As we enter our 100th year of leading special education, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is recognizing exceptional educators from around the world who have shown a passion, dedication, and commitment to making a difference in the lives of the students who they teach. Hear from teachers about their personal experiences working in the field, and get inspired to make your own impact this year.
Katrina Copeland
My name is Katrina Copeland and I am an English 1 co-teacher and Academic Seminar (Resource) teacher, along with Special Education Department Head at Byrnes Freshman Academy in Duncan, South Carolina. I received my B.S in Family and Consumer Sciences with a specialization in Early Intervention from Winthrop University. I received my M.A in Special Education from Furman University. I taught five years as a Family and Consumer Science teacher prior to earning my Master’s and becoming a Special Education Teacher. As a Family and Consumer Science teacher, I would have a high number of students with special needs enrolled in my classes, and I enjoyed working with my students with special needs and teaching them essential life skills that they could use in every day life. As a Special Education Teacher, I have also worked with students with multiple disabilities at South Carolina school for the Deaf and Blind. I am certified in the following areas of Special Education: Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities.
Before my teaching career, I worked as a WIC Nutritionist at South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and as Family Service Advocate with Early Head Start.
This is my tenth year teaching, and as a special educator, I am thankful to have the opportunity to provide support, along with teaching and promoting self advocacy skills.
I am married to Wayne Copeland Jr, and have two beautiful children who are my world, Mya and Kingston Copeland.
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