When Jeff Spector reflects on his younger brother Andy’s life, he remembers the teachers and caregivers who shaped it. 

Andy lived a joyful life surrounded by family and educators who helped him grow, work and thrive. He also had Down syndrome.  

Born at a time when most families did not take babies with Down syndrome home from the hospital, and to a young couple with limited financial means, Andrew faced significant medical challenges. A congenital heart defect common among individuals with Down syndrome, coupled with the lack of available medical interventions at the time, meant he was not expected to survive. Yet he went on to live 52 years filled with his favorite activities, including reading, working, traveling, sports and socializing. Before his passing in 2018, he also experienced great joy in being an uncle. 

“Andy’s life was made beautiful not only by the love and care of our family but also by the impact of so many special education teachers, social workers, case workers and healthcare providers,” Spector said. 

That experience inspired the Spector family to create the Andrew Spector Special Education Foundation, supporting programs that improve education and well-being for individuals with disabilities, particularly in communities with fewer resources. 

“Our family wanted to help establish a nationally recognized special education center to encourage and support people who dedicate themselves to helping individuals with disabilities in communities that are financially challenged,” Spector said. 

That vision is coming to fruition with the Dec. 2 launch of the Special Education Research to Practice Center at Temple University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Backed by a significant, multi-year gift from the Spector family, the center aims to transform special education through mentoring, professional development and applied research that directly helps teachers and students. 

“My brother was one of the first to benefit from early childhood intervention and education,” Spector said. “Our family benefited immensely from the professionals who supported him, and we want others to have the same opportunities.” 

The Spectors, who reside in the Philadelphia area, wanted to support efforts that help schools serving students with the greatest need. Early conversations with Associate Professor of Special Education Joseph Boyle and Dean Monika Williams Shealey led to the idea for a center focused on helping teachers translate research into practical classroom strategies. 

“We chose Temple University because of its strong reputation in special education and its focus on training professionals who work in underserved communities,” Spector said. “We thought it was the right place to develop expertise and ideas that could reach teachers and students regionally and nationally.” 

“When Jeff met Dean Shealey and the special education faculty, he immediately connected with their vision,” said Derek Coffman, CEHD’s director of development. “He appreciated how committed they were to supporting teachers in urban schools and how much Temple focuses on equity and inclusion. That shared vision made the partnership a natural fit.” 

The center grew from several years of partnership between Spector and the college. The first gift in 2019 supported scholarships for undergraduate special education students. That early investment expanded into a sustained relationship that led to the creation of the center. 

“We want to attract and inspire more people to enter the field and make it possible for them to thrive,” Spector said. 

Through ongoing engagement, Spector worked closely with Coffman, Boyle and Shealey to shape the center’s purpose and structure.  

“Jeff and his family are especially interested in how to bridge the gap between what researchers discover and what teachers can apply in real-time,” Coffman said. “He wanted to help make evidence-based practices accessible and practical.” 

The center’s launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a landmark law that continues to guide the field. Its opening serves as a tribute to the progress of special education and a reminder of the ongoing need to support teachers and students. 

“Three things matter most to us about the center’s mission: driving innovation, inspiring special needs professionals and focusing on educational equity,” Spector said. “Our contribution is meant to be a catalyst, not the end state. This is just the beginning.” 

The Spectors’ gift will be distributed over four years, ensuring the center has the on-going resources to support both research and teacher development. Its first project, a regional needs assessment, will identify the challenges special education teachers face and guide future studies. 

Boyle, who will lead the center’s research efforts, said the initiative reflects the CEHD’s longstanding commitment to connecting research and practice. “The center focuses on translating research into practice for teachers and supporting special education teachers in urban settings,” he said. “We’ll be looking at mentoring and instructional coaching to see how best we can support them.” 

Coffman emphasizes the center represents more than a financial gift. “It reflects a partnership built on shared values and a deep belief in the power of education to change lives. At the heart of it all is a commitment to supporting teachers and students in special education,” he said. 

For the Spector family, the center is a personal way to honor Andy’s life. 

“We hope the center becomes a place that inspires others around the country to enter the field of special education—a home where teachers can grow, learn and support each other as they help beautiful souls like Andy live fulfilled lives,” Spector said. 

To support the center, please go to giving.temple.edu/SPEDR2PCenter.