MCEC Student Board
Meet Your 2022-2023 Student Board
Hello! My name is Ashley Hollenbeck, and I am going into my final year at Central Michigan University. I am studying Elementary Special Education with a focus in Cognitive Impairment. This fall, I will begin my general education student teaching experience in a third-grade classroom, followed by my special education student teaching in the spring. I have previously served as the President-Elect and President of Central Michigan University’s Student Council for Exceptional Children chapter. This will be my first year on the student board for MCEC. I am excited for this experience to learn and grow with my fellow executive board members and support student CEC members around the state of Michigan!
Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Mack and I am currently a junior at Central Michigan University. I am double majoring in Elementary Education for grades PK-3rd and Special Education with a focus in Cognitive Impairments, as well as minoring in Leadership. I have previously held leadership positions within other education-related organizations on CMU’s campus, such as serving as the previous Vice President and current President of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) International Honor Society of Education. This will be my first year on the Student Board for MCEC. I am extremely excited and look forward to serving on this board as I work alongside fellow members who share the same passion for pursuing a career within the special education field.
Hello! My name is Hannah Firos and I am a senior at Central Michigan University. I am a Secondary Special Education Major (CI) with an English Minor. This fall I will begin pre-student teaching in a middle school Special Education classroom in Mount Pleasant, MI. I am very excited for the opportunity to work with students with disabilities since my clinical experience has been limited due to Covid times. In the past, I have held a leadership position as the Treasurer/Fundraising Chair for Kappa Delta Pi from 2021-2022. This will be my first year on the MCEC Student Board and I cannot wait to collaborate with my fellow board members who share my same interests and passions!
Hello! My name is Kayla Thatcher and I am a senior at Central Michigan University. I am majoring in secondary special education, for students with cognitive impairment, with a minor in English. This fall, I will be starting my general education student teaching followed by my special education student teaching in the spring. I have served as the president of Connections That Count, an organization at CMU that works with people with disabilities. I am so excited to become a teacher and spend my days teaching those with disabilities. This is my first year on the Student Board for MCEC and I can’t wait to work with my fellow board members and others in the special education field!
Hi everyone! My name is Kelsea McConnell and I am a senior at Grand Valley State University. I am majoring in Elementary and Special Education with endorsements in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cognitive Impairments. I am currently student teaching in Jenison, Michigan with students in 1st-4th grade with Cognitive Impairments. I am passionate about teaching individuals with disabilities and I am looking forward to becoming a teacher. This is my first year serving on the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children student board, and I am so excited to work closely with others who share the same passion as I do!
Hello! I’m the student advisor for the CEC-S board! I have been with MCEC for 20 years! I’ve been teaching for 15. I earned my Bachelor's Degree from CMU #FireUpChips and my Masters Degree from EMU. I work for Jackson County ISD and love going to work everyday!
