As we enter our 100th year of leading special education, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is recognizing exceptional educators from around the world who have shown a passion, dedication, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of the students who they teach. Hear from teachers about their personal experiences working in the field, and get inspired to make your own impact this year.
Dr. Donald DeVito
DeVito is one of four music educators at the Rawlings Elementary Center for Fine Arts, a Title school in Gainesville, Florida. In 2011, DeVito was recognized as the National CEC Teacher of the Year. In 2014 he was elected to the board of the International Society for Music Education with thousands of members in nearly 100 countries. He serves as an adjunct professor in the University of Florida School of Music Masters in Music Education program. He publishes extensively and present internationally on networking universities, schools, and community- based programs for the benefit of students with complex needs. Examples of publications include: "The Communicative Function of Behavioral Responses to Music: A Precursor to Assessment for Students with Autism” in the 2nd International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education, as well as chapters in the Handbook of Arts Education and Special Education, and numerous Oxford Handbooks all of which include collaboration with the Council for Exceptional Children. In 2018 he cofounded the Haitian Center for Inclusive Education with several fellow CEC members.
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