It is time once again to begin thinking about the PACEC Annual Convention! This year’s convention promises to be packed with exciting sessions beginning with Kim Peek: The Real Rain Man as our keynote speaker! Your student board has been working hard on making this year’s student strand at the convention tailored to your needs as future teachers. We have fresh sessions to attend which will give you great ideas for your future classroom as well as tips on how to get your dream job! On both Thursday and Friday mornings we will have our annual fundraising breakfast for you to enjoy! We will also be selling NEW merchandise for you to purchase during both days of the convention!

The student strand this year will be highlighted for you! Just stop by the student table to pick up the list of student sessions! This year we will be holding a Student Luncheon! This luncheon will give you the opportunity to meet the current student board, ask questions, and gain ideas for your college/universities member group, as well as network with students from all over Pennsylvania.

One session we hold every year on Thursday is the Student Delegate Assembly. Your attendance is important at this session because we will be updating you about the activities the student board has planned for the convention, what we have been working on with the professional board and, most importantly, we will be voting on a NEW student board. Your vote matters! Even if you are not interested in being a student board member, please attend to put in your vote and to find out how to make your college/university a recognized student group (if you are not already) and the benefits of doing so! Don’t forget to bring your membership card to the conference. You will need it to vote!

The student board is working hard on making this year’s convention as beneficial to you as possible. If you have ANY suggestions, please feel free to contact me!

We are currently working on the student CEC membership! We will be working hard on contacting universities, current students in the field, current graduates and past student members to work on increasing our membership, which has dropped drastically. A tremendous thank you is in order for Dreamalee Brotz, Shawn McMullen and Amanda Dabashinsky, all of whom are putting much dedication into reaching out to the student public in order to show them the great benefits of becoming a CEC member!

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to Dr. Darlene Perner. Through this past year, she, along with the entire professional board, has worked hard at including the student board in working toward the goals of the professional board. Through her knowledge and guidance this past year, we have been able to voice our concerns and opinions to an open and grateful professional board and in return the student board has gained valuable knowledge regarding the field of Special Education, General Education and the laws that govern them. Thank you!