About Us
About CEC
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improve the educational success for children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
CEC advocates for appropriate policies, sets professional standards, and provides professional development, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice. CEC is known as THE source for information, resources, and professional development for special educators.
CEC has local Units in all 50 states and Canada, as well as 18 optional Special Interest Divisions focused on a specific topic, specialty area, role, or exceptionality. We also have CEC Student Chapters at hundreds of colleges and universities.
About Hawaii CEC
Who we are:
Hawaii CEC is a vibrant community of professionals, families, students, and community members who strive to change the narrative and support the needs of all. Our board of directors serve within the field of special education in many capacities. Like our diverse membership, the members of our board are parents of children with special needs, special educators, and higher education faculty which allows them to provide perspective from their personal and professional lives. We are 'Ohana
What we do:
Educate and empower children with exceptionalities by providing all Hawaii CEC members with a robust community, abundance of resources, and engaging experiences where they can grow.
Our why:
- We believe there is power in community and we are eager to strengthen the connection between those influencing the lives of exceptional children.
- We are confident is our ability to advocate for the profession of special education at all stakeholder levels.
- We share the desire to provide equitable and quality learned experiences and support that capitalizes and showcases the strengths and contributions of all.
- The field of special education is complex and ever-changing—as special education professionals, we know firsthand that there is a need for educators and family members to have access to resources, updates, tools, and information to support their capacity to make lasting change in the lives of those who matter most to us.
Executive Committee
About the Board of Directors:
Our Board of Directors (BoD) work together to organize events, programs, and professional development opportunities for the member of HICEC. Our board is in regular communication with CEC International to ensure we are bringing the best information and experiences to our state members. We look forward to expanding our BoD to involve new faces and incorporate new ideas and initiatives as we work to change the narrative of special education in Hawai'i.
| Executive Committee | |
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Past President |
Derek Govin Derek Govin is a former special education teacher where he served students with extensive needs including intellectual disabilities, autism, and multiple disabilities in middle and high school classroom settings for nine years. He is the co-founder and co-coordinator of the SPEDucator Project, and worked for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa as the Project Coordinator for Project Equal Access. Derek now works full time for CEC headquarters as Communications Manager.. |
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President |
Lauren Collier Lauren has been a special education teacher at Kaneohe Elementary School since July 2017. She currently teaches a resource and fully self-contained blended model. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and a 2025 finalist for Hawaii State Teacher of the Year representing the Castle-Kahuku Complex Area. Before teaching in Hawaii DOE, Lauren was a fellow through the New Teacher Project as a New York City (NYC) Teaching Fellow. In NYC she taught in a specialized DOE school for 5 years as a fully self-contained teacher. She received her Masters in Elementary Education from Pace University and is dual certified in General Education and Special Education. She received her Masters of Education from Columbia University, Teachers College in Curriculum and Leadership with an emphasis on culturally relevant education, specifically disability culture. She is currently enrolled at University of Southern California in the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. You can reach Lauren at [email protected]. |
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President Elect |
Jessica Ford 
Jessie Ford is a special education teacher in English Language Arts at Molokai High School (MHS) in Hawaii. She earned a Masters of Education in Teaching, dual certification in secondary Special Education (Mild to Moderate) and English Language Arts, from University of Hawaii College of Education. She teaches in a resource and Inclusion setting and has been teaching at MHS for eight years. Her preferred teaching styles include inquiry and project-based learning utilizing place-based, culturally relevant content. As a fellow of the SPEDucator Project (2020-22), Jessie connected with other special education teachers in Hawaii. This led to her participation in HICEC, Hawaii’s community for special education. |
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Treasurer |
Natalia Sandoval Natalia Sandoval, M.A. SpEd, NBCT is currently a Special Education Preschool Teacher at Waikīkī Elementary, in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Over the course of her 24 year career, she has held various positions in the special education field including a paraprofessional for students with severe Autism, a Student Services Coordinator (SSC), and a K-6 Special Education Teacher. For the past 5 years, Natalia has been an Adjunct Professor at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, in the College of Education, where she teaches special education introductory courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, to aspiring General Education Teachers. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Chaminade University, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Phoenix, and is a National Board Certified Teacher: Exceptional Needs Specialist (ages birth to 22+). Natalia has a deep passion for changing the narratives surrounding special education and supporting families through their special education journey, and loves advocating for special education in Hawaiʻi. |
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Communications Chair |
Janet Kim Janet Kim is the Assistant Specialist College Recruiter for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's College of Education. She has previously taught as a K-2 Special Education Teacher at Pearl Harbor Elementary School on O‘ahu and has spent the last decade committed to filling our classrooms with highly qualified, effective, and dedicated educators. Her research focus is recruiting and supporting underrepresented populations into teacher education programs. Her work includes distance and online recruitment methods and programs to meet the unique needs of rural and remote populations across the state of Hawaiʻi. She received her Master of Education in Leadership and Diversity and a PhD in Education with a specialization in Exceptionalities. Mrs. Kim was awarded the 2020 NAGAP Graduate Education Research Grant for her dissertation proposal, Understanding the Special Education Teacher Pipeline. You can contact Dr. Kim at [email protected] |
| Web Chair |
Jennibeth Seson Jennibeth Seson, a First Grade Special Education Inclusion Teacher and proud mother of five who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a Master’s in Elementary Special Education. She became a member of Council of Exceptional Children at University of Hawaii at Manoa back in 2012, serving as a Historian. Her passion lies in fostering an inclusive atmosphere where every learner can thrive. She is excited to spearhead initiatives that leverage technology to advance special education. |
Volunteer Square
The Hawaii CEC would not exist without our volunteers that power our engines every day. Every volunteer is valued, enriches the organization, makes us more diverse and inclusive, and helps us advance our mission.
CEC has a variety of ways for members to get involved locally and nationally, and through short- and long-term projects. Read more about volunteer opportunities by clicking here, but to get started, complete your volunteer profile. We will make your profile available to Units and Divisions and contact you when projects align with your interests and skills.