Wendi Dawson, a 2003 special education and 2019 educational leadership and policy graduate from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Special Services Administrator Award from the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS).
The Outstanding Special Services Administrator Award is presented annually at the Fall WCASS Membership Meeting and honors individuals that have gone above and beyond to positively impact the field of special education/pupil services. This year the meeting took place on Tuesday, September 28.
Wendi Dawson
Dawson considers this recognition to be a great honor.
“I am deeply humbled to be selected by the WCASS Board based on my nomination,” she said. “I am grateful to be a part of an association with such a wealth of knowledge and passion in supporting the needs of students.”
Special education has been Dawson’s passion since she had the opportunity to be a student tutor in a significant needs classroom in high school. She considers it to be a fun, yet challenging career field.
“The joy of this career field is that every day can be a new challenge and learning opportunity. Education is one of the most rewarding career fields — the difference you can make in the life of a child is priceless,” she said.
Dawson, of Randolph, currently serves as director of student services and human resources for the Waupun Area School District and is also a field supervisor and adjunct professor for the UW Oshkosh educational leadership and policy doctoral program.
As an alumna and now a faculty member for UWO, she finds the opportunity to share her experience and knowledge with the next generation of leaders very rewarding.
“I am very proud to be a UWO graduate and now have the opportunity to be able to support future school administrators and students within the doctoral program. It provides me with a sense of giving back to a university that has supported me to reach my career goals. I see it as my way of paying it forward,” Dawson said.
Learn more: