Friends of CEC Spotlight: Nancy Roop

Nancy Roop is a founding member of Friends of CEC, a community of monthly donors who sustain CEC’s work year-round.

What is your connection to the field of special education and the Council for Exceptional Children?

I began my career as a paraeducator and now serve as a long-term special education substitute teacher. I have worked in elementary autism spectrum disorder center programs for about 16 years, though my path has not been linear. After seven years, I took a detour.

One day, my fourth-grade student sat patiently on the floor next to my feet, leaning her arms and head on a shelf; the room was bright, and the books were a variety of genres, levels, and interests. I scanned all the way to the top of the tall bookcase. I was trying to find a book at her reading level, meeting her very particular tastes-reading about dancing frogs and aliens in spaceships can be too confusing for someone who takes in every word literally. In complete frustration, I thought, “Somebody needs to write books for kids like her!” The next day, while reflecting, it dawned on me that I could.

Here’s a more straightforward account of my detour:

In 2018, I noticed that many books were not accessible to some neurodivergent readers who often have limited working memory, language delays, and different visual sensory needs. I went back to school to finish my BA. I researched how a book could be adapted for neurodivergent readers and designed a new format with embedded academic supports focused on reading comprehension. For instance, “Think Aheads” and “Think Behinds” start and end each chapter. My senior thesis, “Developmental Texts for Students with Autism; creating a safe space in the written word,” became “The Big Aquarium Adventure; Learn about frogs, fish, turtles, sharks, and skates!”—the first in the Alex and Jordan Explore Series. It has won gold awards in design from the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Midwest Independent Publishers Association.

I began speaking annually in 2022 at the Michigan Reading Association’s conference because that is what authors do. A couple of years later, I looked for other conferences, and I found CEC and its Michigan chapter, which led me to speak at the CEC Michigan Conference in 2025 and 2026. I attended Georgia’s CEC conference. Then, I taped a session for CEC’s Virtual Convention in 2025 and attended my first national CEC Convention in Salt Lake City in 2026. What an amazing experience!

I wish I could have found CEC years ago. The educational opportunities are fulfilling, and the connections with members are so supportive. I am now planning to attend SELS, because I have a story to tell about shortages in special education. I love being a long-term sub, but long-term should be weeks and not months. IDEA needs to be fully funded, so more paraeducators can be hired to support students’ basic needs and their academic growth. They could receive training, which mostly doesn’t occur. If we had appropriate ratios of trained paras in the classroom, special education teachers would not get burned out and leave the profession.

Can you share a moment or experience that shaped your commitment to this work?

In my sixth year, a teacher from another district joined our program. She convinced the administration to hire more paraprofessionals, moving to a one-to-one para-to-student ratio. She taught us to honor students’ emotional needs while including them in general education classrooms for more than 60% of the day. Students learned to take breaks when needed and stretch themselves a little more each day. It’s what they needed, and they grew and brought me along with them. This experience shaped the message I now share: students need to feel safe to learn.

Another endeavor I am working on is creating a coaching program called Para to Para. It will be an online community with videos, blogs, and virtual meetings. I attended several sessions at the 2026 CEC Convention that will help lay the groundwork for an effective program.

Even though my time is divided between writing and publishing books, speaking and coaching, I remain a substitute teacher. I am happiest when I am in the classroom!

What motivated you to become a Friend of CEC?

I immediately felt connected to the organization, and I wanted to become more involved. I considered volunteering, but I am already stretched thin. I thought this would be a good first step to connecting at a deeper level.  

What would you say to someone considering joining the Friends of CEC community?

If you feel the pull to contribute to our community of special educators, but are unsure, then start with something small. A monthly commitment allows you to feel a closer connection to the organization that supports our students through us.

More From Nancy 

• I am a volunteer member of the DEI committee at the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). My work here includes restructuring the DEI Resource Directory for independent publishers and creating a welcome video on the IBPA website.
• I am a Board Member of the Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA). MIPA fosters community, celebrates quality, and raises the profile of Midwestern Independent Book Publishers.
• I represent the Michigan Reading Association as an alternate member for the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for the State of Michigan (2026-2028).