Nominate an outstanding special educator
8/5/2025
Kathe Shelby Leadership Award opens for 2025 nominations
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is seeking nominations for the 2025 Kathe Shelby Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership by a special educator in Ohio. The nomination deadline is Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.
The Department will present the award this November during OCALICONLINE 2025, the premier autism and disabilities conference.
Award nominees should meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of 15 years of full-time experience in special education
- Currently employed by a district or community school
- Knowledge of effective programming for students with disabilities
- Knowledge of special education law to benefit students with disabilities
- Demonstrates exceptional and effective skills in improving the quality of special education programming for Ohio's students
- Serves as a true champion of special education by displaying initiative and influencing students, and showing respect toward students with special needs, their parents, special and general education teachers, related services personnel, and school administrators
Visit the OCALICONLINE awards webpage for more information or to submit a nomination. The winner will receive complimentary registration to OCALICONLINE 2025.
The award honors the late Kathe Shelby, director of the Office for Exceptional Children from 2008-2011.