Kyle G. Hughes, M.Ed.
Independent Consultant for the Colorado Department of Education

    Kyle Hughes has worked in the field of special education for thirty-four years. During that time, she taught in a residential treatment facility, gained twenty-three years of experience as a learning specialist in grades k-8 and spent eight years working at the secondary level. Additionally, Ms. Hughes has taught courses for teacher candidates at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Ms. Hughes has served on numerous task forces for the Colorado Department of Education, one of which, the Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA). This work involved development of guidelines and best practices for instruction and assessment for grades 4-12 and the development of professional standards for special education generalist licensure. Furthermore, Ms. Hughes has served as a consultant to the Department of Human Services and is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), helping to develop IEPs for students in special education who are in foster care. Currently, Ms. Hughes supports Colorado educators through the School Support Team and Comprehensive Appraisal for District Improvement Processes. She is a current board member of the Colorado Chapter of CLD and a past president of the chapter.

The Colorado Chapter and the Leadership Development Committee of CLD received several letters of support for honoring Ms. Hughes as the 2009 Floyd G. Hudson Award Winner. Ms. Melissa Coleman, Mathematics Content Specialist, Colorado Department of Education, stated that “Kyle Hughes’ work with the mathematics education community in Colorado exemplifies the type of cooperation and authentic partnering that the Response to Intervention Framework requires. More importantly, Kyle’s efforts to bridge the worlds of special educators and mathematics educators by modeling openness to different perspectives and willingness to learn together are making an impact on mathematics learning for students in Colorado.” Dr. Donna Sobel, Associate Professor, University of Colorado Denver, noted that “Ms. Hughes is one of the most talented educators in our field. She is knowledgeable, she has a wide range of experiences, her dedication to the profession is outstanding, and her ability to impact change is unequaled.”

CLD is proud to announce the 2009 Floyd G. Hudson Outstanding Service Provider Award recipient as Kyle G. Hughes.

Purpose and Nature of Award
The Floyd G. Hudson Service Award is granted by the Council for Learning Disabilities for outstanding performance and commitment to individuals with learning disabilities by professionals who are not necessarily special education teachers. One professional is selected nationally. Winners receive a complimentary one-year membership in the Council for Learning Disabilities.

Selection Criteria
Nominees are judged based on the following criteria:

1. Extent and quality of professional service to the field of learning disabilities.
2. Exemplary service to the field of learning disabilities for a minimum of 5 years.

Review Process
One nominee is submitted to the Leadership Development Committee by local chapters. Final approval of nominations rests with the Leadership Development Committee with assistance from the CLD Executive Committee.

Application Procedure
All nominations must include:

1. A completed application form and related materials. Forms can be obtained from the national office, your local chapter president, or your regional representative.
2. A letter of nomination outlining the extent and quality of the nominee's professional contributions to the field of learning disabilities should include letters of support from colleagues, parents, students, etc. (self-nominations are accepted).
3. A two-page vita.

Submission Date and Place
Nomination materials should be sent by May 15th to:

Mary Provost
P. O. Box 2266
Mount Pleasant, SC 29465
913-491-1011 voice
913-491-1012 fax
mcprovost@bellsouth.net