ORLANDO, FL. – On Wednesday, the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute (TJEEI) celebrated two decades of transforming lives at the University of Central Florida (UCF).
The event brought together educators, community leaders, and supporters to honor the Institute’s impactful work and future goals.
The evening kicked off with News 6 Michelle Morgan, master of ceremonies, who connected her experience as a meteorologist to the unpredictability students face.
She highlighted TJEEI’s role in helping students build resilience and adaptability.
Keynote speaker, former Florida Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, who helped secure funding for the Institute, reflected on its mission to strengthen teacher preparation programs for those serving students with disabilities.
Her remarks linked TJEEI’s past achievements with its forward-looking vision.
Dr. Matthew Marino, Director of TJEEI, outlined the Institute’s mission to improve outcomes in academics, behavior, communication, and more. He emphasized TJEEI’s innovative, collaborative environment that blends cutting-edge tech like AI with global partnerships.
Among the evening’s highlights was the Inclusive Education Services (IES) program, which gives young adults with intellectual disabilities a college experience at UCF, with an impressive 89% employment rate. Dr. Jaime Best shared how IES provides academic, vocational, and executive function coaching to ensure lifelong independence and integration.
Dr. Kiera Anderson introduced Project FOCUS, which supports undergraduate STEM majors with executive function challenges, improving their academic performance through personalized coaching and assistive technology.
Other initiatives like the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL) and the Unlimited Potential Initiative (UPI) are making strides in tech integration for teacher training and educational equity.
The celebration ended with Dr. Marino’s personal story of overcoming a spinal cord injury, which inspired his lifelong commitment to empowering marginalized learners.
The evening encouraged attendees to get involved and support TJEEI’s mission to continue changing lives for the next 20 years and beyond.
