TED February Leadership Message
February, 2025
I hope this message finds you all in good spirits. I recognize how challenging the past few weeks have been for many of our members, yet your resilience, unity, and unwavering commitment to our field have been truly inspiring.
For those who attended the TED Community Briefing on February 11th, you know that we have every reason to remain optimistic. We are collaborating with some of the brightest minds in our profession—individuals who are not only willing to engage but are actively advocating, knocking on doors, sending emails, and making calls. Together, we are ensuring the stability of teacher preparation programs and securing the resources and supports that students with disabilities deserve.
Your dedication is making a real impact, and I am grateful to be part of the powerful advocacy movement you are leading.
If you couldn’t attend the Community Briefing, below is a brief summary of our discussion which included TED’s key action items for our members, with a focus on advocacy during this critical time. TED remains committed to:
1. Engaging Our Members: We will continue to employ advocacy initiative to ensure that educators’ voices are represented at the federal, state, and local levels. Members will have access to tools such as scripts, letter templates, and talking points to effectively communicate with stakeholders about the importance of funding and support for teacher education and special education.
2. Strengthening Collaborations: We continue to work alongside national education organizations to promote policies that support equitable access to quality teacher preparation and special education services. By aligning with key partners, TED remains committed to advocating for the needs of educators, students, and families.
3. Providing Resources & Updates: Our Policy Committee will offer regular updates and analysis to keep members informed about changes in education policy. By staying engaged, members will have the knowledge and strategies to effectively advocate within their institutions, communities, and legislatures.
4. Embedding Advocacy in Our Work: We are integrating advocacy into all aspects of our organization—from conferences to policy discussions—to ensure TED continues to be a platform for educators to share knowledge, develop solutions, and work collectively toward a stronger, more inclusive education system.
We’ll continue to host briefings throughout the year, in fact, we’d love for you to join us for an in-person TED Community Briefing at CEC on Thursday, March 14th, from 6:00–6:50 PM at the Convention Center. Looking forward to seeing you there!
TED at CEC
Just a friendly reminder—the Council for Exceptional Children's annual conference is just a few weeks away, happening March 12-15!
TED is gearing up for a strong presence, and we’re excited to share a sneak peek of the many ways you can engage in TED-related activities while at CEC. Check out the opportunities below—we can’t wait to connect with you!
• Check out the attached flyer for highlights of TED events.
• Stop by the TED table at CEC Division Connect on Thursday, March 13th, from 5:00–6:00 PM—if you have your TED member ribbon, you’ll receive a drink ticket for a complimentary beverage!
• Join us for the TED Membership Community Briefing on Thursday, March 14th, from 6:00–6:50 PM at the Convention Center.
• Don’t miss the TED Joint Reception from 7:00–10:00 PM—full details coming soon, so stay tuned!
You are Invited
CEC is hosting a townhall session for members about the state of higher education research. Please consider joining this session where you will also learn about action items to support efforts to stabilize and support IHE research.
Title: Town Hall for Researchers
Date: Thursday February 20th
Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm ET
Description:
Join your colleagues across the country in a conversation about the current state of higher education research and the issues each of you are facing.
Zoom Webinar REGISTRATION LINK for attendees, Register Now!
TED Committee Updates
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope is delighted to share some recent updates from our committee! We’ve had fantastic participation in our DR Job Search Series so far. A special thank-you goes out to Dr. Pinczynski and Dr. Contesse for their time and expertise in recent Q&A sessions. We are excited to continue this momentum with our next Q&A on Wednesday, February 19th at 8:00 PM, led by Dr. Lukins. You can find more details on our social media pages or by reaching out to the Kaleidoscope representatives.
Looking ahead, we can’t wait to see all the amazing posters at the upcoming CEC conference! Don’t forget that the round tables at CEC will be held at 1:00 PM—we’d love to have you join us for thoughtful discussions and collaboration. Please fill out this form if you're available to support Kaleidscope during this event. Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to another great month of learning and professional growth!
(Photo of María Virginia Giani from the TED poster session.)
Policy Committee
The Policy Committee remains committed to helping members find ways to advocate for students with disabilities, their teachers, and the researchers and programs working to support them. In addition to the materials available on the Policy page of the TED website, please try to join us at the monthly Virtual Washington Update for information and tips on how to advocate to your Congressional members Register Here!
Knowledge & Skills & Professional Development
(Dr. Allison Oliver, Chair of TED KSPD Committee)
TED is committed to fostering inclusive, high-impact professional development by expanding partnerships with HBCUs and key organizations to enhance universal supports. Our PD Committee, in collaboration with ISET, is working on an interdivision collaboration grant to explore AI-focused initiatives, equipping educators with cutting-edge tools for innovation. Additionally, TED will offer special sessions designed to address critical topics in teacher education. As we continue to advance professional learning, we also invite discussion on revisiting the micro credentialing initiative to provide structured recognition for educators' growth. Stay tuned for more details!