March 5, 2020
Teagarden named 'unsung hero' of regional special education symposium
James Teagarden, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, was recently honored as the inaugural recipient of the Unsung Hero Award presented by the Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders.
The symposium fosters leadership skills in professionals and family members supporting children and youth with emotional or behavioral challenges. Teagarden has been involved with the organization for 37 years.
"I am humbled and deeply appreciative of this award because I consider the symposium family," Teagarden said. "This has been a wonderful journey — both personally and professionally — for me."
Antonis Katsiyannis, awards committee chair and distinguished professor at Clemson University, discussed Teagarden's impact.
"This award recognizes Jim's commitment to the symposium as an important avenue for advocating for better service for youth with behavioral disorders and their families," he said. "We all have profited from Jim's quiet, behind-the-scenes work with the symposium and the leadership he's provided the Janus Project."
Ken Hughey, professor and chair of the department of counseling, special education and student affairs, said Teagarden's status as an unsung hero is well deserved.
"Jim is an exceptional person and colleague who is genuinely interested in and committed to helping and supporting others," Hughey said. "He makes significant contributions to special education, counseling, and student affairs, the College of Education and demonstrates a commitment to students' learning and their development as professionals. In addition to being an unsung hero for the Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders, he is an unsung hero in our department and college."
Teagarden is a regular contributor and editor of the symposium's magazine "ReThinking Behavior" and leader of the Janus Project, an oral history initiative that celebrates leaders in the field of emotional behavior disorders.