The DEC Executive Board utilizes a structure of Policy Governance and focuses their time and effort on ensuring accountability of the organization to fulfill its organizational purposes. All DEC Executive Board members contribute a minimum of 100 hours of their time annually (to participate in meetings, attend conferences, serve as committee liaisons, etc.) and commit to the following responsibilities:

1. Linking with DEC members to get and give information so the Board can best represent DEC members, and members can be well informed about the Board’s work.

2. Establishing written policies that reflect DEC’s mission and values and serve to guide strategically the direction of the organization, manage organizational risk, and meet the board’s fiduciary responsibility.

3. Monitoring policies to ensure identified outcomes are being achieved and organizational risk is minimized.

Additional Board responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following activities

1. Preparing for and participating in all Board meetings. This currently involves monthly conference calls (approximately 3-hours each).

2. Traveling to and attending all face-to-face Board meetings and other required activities at the DEC and CEC annual conferences (approximately 7 days a year). Funding support for travel and conference fees is available, as needed/requested.

3. Serving on Board committees.

4. Acting as a liaison for DEC initiatives as assigned (Committees).

Vice President; General Member-at-Large; and Family Member-at-Large

Specifically, the individual roles include:

Vice President

Four-year commitment (serving one-year terms as Vice President, President Elect, President, and Past President) and empowered to assume the role of President-Elect or President, as necessary. VP assumes leadership responsibilities in linking with DEC’s members through serving on the Executive Board Policy Committee, Executive Board Nominations Committee, and represents DEC on CEC’s Interdivisional Collaborative.

General Member-at-Large

Three-year commitment, assuming leadership responsibilities in linking with DEC’s members through serving on the Executive Board Policy Committee through a process of learning (year 1), coordinating (year 2), and guiding (year 3). As well, GMALs serve on the Executive Board Nominations Committee, CEC’s Representative Assembly, and act as an Executive Board Liaison for a variety of other DEC initiatives.

Family Member-at-Large

Two-year commitment, bringing the family voice and perspective to leadership responsibilities in linking with DEC’s members through serving on the Executive Board Policy Committee, Executive Board Nominations Committee, CEC’s Representative Assembly, and acting as an Executive Board Liaison for a variety of other DEC initiatives.

Any DEC member (e.g., practitioner, family member, student, someone who prepares in-service and/or pre-service educators, researcher, etc.) who wants to be considered by the Executive Board Nominations Committee for candidacy of any available position must submit a nomination packet that includes (a) current CV or resume with contact information, (b) the names and contact information of two potential references, and (c) an optional letter of support from nominee’s employer.

Additionally, nominees will provide a written response to each of the five following items. These items ask nominees to address experiences in areas of importance to the DEC Executive Board — leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and equity. Respond to each with relevant experiences and how experiences will inform contributions to the DEC Executive Board.

Leadership: Any individual, not just those who have formal titles or responsibilities, can and do demonstrate leadership. Describe ways in which you proactively exercise leadership. (300-word limit)

Advocacy: DEC advocates for policies and the advancement of evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at-risk for developmental delays and disabilities. Describe your experiences with engaging in advocacy efforts focused on early intervention / early childhood special education, the children and families served in these systems, and/or the EI/ECSE workforce. (300-word limit)

Collaboration: The work of DEC is grounded in collaboration - collaboration between families and EI/ECSE systems as well as agencies within and across multiple levels of the early intervention/ early childhood special education and the disability landscape. Describe your experiences related to interagency collaboration and the promotion of collaboration with families and EI/ECSE systems. (300-word limit)

Equity and Addressing Bias: The DEC Priority Issues Agenda states “As individuals and as a system, we must acknowledge and address bias and develop ways to reduce its impact on children and families. Increasing the diversity of leadership and the workforce; intentionally working with families as partners; and actively acknowledging when and how bias impacts our systems, children, and families can help reduce bias and achieve inclusive, equitable settings.” Describe your experiences associated with addressing individual and system/organizational bias particularly as it impacts the children, families, and the workforce in EI/ECSE. (300-word limit)

Contributions to DEC: In this final narrative, explain why you are seeking a DEC Executive Board position and how your leadership on the board will proactively contribute to DEC’s Ends Statements and Priority Issues Agenda. (500-word limit)

To be considered, complete a nomination packet here by May 31, 2022, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Each nomination packet is reviewed by DEC Executive Board Nominations Committee members using a pre- established rubric to guide the process. This year’s committee members are Megan Purcell (President-Elect), Jenna Weglarz-Ward (Vice President), James Young (Member-at-Large), Valecia Davis (DEC member), Diana LaRocco (DEC member), Chih-Ing Lim (DEC member), and Hasan Zaghlawan (DEC member).

The Nominations Committee identifies a slate of no more than four and no fewer than two candidates per position who meet the criteria and who have provided all required materials before the deadline. During the July 2022 Executive Board meeting, the committee proposes the final slate of candidates to the DEC Executive Board for approval. All nominees are notified of the outcome of their application as a candidate no later than August 1, 2022.

By September 1, 2022, candidates approved for the slate for the 2023 DEC Executive Board election will engage in a brief interview via Zoom with a Nominations Committee member and provide any updated information such as an updated resume/CV or contact information.

DEC Executive Board elections are held in the fall. The final slate of candidates is announced virtually before the fall conference and during the annual business meeting held during the conference. Candidates are not required to attend the annual business meeting.

Information about the candidates and how to vote is posted to DEC’s website and distributed through the DEC Update. Voting opens at the conference and closes on December 1, 2022. Candidates are notified shortly thereafter.

Individuals elected to the DEC Executive Board assume their duties starting July 1, 2023. They are invited to participate in the May and June 2023 board conference calls. Also, all new Executive Board members will participate in an onboarding process to learn about their responsibilities prior to July 1, 2023.

If you have questions about the 2023 DEC Executive Board Call for Nominations, please email Megan Purcell, meganpurcell@purdue.edu.