About

Where others see challenges, we see possibilities.

Our mission is to educate, nurture, and support children with special needs to reach their highest potential intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.

We believe every child deserves the chance to realize their fullest potential. While others may focus on the challenges of the children we serve, we see possibilities – possibilities for confidence, happiness, achievement, and self-reliance.

For 70 years The Centers for Exceptional Children has been providing a critical combination of support services, programs, and facilities dedicated to one thing: helping children with special needs and their families thrive.

Come see what we’re about.

Join us for a one-hour tour to meet our team and learn firsthand how The Centers for Exceptional Children is helping children with special needs and their families thrive in Forsyth County. Each tour includes a look at our classrooms and grounds, as well as discussions about the educational opportunities, enrichment programs and support services we offer.

Our Programs

  • Family Support

    Family Support

    Support, education, and caring connections dedicated to strengthening families of children with special needs, from birth to age 21. Learn more

  • Infants and Toddlers

    Infants and Toddlers

    The earliest interventions to help young learners grow. Created for children ages birth to 36 months. Learn more

  • Therapies

    Therapies

    We provide therapeutic interventions, including physical, speech/language pathology, occupational, and horticulture therapies. Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We use the Parent-to-Parent model of support. This involves one parent helping another. All FSN staff are parents or grandparents of children with special needs and have expertise in supporting families and have backgrounds in Social Work, Education, Counseling and other Human Service fields

  • No, the FSN programs are available to any family in Forsyth and the surrounding counties who have a child with special needs from birth to 21 years old.

  • There is no cost to families for the services provided by the FSN.

  • Get in touch with Shawn Martin, our Director of Education Programs, at shawn@thecfec.org or through our online portal today to learn more about the process for enrolling a child aged 0 – 36 months (with or without special needs).

  • Our school year program operates on the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools calendar and we offer a summer program that runs for approximately 7 weeks (June – early August).

  • The CFEC offers a school day program only option (Monday - Friday from 7:45 AM - 2:30 PM), and an Extended Day Program option (Monday - Friday from 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM).

    For tuition rates and specific program details, please contact us at 336-727-2440.

  • We accept childcare vouchers from the Department of Social Services and family scholarships from Smart Start of Forsyth County.

  • All lead teachers in the Infant & Toddler Program hold a bachelor’s degree in birth-kindergarten education or a related field. All staff are CPR First-Aid certified, and those working with children under the age of 1 have ITS-SIDS training.

  • Our school year programs follow the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools calendar. When public schools are closed, we are closed.

  • Please contact us at 336-727-2440 for information.

  • Full-time professional nurses are employed at both schools, and all direct service staff are trained to address feeding, medication, and emergency management.

  • We believe strongly that children with and without disabilities have a great deal to offer one another in an educational setting. Incredible things happen for everyone when diverse groups of children learn and play side-by-side!

  • There are numerous Volunteer Opportunities available through The CFEC. Find out more here.

Our Leadership

  • Debbie Wilson

    Debbie Wilson

    Executive Director

  • Chris Gentry

    Director, Family Support Network

  • Shawn Martin

    Director, Education Programs

  • Kim Mullane

    Kim Mullane

    Occupational Therapist & Therapy Manager

  • Sarah Shutt

    Administrative Associate

  • Cheryl Taylor

    Manager, Education Programs

Board of Directors

  • Alicia Breazeale

    Assistant Vice President, HR Strategic Planning, Lincoln Financial Group

  • Susie Campbell

    Chief Administrative Officer, Shelco

  • Frank Cardenas

    President & CEO, FEDLogic

  • Richard Carver

    Senior Vice President, Senior Leadership & Business Advisor, Truist Leadership Institute

  • Jennifer Check

    Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine

  • Bryan Dooley

    Community Inclusion Specialist, Solutions for Independence

  • Yolanda Edwards

    Professor & Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, Winston-Salem State University

  • Mark Ford

  • Amy Harp

    Board President- Retired VP - Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

  • Laura Holby

    Director, Operations, Novant Health

  • Christine W. Hooker, M. Ed

    Director of Preschool Program, New Philadelphia Moravian Preschool

  • Callie Kaszycki

    Board Secretary, Reynolds American

  • Latasha Barr Lewis

    Program Director, Cam's Coffee Co.

  • Andrew Linville

    Board Treasurer, Senior Vice President, Finance | Accelerated Brands

  • Nicholas Reed

    CFO, Greater Winston-Salem Inc.

  • Jeff Reynolds

    Anchor Partner, Vaco of The Triad

  • Michael Rhoades

    Past Board President, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Winston-Salem Office, Shelco

  • Emily Smith, DPT

    Board Vice President, Director of Internships and Pre-Professional Advising, Salem College

  • Kenny Taylor

    Senior Relationship manager – Global Commercial Banking, Bank of America