Cabot Teacher Travels To D.C. to Advocate for Special Education

Renee Johnson has been a special education teacher at Ward Central Elementary for close to a decade. Recently, she traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the Legislative Summit for Special Education. It was hosted by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). 

When Johnson learned that no one from CEC in Arkansas was attending, she loaded up her car and drove the 16 hours by herself. She was the only person from Arkansas to attend. The summit included an eleven hour work day with panels of experts in the field and related fields. They discussed Medicaid funding and how proposed cuts could impact schools and students with disabilities. 

Johnson also had the opportunity to hear from several officials with the U.S. Department of Education and she was also able to meet with Arkansas Senator John Boozman and members of his staff, as well as, Congressman French Hill and his legislative assistant in education. Johnson spoke to our local officials about all aspects of special education programs.

As the newly elected president of the Cabot Classroom Teachers Association, Johnson hopes to use her new platform to encourage even more members to get involved.

Johnson plans to follow up her conversations with Senator Boozman and Congressman Hill. She wants them both to remember the special education teacher that drove from Arkansas all the way to Washington D.C. to talk about funding for our kids!