Who and What We Are
The Division of Leaders and Legacy is dedicated to fostering emerging leaders, preserving the history of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and upholding the organization's foundational principles – member involvement, professional development, advocacy, public policy, professional standards, diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility – in both current and future endeavors of the Council.
We aim to acknowledge the lifelong, significant contributions of members to the Council and the field.
Working collaboratively with CEC, its Divisions, State/Provincial Units, and partners, we provide leadership, support emerging leaders, offer professional development opportunities, and advocate for the profession and exceptional students, all while respecting CEC's legacy and historical significance.
The Division of Leaders and Legacy strives to enhance programs and services for exceptional children and youth, as well as support those involved in providing these vital programs and services.
We warmly welcome any CEC member to join our division and actively participate in our collective endeavors to uphold CEC's mission as we navigate our future path, rooted in the Council’s legacy and historical understanding.
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Why Join DLL?
Get involved! Join a DLL committee – Information Here
Mickie Wong-Lo
Membership Committee Chair
Announcements to the Membership
- 2027 Romaine P. Mackie Award Nominations are OPEN!
The Romaine P. Mackie Award is to honor an outstanding professional who has demonstrated leadership in CEC and other organizations for an extensive period of time in various areas within the field: service delivery; teacher education and professional development; research; policy; assessment; and publications. The individual should be nominated by someone who is familiar with the nature and quality of his/her work and who can speak to the nominee’s character.
Nominations are due Oct 1, 2026.
Link to Nomination form: Mackie Award Nomination Form
- 2027 Legacy Proclamation Nominations are OPEN!
The CEC LEGACY PROCLAMATION honors outstanding CEC members who have led and notably contributed to The Council’s various components (chapters, units, divisions, subdivisions) and national governing bodies and have significantly influenced the field throughout a lifelong career. Any DLL member may nominate a current or former DLL member for the CEC Legacy Proclamation (CEC-LP). If the nominee is deceased, they must have been a former member of DLL. Posthumous nominations must be made within seven years of the member’s passing.
Please download the Nomination Information Sheet for Deadlines and Requirements: DLL LP Information Sheet
Nominations Due to DLL Board July 30, 2026
Join the 2026DLL Book Club – A Place for Connection, Conversation, and Inspiration! The 2026 DLL Book Club brings together DLL members and friends to explore books that inspire, challenge, and connect us. Our curated selections span fiction and nonfiction, offering something for every reader. And it's FREE!
Sign up here: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-2025-dll-book-club
- February 19, 2026-The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir
- April 2, 2026-Demon Copperhead
- June 4, 2026-When We're In Charge: The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership
- August 6, 2026-The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
- October 1, 2026-The Coddling of the American Mind
- December 3, 2026-American Dirt: A Novel
The DLL Book Club meets on Zoom at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 CT / 5:30 MT / 4:30 PT), with discussions lasting 60-75 minutes.
Register for the DLL Book Club Here: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-2025-dll-book-club
You will receive the zoom link a few days before each Book Club meeting.
