The CEC Outstanding Paraeducator Award
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is a professional association of educators dedicated to cultivating, supporting, and empowering education professionals who work with individuals with disabilities by:
- Advocating for education professionals and for individuals with disabilities, and/or gifts and talents
- Advancing professional practice and scholarly research
- Promoting diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility
- Building networks, partnerships, and communities
Award Details:
CEC recognizes the essential role that paraeducators play in providing key support to teachers, aiding in student learning, and helping classrooms to be more inclusive. This award is intended to honor CEC paraeducator members who are currently involved in direct or related services to students with disabilities and provide exemplary service to students and special educators.
The CEC Outstanding Paraeducator Award recipient(s) must:
- be a current CEC member at the time of nomination and granting of the award;
- be currently involved in direct or related services to students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents;
- demonstrate CEC’s core values:
- Visionary Thinking: Demonstrated by forward-thinking and courageous decision-making dedicated to excellence and influence in an evolving environment.
- Integrity: Demonstrated by ethical, responsive behavior; transparency; and accountability.
- Inclusiveness: Demonstrated by a commitment to diversity, caring, and respect for the dignity and worth of all individuals.
Criteria for the award are outlined by six standards identified from the National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals Model and include assisting teachers with:
- building and maintaining effective instructional teams,
- maintaining learner-centered supportive environments,
- planning and organizing learning experiences,
- engaging students in learning,
- instruction,
- assessing learner needs, progress, and achievement,
as well as meeting standards of professional and ethical conduct.
- Nominations must be made by an individual who is currently, or has, been employed in the field of education/special education, or CEC-affiliated organization (i.e., Unit, Local or Student Chapter, Division, or Subdivision) that has direct knowledge of the nominee’s work supporting students and teachers, as described above.
- Self-nominations are not accepted.
- All nomination materials must be submitted online by 12:00 pm Eastern, September 23, 2024.
- The nomination form is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9L7ZGRH
- Supporting materials can be uploaded into the online nomination form as PDF (strongly preferred), doc, docx files or video link. If you are unable to upload any documents, please email them to Sharon Rodriguez. Alternatively, responses can be typed into the online form.
- Please use file name(s) to clearly indicate reference to the nominee and award.
- (e.g., “Smith_Paraeducator_Award.docx” or “Smith_Paraeducator_Nomination.docx”).
- All materials become the property of CEC and will not be returned.
- Posthumous nominations are NOT accepted.
Required Materials
- One letter or video of nomination from a colleague, supervisor, or other professional addressing the nominee’s efforts in meeting the award criteria.
- Letter word limit: 500 words
- Video time limit: 3.5 minutes
- At least one additional letter or video of support from a colleague, supervisor, or other professional addressing the nominee’s efforts in meeting the award criteria.
- Letter word limit: 250 words
- Video time limit: 2 minutes
- Nominee’s vita/resume or biographical information
- Key elements for a bio include: Education, Experience (Job History/Brief Job Descriptions), Skills/Certifications/Special Training, Community Service/Leadership. The information could also include items such as what led the nominee to a career in education, their teaching philosophy, etc.
Selection Considerations
The CEC Honors Committee has the authority to give up to three Outstanding Paraeducator Awards or opt not to grant the award in any given year.
Recipient Recognition and Benefits
The award recipient(s) will be:
- provided with complimentary registration to attend the CEC 2025 Convention & Expo, March 12 – 15, 2025, in Baltimore, MD.
- recognized, and receive a commemorative plaque, at an Awards Luncheon Thursday, March 13, 2025, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm;
- given a $500 cash honorarium; and
- featured in a press release on the CEC website (https://exceptionalchildren.org)
Questions?
Please contact Sharon Rodriguez.