Finding Purpose and Leadership Through CEC’s Diversity Leadership Academy

For Danalyn Garcia, the path to special education has always been deeply personal.

“What drew me to the field of special education and continues to motivate me is the intersection of these experiences: my family’s journey through the special education system and my own experience being supported by transformative educators,” Danalyn shared.

Raised by her mother, who immigrated from the Philippines and advocated for Danalyn’s older brother through special education services, Danalyn saw firsthand how difficult these systems can be for many families.

“Many families, especially first-generation families, navigate special education systems that were not designed with their cultural, linguistic, or lived realities in mind,” she reflected. “That awareness continues to ground my work in empathy, advocacy, and a commitment to doing better for students and families who share similar experiences.”

Today, as a special educator, former Diversity Leadership Academy (DLA) scholar, and member of CEC’s Student and Early Career Committee, Danalyn is helping build stronger systems of support for students, families, and fellow educators alike.

CEC’s Diversity Leadership Academy supports emerging leaders in special education through mentorship, professional development, leadership training, and community-building opportunities. The program is designed to help educators strengthen their leadership skills, build lasting connections, and advance more inclusive practices across the field.

Danalyn joined CEC’s Diversity Leadership Academy in 2024 during her first year of teaching while navigating the challenges many early-career educators face. She hoped to strengthen her confidence as an emerging leader while connecting with educators whose lived experiences reflected the realities of the students and families they serve.

What she found through the DLA was not only professional development, but also a renewed sense of purpose and confidence in her role as an educator. “Entering the field, it can often feel like teaching becomes less about meaningful instruction and more about navigating systems, compliance, and checking boxes,” Danalyn said. “The Academy helped me ground myself in my purpose, reminding me why I entered this work and how to stay centered in that, even within complex systems.”

She shared that the experience helped her trust her professional judgment and advocate more effectively for students and families. “It gave me the language, tools, and perspective to trust my professional judgment and advocate more effectively, for my students, for equitable practices, and for the integrity of my role as an educator,” she said.

That impact now shapes the way she approaches her classroom every day. “It has taught me to slow down, reflect, and return to the ideas from our sessions, readings, and conversations when making decisions in my classroom,” Danalyn shared. “More than anything, it has grounded me in the belief that how we show up for students matters.”

The Diversity Leadership Academy expanded Danalyn’s professional network and strengthened her connection to CEC, allowing her to build relationships with educators and professionals across the country while learning from a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Today, she continues to give back through CEC’s Student and Early Career Committee, where she supports other emerging educators through mentoring, webinars, networking, and community-building initiatives.

For Danalyn, the impact of DLA extends far beyond one educator. She shared, “When you support the Diversity Leadership Academy, you are investing in educators who are choosing to stay, lead, and fight for something better. When you invest in one DLA educator, you are directly shaping those moments for countless students and families.”