2024 DEC Executive Board Nominations - Deadline Extended
- Division for Early Childhood (DEC)
- Mar 4, 2024
- 1 min read
The DEC Executive Board is seeking nominations for two Executive Board positions starting July 1st, 2024. Available Positions include: (1) Vice President, (2) General Member-at-Large. Download the full call for nominations here.
New Deadline: Submit your application by March 18th, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Board Member Responsibilities
The DEC Executive Board utilizes a structure of Policy Governance and purpose-driven approach to focus their time and effort on ensuring accountability of the organization to fulfill its organizational mission and purpose. Board members work collectively to support DEC members to meet our DEC mission, DEC Ends, Priority Issues Agenda, and Racial Equity Point-of-View. It is encouraged for interested people to review DEC’s Foundational Materials when preparing their application.
All DEC Executive Board members contribute a minimum of 100 hours of their time annually (e.g., participate in meetings, attend conferences, serve as committee liaisons, contribute to workgroups) 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 and implementing 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 virtual meetings (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).
To learn more about DEC Executive Board activities and policies, please see the DEC EB Policy Manual.
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 DEC and CEC committees such as the Executive Board Nominations Committee. | Member-at-Large Three-year commitment, assuming leadership responsibilities in linking with DEC’s members through serving on the Executive Board Policy Committee, Executive Board Nominations Committee, and acting as an Executive Board Liaison for a variety of other DEC initiatives. |
Nominations Packet
DEC members who want to be considered by the Executive Board Nominations Committee for candidacy must submit a nomination packet that includes:
current CV or resume with current contact information,
the names and contact information of two potential references, and
an optional letter of support from nominee’s employer.
(Please note that current board members may not provide references for nominee packets.)
Additionally, nominees will provide a written response to the following prompts. The prompts below ask you to address your experiences in areas of importance to the DEC Executive Board — leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and equity. Respond to each prompt with your relevant experiences and how your experiences will inform your contributions to the DEC Executive Board. Nominees will enter their responses into textboxes.
Leadership: Individuals at all levels of an organization and in all roles, not just those who have formal titles or responsibilities, can and do demonstrate leadership. Describe your primary role and the ways in which you proactively exercise leadership. (300 words)
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 words)
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. Additionally, our board works as one body and voice. Describe your experiences related to teaming and collaboration and the promotion of collaboration with families and EI/ECSE systems. (300 words)
Inclusion, Equity, and Addressing Bias: The DEC Priority Issues Agenda and Racial Equity Point of View are guideposts for DEC as an organization that holds a commitment to the advancement of racial equity. 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.” In addition, the DEC RE POV helps to center “decision-making and strategic planning in order to confront exclusionary practices, policies and norms, and center the power and vision of those most harmed by structural racism and ableism.” 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 words)
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 mission. (500 words)
To be considered, complete a nomination packet here by March 18th, 2024 (11:59 PM Eastern Time).
Nominations Process and Timeline
January 15th, 2024 - March 18th, 2024 (Optional): Indicate your interest in learning more about the DEC Executive Board and nomination process here. A nominations committee member will contact you to answer any questions you may have.
February 28th, 2024 - March 18th, 2024: Complete and submit your application.
March 18th, 2024 – March 30th, 2024: Nomination packets reviewed by DEC Executive Board Nominations Committee members using a pre- established rubric to guide the process. This year’s committee members are: Jenna Weglarz-Ward (President), LaShorage Shaffer (President-Elect), Ann Mickelson (General Member-at-Large), Shameka Brown (Family Member-at-Large), Heather Taylor (DEC member), Karen Brown (DEC member), Chih-Ing Lim (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. Slate is presented to the current DEC Executive Board. All nominees are notified of the outcome of their application as a candidate no later than March 22, 2024.
March 25th, 2024: Candidate information (e.g., photo, brief bio) are presented to membership and voting opens.
March 25th, 2024 - April 15th, 2024: Candidates approved for the slate for the 2024 DEC Executive Board election will participate in a virtual ‘Meet the Candidates’ session.
Elections Process and Timeline
DEC Executive Board elections will be held from April 1st, 2024 - April 30th, 2024. (This date may be subject to change.) Information about the candidates and how to vote is posted to DEC’s website and distributed directly to DEC Members via email. Candidates are notified shortly thereafter.
Transition to Board Responsibilities
Individuals elected to the DEC Executive Board assume their duties starting July 1, 2024. They are invited to participate in the May and June 2024 Board meetings. Also, all new Executive Board members will participate in an onboarding process to learn about their responsibilities in the early months of term and participate in mentoring throughout their first year.
Questions
If you have questions about the 2024 DEC Executive Board Call for Nominations, please email Jenna Weglarz-Ward at jenna.weglarz-ward@unlv.edu.
