Committees, Special Interest Groups & Caucuses
Committees, Special Interest Groups & Caucuses
Committees – Committees are groups formed by the Executive Board and represented by a Member at Large or a member of the Presidential Line. Standing committees are defined in the Bylaws. Ad Hoc committees can be established by the President.
Caucuses – Caucuses are affinity groups formed by members of the general membership who have common interests and must be approved by the Executive Board. This approval must be renewed every three years by the Executive Board. Caucuses are subgroups of TED and must abide by TED’s bylaws and strategic plans.
Special Interest Groups – Special Interest Groups (SIG) are affinity groups formed by members of the general membership who have common interests and must be approved by the Executive Board. This approval must be renewed every three years by the Executive Board. SIGs are subgroups of TED and must abide by TED’s bylaws and strategic plan.
Review Policy & Procedures on Forming a new SIG/Caucus Here
Membership Committee
This committee works to recruit, welcome, and retain TED members by strengthening member benefits and connecting members with opportunities to participate.
Interested in getting involved? Contact: Wilhelmina (Willa) Van Dijk at willa.vandijk@usu.edu and Valentina Contesse at contesse@coe.ufl.edu
Publications Committee
This committee supports TED’s publications, including the division’s journal and member communications, and helps guide content that serves the field.
Interested in getting involved? Contact: Brittany Hott at bhott@ou.edu
Professional Development and Knowledge and Skills Committee
This committee supports the ongoing growth of TED members by providing relevant, timely, and meaningful professional learning opportunities and by advancing the knowledge and skills used in special education teacher preparation.
Interested in getting involved? Contact: Allison Oliver at olivera@apsu.edu
Research Committee
This committee promotes research on teacher preparation in special education, supports members’ scholarly work, and helps connect research to practice.
Interested in getting involved? Contact: Shanna Hirsch at sehirsch@umd.edu & Hannah Mathews at hmmathews@coe.ufl.edu
Communications Committee
This committee promotes research on teacher preparation in special education, supports members’ scholarly work, and helps connect research to practice.
Interested in getting involved? Contact: Monique Pinczynski at mpinczynski@boisestate.edu
Kaleidoscope Committee
This student-focused committee gives students a voice in TED, creating opportunities for leadership, networking, and professional growth.
Interested in getting involved? Contact: kaleidoscope@tedcec.org
Policy Committee
The TED Policy Committee meets virtually every month to discuss happenings and events that impact the special education teacher workforce, including preparation, professional learning and development opportunities, and retention efforts.
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Small Special Education Programs Caucus (SSEPC)
This caucus aims to support the distinct needs of small special education personnel preparation programs. Its purpose includes fostering professional development, collaboration, innovation, and alignment with broader policies to enhance faculty effectiveness and program quality.
Diversity Caucus
This caucus aims to promote equity and inclusion in special education by addressing diversity issues in teacher preparation and increasing the recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty and students. It supports collaboration, research, professional development, and policy recommendations to enhance educators’ ability to serve diverse learners effectively.
Early Career Faculty Special Interest Group
This SIG provides a forum for discussion of topics relevant to TED members during the early stages of higher education careers and supports the success of our members by sharing ideas and experiences.
Early Childhood Faculty Special Interest Group
This SIG emphasizes teacher education generally, but provides a forum to communicate and connect with faculty colleagues around issues related specifically to special education and early childhood.
Paraeducator Special Interest Group
This SIG promotes the professional practices of all paraeducators serving individuals with exceptionalities and support appropriate training, supervision, and evaluation of performance relevant to their employment duties.
Neurodivergent Educators and Researchers with Disabilities (NERDS) SIG
This SIG seeks to connect disabled and neurodivergent individuals’ based on common identities and interest in advocacy, education, and support.
STEM and Emerging Technologies in Special Education (STEM-ET SPED) SIG
This SIG supports faculty, doctoral students, and teacher educators working at the intersection of STEM instruction for students with disabilities and the preparation of teachers who serve those students.