CONVENTION REPORT
Dear Friends,
The 48th Annual PACEC Convention, High Quality Learning: Keystones to Success, was a big success. Thank you for taking the time join us in our commitment to serving students with special needs. It is my hope that this event served as a critical forum for keeping you current on special education issues and practices to work with children with exceptional learning needs.
We had over 180 presenters this year with a wide variety of topics including: assessment, literacy, highly qualified, early intervention, instructional strategies, assistive technology, behavior management, positive behavior supports, inclusion, differentiated instruction, co-teaching and many more. Special strands in this year’s program included: autism, transition, special education law and practice and response to intervention. A special strand geared toward students was facilitated by Caitlan Siggins, the PACEC Student Board President.
All convention attendees had the wonderful opportunity to hear our Keynote Speaker, Kim Peek, the Real Rain Man, along with his father, Fran Peek. Kim and his father Fran delivered Kim’s own mission statement: "Recognize and respect differences in others.” This unforgettable presentation informed us about coping with a child with a disability from birth through adulthood. Kim and Fran’s anecdotes were truly remarkable. If you had a chance to meet them in person, you most likely were amazed by their warmth and compassion for others. We were all astounded by Kim’s abilities to recite information in so many different areas. I know that I was excited about learning I was born on a Sunday and retiring at the age of 65 on a Thursday! We were all so thrilled about meeting them both in person, and of course, touching the Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay, The Rain Man.
We also had the pleasure of listening to another remarkable individual, Peter Riffle, a person with a learning disability. Peter spent his entire career working with other people with disabilities. During his presentation, he spoke to the audience about what a label means to a child and took the participants on a walk in the shoes of a child with a learning disability.
The exhibits, exhibitors and Scholastic book fair were inviting and engaging. Thank you to all of those who participated in this important part of the convention. This year was the first year for the Scholastic book fair and for Division luncheon meetings. Hopefully, during one of the luncheons, or at dinner, you had the chance to meet other colleagues in your division or field to share ideas and tasks to accomplish in the upcoming year.
One of the most memorable and emotional parts on our convention was our Awards Ceremony, led by Gina Scala. We had the opportunity to listen again, about remarkable individuals and how they have made a difference in the lives of others: students, teachers, faculty and other professionals who serve students with exceptionalities.
I would like to extend my gratitude to my family for their patience and understanding of my absence during this convention. Luckily, I was able to find some great gifts to bring back to them from the exhibitors’ tables.
Laura Receveur, PACEC President, and Darlene Perner, PACEC Past President and Nominations Chair, deserve profound thanks for their tremendous support. Thank you to all of the convention committee members, Executive Board Members and Regional Directors who make our conference successful each year:
Cheryl Lamm & Pegg Philapavage, Registration
Kimberly Bright, Program
Gina Scala, Awards and CASE Conference
Constance Fox Lyttle, Scholarship
Tanya Kuhl, Exhibits
Jim Gimliano, Newsletter
Mark Kandel, Resolutions
Chris Tabakin, CAN
Dana Moore, Nick Polcini, & Leslie Kolodin
Sharon Reed, Student Board Advisor
Brenda Robertson, Evaluations
Mary Ellen Brown, AV support
Caitlan Siggins and all of the Student Board Officers
Kristine Quimby and Amanda Dabashinsky, Website
We hope to see you all again in 2008!
Kind regards,
Cheryl McCarthy,
Convention Chair