September Leadership Message
Dear TED Family,
I pray you all are doing well! We are only weeks away from our conference. I can’t wait to see you all in Kansas City.
This month, the TED Board gathered to discuss important updates and exciting plans for the future. Advocacy continues to be front and center, with ongoing conversations in Washington about education funding and research structures. Thanks to TED’s efforts, critical grants and supports for teacher preparation and research have been protected. While there is still more to do—we underscore that our community’s voice truly makes a difference in shaping the future for educators and students with disabilities.
The board also shared encouraging news about the organization’s solid financial health. Membership is growing and registrations for the 2025 conference have already surpassed the past two years at this time. Plans are also in motion to provide new resources for doctoral students and early career professionals, ensuring they feel connected and supported. A bylaws update is moving forward as well (see more below)--helping TED stay responsive and member-focused.
Looking ahead, Raleigh, North Carolina has been selected as the host city for the 2027 conference, while energy builds for an outstanding 2025 gathering. Beyond the annual event, TED is exploring fresh ways to engage members all year long — from webinars and mini-conferences to fun ideas like TED swag. As many of you already know, this year’s priorities include expanding partnerships with different institutions, boosting communication, and strengthening advocacy. These priorities are going very well. The meeting closed with optimism and momentum, celebrating the ways our members continue to drive progress together.
Thank you all for supporting our organization. Can’t wait to connect again next month!
LaRon Scott
TED President
TED Action Items
Review the bylaws and share your comments here
We’d love for you to take a look at our updated bylaws, now open for the 60-day comment period! This is your chance to share thoughts and help shape how TED grows and communicates with members. Be sure to check out the Communication section, since that’s where most of the updates are located. Your feedback will make a big difference in making sure our bylaws reflect the needs and voices of our community.
TED Committee Highlights
The Early Career SIG and Kaleidoscope are teaming up this year to make mentorship a meaningful and valuable experience for everyone!
• Interested in mentoring doctoral students and/or early career professionals? Sign up here!
• Looking for a mentor as a doctoral student or early career professional? Sign up here!
Kaleidoscope is also still in great need of reviewers for posters at the TED Conference.
If you are able to help, please sign up here — and share with friends and colleagues.
Kaleidoscope is also crowdsourcing opportunities within TED and the broader CEC network for doctoral students. If you know of any opportunities, please take a moment to share them using this form
Our goal is to make sure everyone has access to and awareness of the opportunities available to them.
Thank you for supporting our community and helping us grow!
Policy Committee
The work of the TED Policy Committee continues! We'd like to thank everyone for continuing to contact their Members of Congress- our phone calls and emails are making a difference! While we recognize a number of grants have been cut, many more were saved this past month. Please continue reading the Washington Updates each week and make sure you check out the NEWEST installment of the TED Collaboration Podcast - get a behind-the-scenes look at the Special Education Legislative Summit. Listen here on Spotify or here on Apple.
Small Special Education Programs Caucus
Small Special Education Programs Caucus (SSEPC) Updates
1. The Small Special Education Programs Caucus (SSEPC) continues to host ongoing virtual engagements for members. Most recently, we held a back to school virtual social on September 10. Huge thanks to SSEPC members Drs. Ruby Owiny and Adam Moore for organizing and co-facilitating such a fun evening for members to connect!!
2. As we begin the fall semester, this is a great time to think about items to contribute to SSEPC’s annual Silent Auction held at TED!! The silent auction is important to SSEPC because it is the sole funding source for our Nasim Dil Award Reception. Items that do well are easy to pack and/or consume at the conference (e.g. wine, beer, jewelry, a new book or special education resource, or something for the holiday season). Thank you in advance for helping us make our next silent auction a success!! You can contact SSEPC Associate Chair Dr. Sarah Wong at Sarah.Wong@brynathyn.edu if you have questions or to learn more.
Other Related Information
Be sure to review the latest Washington Update for critical information on current federal education policy developments and opportunities to engage in advocacy efforts. Staying informed is essential for shaping the future of our field.
For the most up-to-date information, follow us:
• Instagram: @cec_ted_policy
• Bluesky: @cec-ted-policy.bsky.social
• X: @TED_CEC
• Linktree: linktr.ee/cec_ted_policy