About the National Urban Special Education Leadership Initiative: The initiative partnership is a collaboration, including the University of Central Florida, two Florida urban school districts, and special education leaders from around the country affiliated with the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative. The initiative will provide three major outcomes: Development of a model program for an Education Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Special Education Leadership for urban special education administrators. Creation of a cadre of experts in special education urban leadership to act as a National Faculty that will aid in instructing doctoral candidates and provide ongoing advice for the implementation and assessment of the initiative. Graduation of 11 urban special education administration fellows with doctoral degrees to serve as leaders in their respective school systems and as new members of the National Faculty, which will form the core of a national network of urban special education leaders. Purpose: This initiative is designed to address the critical gaps between the traditional preparation of urban special education mid-level administrators and the skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed for full implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004. Philosophy: Special Education must function as an integral and complementary component of best practices in the education for all students. It is important to support the movement toward inclusive education for students with mild to severe disabilities, and see best instructional practices in general education as supporting the growth and development of students with disabilities. Special educators have important roles to play in building a unified system of schooling that supports learning of all students. Leadership is needed to make these goals a reality. One important purpose of the program is to provide high quality, collaborative opportunities leadership development in special education.

Suzanne M. Martin, Ph.D. - Project Director: Suzanne M. Martin, Ph.D. is a professor of Exceptional Education in the Child, Family and Community Sciences Department, College of Education at the University of Central Florida. From 2000-20006, she served as the Assistant Dean of Education for the College. Prior to joining the College of Education, Dr. Martin served as a department chairperson and faculty member at other institutes of higher education. Dr. Martin has a long history of leadership activities in higher education as well as educational organizations. In her career, Dr. Martin has taught elementary school students, junior high school students with special needs, community college students preparing to be paraprofessional in special education classroom, undergraduate students and graduate students. She has served as a President of the International Council of Exceptional Children and as a Program specialist/ Branch chief at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. She has been awarded grants from the U. S. Department of Education that have allowed her to pursue her work in teacher education and leadership training. She is the recipient of many awards and the author of numerous articles on teaching and leadership as well as a book on women in leadership. Katie Swain - Grant Coordinator: Katie is currently serving as the Grant Coordinator for the National Urban Special Education Leadership Initiative within the College of Education at the University of Central Florida. Alongside her coordinator duties, Katie is working towards her Masters of Arts in Music Education at UCF. Previously, she has worked as the Graduate Admissions Specialist for the College of Education, coordinating admission and recruitment activities of all Master's students within the College. As an active musician and teacher, Katie regularly performs throughout the Orlando area and teaches a private music studio of 20 local middle and high school students. Katie received her Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences & Psychology from the University of Central Florida in 2002. Caroline Marrett - Graduate Assistant: As a student growing up in the New York City public schools system, I have been very fortunate to have had several great teachers who were inspiring, motivating and made learning fun. During my undergraduate and graduate preparation, my instructors too have been knowledgeable, talented and committed to education. For me, that has made all the difference in the world. I believe that teachers can and do make all the difference and help to shape the future everyday they walk into the classroom. As a doctoral candidate my passion for teaching and learning has been fueled by that belief (which is also well documented in the literature). My goal is to bring that same enthusiasm into the classroom as I in turn prepare students to become special education teachers.