For Dr. Jennifer Lesh, associate professor for exceptional student education (ESE) at Lynn University’s Donald E. and Helen L. Ross College of Education, teaching and advocating for students with special needs isn’t simply a career; it’s her life’s work. She continues to follow her calling to pay it forward by sharing her passion with a new generation of educators who share her love for teaching and inspiring students. 

Lesh recalls her “lightbulb” moment when—as a problem-solving third grader in Indiana—she started a basketball camp for girls at recess. A fellow student expressed a desire to join Lesh’s camp but was discouraged by the fact that she only had two fingers on each hand. Lesh couldn’t accept that the student’s unique characteristics prevented her from doing what she wanted, so Lesh took it upon herself to successfully teach her classmate how to dribble and shoot a layup.

Fast forward to her junior year of high school: Lesh served as the student assistant to one of her favorite teachers—her high school football coach, who happened to be married to a special education teacher. With the help of her favorite teacher and his wife, Lesh launched a Special Olympics event at the school just a few years after the special education law was passed.

“Our class was about 50% students with special needs and 50% general education students,” said Lesh. “The town I lived in had a great school for special education. I just knew that was my path.”

Lesh attended Indiana University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in special education. From there, she completed her Master of Science in educational leadership and Ph.D. in leadership and special education at Barry University in Miami.

“What I’m doing now is giving back to my profession,” said Lesh, who is also Lynn’s ESE master’s program coordinator and an esteemed leader in the special education field. With a career spanning more than 20 years of special education practical experience—ranging from classroom teacher and K-12 specialist to high school dean of students and university professor —Lesh is a seasoned industry expert who continuously presents at conferences and professional development workshops at the national level.

Lesh’s work has influenced the quality of education for those who qualify as exceptional students, including at-risk youth, as well as those with processing disorders, emotional or behavioral disorders, language impairment, dyslexia, autism and more.  

“I’d say the most significant change I’ve witnessed since the start of my ESE career is access to general education for students with learning differences—and something that still needs improving—is quality special education. We need to work on the quality of education, and a major part of that involves ensuring teachers are properly trained to work with kids who learn differently,” said Lesh. “In any class I teach at Lynn, I say to my students, ‘let’s look at our own bias and remember it’s not something that’s wrong with the child. Let’s look at how we’re delivering and teaching the material and find a way to get through to them on their level.'”

Among Lesh’s doctorate students in educational leadership is Jillian Busha ’24, who recently took on a unique dissertation: combining Applied Behavioral Analysis and Developmental Relationship-Based Interventions to create a coalescence program for young children with autism and developmental disabilities. Busha has also been teaching the “Intro to Autism” undergraduate class at Lynn.

Busha will soon present her findings to receive her Doctorate of Education. She is excited to begin her new job as an ESE Staffing Specialist at an elementary school in Martin County, where she grew up.

“I went for my doctorate at Lynn to work my way up to the district level,” said Busha. “I want to help improve ESE departments and create more cohesive programs that positively impact Pre-K ESE students.”

Busha, who spent the past eight years working at a Palm Beach County Charter School serving students with autism, said Lesh got her involved in the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the success of children and youth with disabilities, gifts and talents. Lesh served in 2020 as the International President of the CEC Representative Assembly and is currently serving as treasurer.

“Thanks to Dr. Lesh, I’m active with CEC and even received a scholarship to advocate on Capitol Hill for all things ESE in Washington, D.C.,” said Busha. “I wouldn’t have had that incredible opportunity without her.”

Lesh has been teaching at Lynn for nearly ten years and is constantly inspired by students’ positive attitudes and fellow leaders such as Dr. Kathleen Weigel, dean of the College of Education, who took Lesh under her wing.

“She mentored me, which empowered me to do the same for others on campus,” said Lesh. “What gets me jazzed is seeing the students I’ve had in a classroom setting at Lynn now teaching and how much the kids in their classrooms look up to them. It never gets old. I’m just so proud of them.”

Lesh, who specializes in behavior, ensures her ESE teaching students are ready to go from day one in the classroom with their kids. Her curriculum covers everything from advocacy, laws and technology to working with students’ parents and families so that the education feels like a “partnership.”

Lesh attended the Palm Beach County Teacher Fest earlier this year to support all new teachers starting their careers. Lynn had at least five new teachers attend the event.

For more information on Lynn’s College of Education programs, including the Doctorate of Education in educational leadership, visit lynn.edu/education.