Formula for Success:
Providing a Highly Capable Workforce

It is my honor and privilege to invite you to NASDSE’s 71st Annual Business Meeting and Conference that will take place October 18-21 at the beautiful Kiawah Island Resort on the coast of South Carolina. The conference theme, Formula for Success: Providing a Highly Capable Workforce, couldn’t be more timely. As more students with disabilities spend the greater part of their school day in the general education classroom working on grade-level content, it is imperative that all school personnel have the skills to work with and engage students with a wide range of disabilities and needs for educational supports. Our goal is to ensure that teachers, related services providers, administrators and all other school personnel have the skills to work effectively. We know that highly trained personnel experience more job satisfaction, tend to stay in their jobs longer and that their students have better outcomes. We want to take advantage of the Annual Conference to showcase some of the exceptional work that is going on around the country to meet the need for a highly capable workforce and to share your ideas for meeting this need in your states.

In reading through this conference announcement, please note that our agenda has changed slightly from the past few years. Our Annual Business Meeting for State Directors will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We encourage all state directors to attend this extremely important meeting and we urge you to make your travel plans accordingly. The business meeting not only provides a report on the state of NASDSE, but in addition, it affords you the singular opportunity to meet alone with your colleagues to have a private conversation about your most pressing issues. NASDSE’s board of directors will listen attentively to your concerns and will plan follow-up activities to address them.

At the close of the business meeting, we will once again have our Sponsor Showcases and our opening reception honoring new state directors. The time we spend together at Kiawah will provide you with opportunities for both formal and informal discussions, food for thought and nourishment and a host of networking opportunities in a beautiful setting. Come prepared to participate in a wide variety of activities – some traditional like our Silent Auction and State Night and some new conference events as well. Dress for the conference is business casual (bring your walking shoes!!) except for our installation and awards ceremony where you can dress up to match the beautiful setting where it will take place. I look forward to seeing you and to sharing this wonderful opportunity with you.

Mabrey Whetstone
NASDSE President