The Missouri Council of Administrators for Special Education (MO-CASE) has selected Dr. John Heskett as the Executive Director, effective July 1, 2010.  Dr. Heskett will replace George Wilson who has announced his retirement after  five  years as the Executive Director of MO -CASE.

Dr. Heskett has broad experience in special education.  He is currently a member of the adjunct faculty in Special Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis where he also holds a joint appointment as a Fellow in The E. Desmond Lee Center for Research and Study of Disabilities, Education and Culture. Previously, Dr. Heskett was the assistant superintendent for pupil services in the Pattonville School District in St. Louis County.   For 15 years, he was the assistant commissioner and state director of Special Education in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education providing leadership for the development of special education services for students with disabilities.   While employed as the state director of special education, Dr. Heskett was elected president of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.

On being selected as Executive Director of MO-CASE, Dr. Heskett said, “I value the opportunity I will have to serve in this leadership position.  Missouri places a very high value on the education of our students, and particularly those students with disabilities.  As Missouri school districts continue to educate students in accordance with high standards, I look forward to working with members of MO-CASE and the education community to achieve outcomes for students with disabilities that will lead to their success as adults."

The 33rd Annual Special Education Administrators' Conference will be September 26-28, 2010.  The Conference Committee has already started working hard to make this conference an outstanding professional development opportunity for all attendees.  The conference will commence on Sunday, September 26 at 2:30 pm with the Law Conference sponsored by the Missouri School Boards Association.

Exhibitor packets will be mailed to over 150 exhibitors by the first of April.  Space for exhibitors will be limited to 60 booths so it will be first come first serve for exhibit space!  MO-CASE will again offer the Sponsor Showcase and Reception on Monday afternoon for sponsors at the $1500 level and above.  Space will be limited for this as well.  We are looking forward to making a few changes in the format of the Showcase and making it a very beneficial time for both sponsors and attendees.

Conference fees for the 2010 conference will be $190 for MO-CASE Supporters plus the $30 Supporter Fee for a total price of $220.  The conference fee for a Non-Supporter will be $280. 

Tan Tar A has once again read your evaluations and have made some changes for you.  Be watching for a postcard from Tan Tar A later this Spring!  The room rate for this year's conference will be $105.  Reservations can be made by calling Tan Tar A at 1-800-826-8272 or online at www.tan-tar-a.com.

Registration information will be in districts by May 1!  Stay tuned to this website for updated information about the 33rd Annual Special Education Administrators' Conference! 

Rick Lavoie has served as an administrator of residential programs for children with special needs since 1972. He holds three degrees in Special Education and has served as an adjunct professor or visiting lecturer at numerous universities including Syracuse, Harvard, Gallaudet, Manhattanville College, University of Alabama and Georgetown. His numerous national television appearances include CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America, ABC Evening News and Disney Channel Presents.

Rick serves as a consultant on Learning Disabilities to several agencies and organizations including Public Broadcasting Service, New York Times, National Center for Learning Disabilities, Girl Scouts of America, Child Magazine and WETA. He is a member of the Professional Advisor Board of the Learning Disabilities Association.

Rick has delivered his message to over 500,000 parents and professionals throughout North America. He has the distinction of having delivered Keynote Addresses for all three of the major special needs advocacy organizations in the United States (Learning Disabilities Association, Council for Exceptional Children, Children with Attention Deficit Disorder).

Rick has held administrative positions at residential programs for thirty years. These experiences at residential schools have provided Rick with a "living laboratory" in which he developed and refineed his methods and philosophies related to the education of adolescents with special needs.

Rick is probably best known for his videos "How Difficult Can This Be?: The F.A.T. City Workshop" and "Last One Picked, First One Picked On: The Social Implications of Learning Disabilities".  His new video on behavior management is entitled "When the Chips are Down ...". His newest book:  "The Motivation Breakthrough:  6 Secrets for Turning on the Tuned-Out Kid."

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