Dorothy Dendy Smith has taught in the field of special education for 26 years. She is currently the autism specialist for Buncombe County Schools. She was Special Educator of Excellence for Buncombe County Schools for the 2006-2007 school year, and Teacher of the Year for the Progressive Education Program in Buncombe County Schools for the year 2000-2001. Smith was the Teacher of the Year for Walnut Cove Primary School and first runner-up for Teacher of the Year in the Stokes County School District in North Carolina. She graduated from Western Carolina University in 1972 with a BS in special education. She received a master of arts in education, special education, severe disabilities from Western Carolina University in 2002. She has certifications in learning disabilities, mental retardation, and severe disabilities. Jill Fisher DeMarco worked with adults with disabilities for 15 years before beginning her career in special education. She has taught high school students in the Occupational Course of Study and currently is in the seventh year of teaching at the Progressive Education Program at Valley Springs Middle School in Arden, NC. She was the 2005–2006 Teacher of the Year for the program. She has a bachelor of science degree in vocational rehabilitation from Appalachian State University and a master of arts in teaching degree and a master of science degree in human resources from Western Carolina University. She has certifications in mental retardation and learning disabilities. Martha Worley has taught for 15 years in the public schools as a speech pathologist. She is currently a speech pathologist at the Progressive Education Program at Roberson High School in Asheville, NC. She also works with other schools in Buncombe County to provide access for students with mild to significant disabilities. She was the Special Education Teacher of Excellence for Buncombe County Schools in the 2001-2002 school year. She has a bachelor of arts from Baylor University and a master of science degree from Vanderbilt University.