lake City to share dinner with colleagues and friends, take care of business at our in person TED board meeting, wander the expo hall to feel the buzz of new ideas, and join sessions that reveal the bold innovations shaping the future of our field. I hope to see you there!
Andy Markelz,
President, TED
Washington Update
The February Washington Update is now available to read on the TED Website or listen on the Washington Update Podcast! Filled with valuable information and updates. If you haven’t reviewed it yet, I encourage you to do so.
Mark your Calendars! Dates for virtual Washington Updates:
March 26, 2026 @ 1:00PM
Apr 23, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
May 28, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
Jun 25, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
Jul 23, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
Aug 27, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
Sep 24, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
Oct 22, 2026 @ 1:00 PM
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Policy Committee
As always, the Policy Committee is busy! Be on the lookout for new advocacy materials and requests for sharing, calling, emailing, and visiting! If you will be in Salt Lake City, please join us on Thursday, March 12, from 9-10 am MST in 254C to learn more about our resources and how you can help. Interested in attending the Special Education Legislative Summit? Please consider applying for a $1000 sponsorship from TED! Applications due March 15!
Representative Assembly
As TED’s representative at the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Representative Assembly (RA), I am seeking your input. The RA serves as the Council’s membership advisory body to the Board of Directors and provides input to the board on issues related to the field and profession, strategic direction, policy initiatives, and other similar issues. The RA will meet on Friday, March 13 during the CEC Convention. As your representative, I welcome the opportunity to bring forward any topics or issues on behalf of TED members. Please reach out with any input to me at Shannon Budin (gormlese@buffalostate.edu)
Professional Development Committee
TED Members — You’re Invited!
Come check out the PD Committee’s Year in Review: PD Highlights & What’s Ahead during CEC 2026! Join us on Thursday, March 12th from 10:00–11:00 AM in Meeting Room 254C to hear about this year’s professional development accomplishments and get an exciting preview of what’s coming next. Whether you're looking to stay informed, get involved, or explore new opportunities for growth, we’d love to connect with you there!
TED The Scholar’s Shelf Book Club:
Online book discussion facilitated by the TED PD Committee. Book: Disability Visibility (edited by Alice Wong). April 1, 2026: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST (online), Join Here
Kaleidoscope
Thank you to all the faculty who signed up to judge posters at CEC! We look forward to your support. We encourage everyone to attend the Kaleidoscope Posters (Round E) at CEC in the Expo Hall on Thursday, March 12th from 11:45am to 12:30pm to support student presenters. If you are a graduate student looking to learn more about Kaleidoscope, join us for our general business meeting at CEC at 2:30pm in room 251A at Salt Palace Convention Center. See you in SLC!
Virtual Suggestion Box
As with previous leadership messages, the virtual suggestion box remains open. Please use this Virtual Suggestion Box link to share your ideas and feedback to help make TED an even stronger organization.
Posted:
3 March, 2026
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