CEC 2025: Meet Our Keynotes
Each year at the CEC Convention & Expo, thousands of special education professionals from around the world come together to learn, share, grow, and connect. With hundreds of sessions on just about every topic in the field, the CEC Convention & Expo is THE professional development event for special educators to find research, tips, and strategies you can apply to support students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
We are pleased to introduce our opening Keynote speaker and our Keynote panelists, who will be appearing in Baltimore, Maryland.
Beyond Silos: Creating a Culture of Collaboration to Empower Educators and Students
Casey Watts will be presenting “Beyond Silos: Creating a Culture of Collaboration to Empower Educators and Students.” Imagine a school where every educator feels empowered to contribute, and silos are a thing of the past. By dismantling barriers between special education, general education, and administration, we can create collaborative teams that make every educator and student feel valued, empowered, and essential.
Casey Watts is the founder of Casey Watts Coaching & Consulting, LLC, and serves as a Team Alignment Strategies and school-based instructional specialist in East Texas. Leaning into her 20 years of experience as an educator in multiple capacities, Casey works with groups, individuals, and organizations to create team environments that leave people feeling empowered, inspired, and essential.
This keynote will be taking place on Wednesday, March 12, at 5 PM.
Envisioning Tomorrow for All Learners: AI Revolutionizing Education
This engaging keynote panel discussion will demystify the world of AI and showcase its practical applications in special education. Learn about the history of AI and discover how AI-powered tools are enhancing teaching, learning, and assessment for students with disabilities.
Our panelists include James “Jamie” D. Basham, Ph.D., Dr. Lisa Dieker, and Eleazar “Trey” Vasquez III, Ph.D.
James “Jamie” D. Basham, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. His work is focused on developing future-ready learning environments that are equitable, beneficial, and meaningful for all learners. His research focused on the implementation of UDL, AI, STEM education, learner-centered design, innovation, and technology in human learning. Most recently, he served on the technical work group for the current U.S. National Educational Technology Plan (NETP).
Dr. Lisa Dieker, is the Williamson Family Distinguished Professor of Special Education in the School of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Kansas (KU). She serves as the Director of a Center in the Assessment and Achievement Institute called FLITE (flexible learning through innovations in teaching and education). Dr. Dieker’s research focuses on harnessing the power of teachers working across disciplines in inclusive settings, with her work focusing on teacher education, special education, and innovative uses of technology.
Eleazar “Trey” Vasquez III, Ph.D., is Director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute and Professor for the Exceptional Education Program in the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Vasquez’s research focuses on the evaluation of technology on academic and behavioral outcomes for traditionally marginalized populations with executive functioning deficits.
This keynote panel will take place on Thursday, March 13, at 4:00 PM.
Are you excited to hear from our incredible keynote speakers at our 2025 Convention & Expo? Register today and get ready for a great experience!