Kathe Shelby Leadership Award
Named in honor of Kathe Shelby, director of the Ohio Department of Education's Office for Exceptional Children (2008-2011), the annual Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding special education leader in Ohio who meets the following criteria:
- Currently employed and has a minimum of 15 years of full-time experience in special education
- Knowledgeable about effective programming for children with disabilities
- Knowledgeable about special education law
- Demonstrates exceptional and effective skills in improving the quality of special education programming for Ohio's school children
- Displays daily evidence of initiative, influence, and respect toward children with special needs, their parents, special and general education teachers, related services personnel, and school administrators
2019 Kathe Shelby Leadership Award Recipient
Cindy Tinnel Convoy, Ohio
“Mrs. Tinnel is in her 33rd year in public education. She has a strong foundational base as it relates to the academic standards, curricular needs, assessment and testing expectations, and scheduling needs relating to every student she has taught. She is the first one to fight for her students when necessary; she is also the first to maintain high academic expectations of her students as well. Mrs. Tinnel embraces the opportunity to serve as a leader, and her experiences assist her in being a great teacher and advocate for her students in her classroom.”