Abstract
Dennis Cavitt, Ed.D., is an assistant professor of special education in the West College of Education at Midwestern State University (MSU), Wichita Falls, Texas.
He has been a member of CEC for more than 17 years and has served on the CEC Board of Directors since 2018. He chaired the CEC Representative Assembly (RA) Committee from 2016-2018 and was an RA Committee member from 2014-2015.
He also served as the communication chair of the CEC Pioneers Division from 2017-2018 and two terms on the Texas CEC Board of Directors, rising to serve as president each time.
Cavitt’s experience provides his preservice teacher candidates a wide and deep breadth of information. He teaches courses in the masters and undergraduate programs at MSU Texas. His specialties are working with students identified with high incidence disabilities and experiencing executive dysfunction and self-determination issues.
As a special education consultant to school districts, he has served in the role of behavioral specialist, provided independent educational evaluations, and served as a parent/in home trainer. His current research focuses on examining preservice teacher attitudes regarding the inclusion of all students in their future classrooms. He also is researching the inclusion of High Leverage Practices into the curriculum of teacher preparation programs.
“I will work to advance the goals of the CEC strategic plan,” Cavitt said, “including communicating with members in a clear and timely fashion. I am dedicated to the advancement of the
field through advocacy, standards, and professional learning and practice.”
Before his current position at MSU, Cavitt was assistant professor of special education at Abilene Christian University from 2007-2018 and director of special programs for Decatur ISD in Decatur, Texas from 2003-2007.
He is a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and has provided services to several Texas school districts since 1985 and the school district for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from 1993-1997. He was also a special education consultant for the Region 11 Education Service Center in Fort Worth, Texas from 2001-2003.
Cavitt earned his Ed.D. in Special Education from Texas Tech University, his M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Tarleton State University, his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Abilene Christian University, and his B.A. from Pepperdine University.
Yvonne N. Bui, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Special Education at San Francisco State University (SFSU), San Francisco, California, where she has served as the department chairperson for the past five years.
She has been a member of CEC since 1997 as a teacher and graduate student and served on the CEC Board of Directors from 2015-2017. Bui has also been a member of the CEC Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD), Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL), Division of International Special Education and Services (DISES), the CEC California Chapter, and president of the CEC Asian American Caucus. She also She was a consulting editor for Exceptional Children from 2009-2016 and Multiple Voices (published by DDEL) from 2008-2016.
Bui has worked with children and youth with disabilities in the role of a paraprofessional, general education, and special education teacher. At the university level, she has taught more than 25 courses in mild to moderate disabilities for credential, masters, and doctoral students. Her areas of research include culturally responsive pedagogy, learning strategies, and international special education.
She is the author of “How to Write a Master’s Thesis” and co-author of “Exceptional children in today’s schools: What teachers need to know.” In 2018-2019, she was selected for the Fellows Program for the American Council of Education.
“Transparency, accountability, and open communication are keys to building trust and long-lasting relationships, and those are principles that I will bring to my new role as CEC Treasurer.” Bui said. “I will also draw on my years of experience with strategic planning, managing budgets, and participating on a variety of volunteer boards and committees.”
She has been the project director or co-director for 14 local, state, and federal grants. From 2016-2019, she served as chair of the Academic Affairs Budget Advisory Council at SFSU.
She currently serves on the SFSU University Corporation, Board of Directors and Finance Committee. Bui is also an advisory board member and volunteer consultant to the Special Advisory Council for Exceptional Children, Office of Overseas Schools, U.S. Department of State.
Previously she served as an associate professor and chairperson at the University of San Francisco for 12 years. Bui earned her Ph.D. in Special Education (Learning Disabilities) at the University of Kansas, her M.A. in Special Education and General Education and Special Education Credentials at SFSU, and her B.A. in Child Development & Education at the University of California, Berkeley.
Tachelle Banks, Ph.D., is professor and associate dean of faculty and external affairs at the College of Education & Human Services at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Banks has been a CEC member for more than 10 years and is a member of five CEC divisions: The Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), Council for Children with Behavioral Disorder (CCBD), Division for Research (CEC-DR), Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL), and the Teacher Education Division (TED).
“As an educator and leader, I have a pragmatic philosophy that inspires my learning, listening, creativity, and action,” Banks said. “My work is focused on inclusiveness of all populations, and I consistently seek opportunities to contribute further to this goal. I look forward to the opportunity to leverage my expertise and skills in a meaningful and engaging way.”
Banks earned her Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Special Education at Kent State University. She also received a Master of Education with a major in Special Education, Mild/Moderate Intervention Specialist, from Kent State University. Banks earned her Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies at Ohio University.
Will Hunter, Ed.D., is associate professor of special education instruction curriculum and leadership in the College of Education at The University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.
Hunter has been a CEC member for nine years and served on the Executive Board of two CEC divisions: The Council for Children with Behavioral Disorder (CCBD) and the Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners (DDEL).
“I plan to be a servant leader for CEC, an organization that has a global impact on the special education community,” Hunter said. “I have the privilege of being a parent of children with exceptionalities. I have also worked with P-12 students with exceptionalities and their families in a variety of capacities including teacher, professor, and educational leader. I will bring this unique perspective to my work on the CEC Board to advocate and promote the advancement of our field.”
Hunter received an Educational Doctorate in Special Education with an interdisciplinary concentration in Urban Educational Leadership at the University of Cincinnati. He also earned a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Special Education at Northern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Cincinnati.
Cindy Perras, M.Ed., is a special education consultant at the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario.
Perras, a resident of Oakville, Ontario, has been a CEC member for 30 years and has extensive experience serving on the Board of Directors with Ontario CEC, the CEC Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD), and Community Living Oakville.
She has been involved in the field of special education for 40 years and brings the perspectives of a parent advocate, general educator, special education teacher, resource teacher, consultant, coordinator, and system-wide leader. She has taught/resourced students of all exceptionalities at both elementary and secondary levels.
“Many years ago, I became a member of CEC at the suggestion of my superintendent, who said it would be of professional benefit in my position as a special education resource teacher,” Perras said. “In CEC, I found a home. CEC ‘connected the dots’ among my various roles as an educator, as the parent of a child with special needs, and as someone who is passionate about giving back through volunteerism.”
Perras received an M.Ed. from Brock University, a B.Ed. from the Ontario Teachers’ Education College, and a B.A. from the University of Windsor. She also completed coursework for a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto/OISE.
Kareem Thompson, Ed.D., is assistant principal at Congress Middle School, School District of Palm Beach County, Florida and adjunct professor at Lynn University and Palm Beach State College.
Thompson has been a CEC member for nine years and has held positions on the local, state, and international level such as Chapter 200 Membership Chair (2010-2012), Chapter 200 Vice President & Florida CEC State Unit Multicultural Chair (2012-2013), Chapter 200 President-Elect & Florida CEC State Unit Multicultural Chair (2013-2014), Chapter 200 President & Florida CEC State Unit Vice President (2014-2015), Chapter 200 President & Florida CEC State Unit President-Elect (2015-2016), Chapter 200 Past President & Florida CEC State Unit President (2016-2017), International CEC Representative Assembly Committee Member (January 2016-December 2017), Chapter 200 Past President & Florida CEC State Unit Past President (2017-2018), Chapter 200 Past President & Florida State Unit Awards Committee Chair (2018-2019).
“The Council for Exceptional Children values the meaning of inclusiveness,” Thompson said. “As an African American raised by a single mother of six, who herself would have been identified as illiterate, I have pushed through the odds of societal statistics and assumptions to become a successful educator. I believe it is essential to support all students, and I have committed my life to do so.”
Thompson received an Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Lynn University. He also earned an Education Specialist degree in Education, a Master of Science in Management and Administration of Educational Programs, and a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education at Florida Memorial University.
Ben Tillotson, M.Ed., is a transition specialist/teacher at SCORE Transition Academy in the Salt Lake City School District in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tillotson has been a CEC member for eight years and has served on the Utah CEC Board of Directors in capacities such as Vice President, President-Elect, President, Past-President (2019), Publicity Chair, Co-Treasurer, Events, Secretary and Student Chapter support.
“I have been actively involved in CEC since I joined as a student during my undergraduate program,” Tillotson said. “The networks and relationships I have gained as a CEC member have directly influenced numerous opportunities in my career that has changed the course of my life. Within CEC, I have found mentors and friends who have educated me, supported me and pushed me as a teacher and as a person. I want to continue the legacy of CEC by supporting and creating strategies and policies that empower educators and students of all abilities.”
Tillotson received a Master of Education and Bachelor of Science in Severe Disabilities at the University of Utah. He also earned an Associate of Science in General Studies at Weber State University (Utah) and an ESL Endorsement at Southern Utah University.