Carla F. Shelton has 11 years of teaching experience in the special education profession. She has taught students with disabilities in Grades 2–12 in resource, self-contained, and inclusion settings. Shelton is certified in the areas of specific learning disabilities, emotional/behavior disorders, mildly intellectual disabilities, elementary grades (P-8), school counseling (P-12), and educational leadership and supervision. She has served as a high school counselor for the past five years, working with students in Grades 9–12. Shelton is the author of Best Practices for Secondary School Counselors.

Shelton is knowledgeable in instructional techniques and best classroom practices that promote and foster student learning. She is skilled in designing and implementing strategies to assist students with disabilities in meeting academic and behavior goals and objectives, to bridge the gap between school and parents, and to assist students with the transition process from school-to-school and to postsecondary endeavors. Shelton has mastered the art of collaboration with regular education teachers and staff and works effectively with families of students with disabilities. She has presented at the High Schools That Work Summer Conference, the National Tech Prep Conference, the Georgia School Counselor Conference, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Annual Conference. Shelton’s professional affiliations include the American School Counselor Association, Georgia School Counselor Association, National Tech Prep Network, and Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Finally, Shelton’s solid education background and broad-based educational experience is the foundation on which The Exceptional Teacher’s Handbook is built.

Edward L. James, Ed. S. has dedicated the last 35 years of his life to the education profession with the last 28 years dedicated solely to the field of school counseling. He spent 5 years in the elementary/junior high setting and 23 years at the high school level. He received his degrees from Georgia Southern College. Edward is active in professional organizations both local and national. He is a member of the American School Counselors Association, Georgia School Counselors Association, National Tech Prep Network, and Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Presently, Edward is a high school counselor who is committed to school-wide advisement and middle to secondary school transition. He is skilled in developing needs assessments, program goals/objectives, and implementation strategies. Edward has served as a consultant for a number of schools in developing comprehensive adviser/advisee programs and he is deeply involved with the High Schools That Work reform model created by the Southern Regional Education Board. Edward’s knowledge, motivation, professionalism, and expertise make him an excellent co-author for Best Practices for Effective Secondary School Counselors.

As a writing team, the authors bring solid professional credentials and expertise in the field of school counseling as well as the perspectives of prior classroom teachers and parents to this project. Carla and Ed’s shared beliefs, philosophies, and love for the profession of school counseling led to the writing of a book that epitomizes their common vision and charts a new course for high school counselors across the nation.