UTC grad wins Georgia’s highest award for a special education administrator

Becky Conner works in the Catoosa County school system in Georgia.

UTC graduate Becky Conner (’89) has been named the Georgia Special Education Administrator of the Year for 2017.

Known as the Lillie N. Moncus Award, it’s given by the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education, or G-CASE, and is the highest honor for a special education director in the state.

Conner is employed by the Catoosa County school system, where she has worked since 1989 after graduating from UTC with a bachelor’s of science in Special Education then earned a master’s of education in School Administration in 1993. She has been the Special Education Director for Catoosa since 2002.

“This award is a true honor,” Conner says, “but I really don’t believe that I do anything different in Catoosa County than all directors do across the state. I am just fortunate to have a great group of team members working with me for every child, every day, without exception.”

The qualifications for the Moncus Award include:

• Seven or more years of experience
• Exemplary leadership and service
• Care and concern for students with disabilities and their families
• Contributions to the field of special education
• Involvement in professional and community affairs
• Being an outstanding leader in their local district

“Ms. Conner represents all that is good in education,” says Catoosa School Superintendent Denia Reese. “She is kind, compassionate and loving. She sets high expectations and models integrity. She respects parents, students, and teachers.”

Lillie Moncus was a special education administrator in Fayette County, Ga.