Initially Kathy Kosobud set out toward a career in theater design, but she shifted to education after college and applied her manual arts skills to pre-vocational settings for children with disabilities, spending many years as a special education teacher in Ann Arbor.

Following a long career advocating for fairness and creating access to opportunities for marginalized children, after earning a doctorate and becoming a national board certified teacher and education consultant, Kosobud turned her attention to political action in retirement.

For lifelong commitment, Kosobud received MEA’s 2026 David McMahon Human Rights Award. Starting with a letter to the editor as a high schooler in 1968, up to recent work supporting transgender youth, she never wavered, said presenter Barb Schram, president of MEA-Retired.

An advocate in the classroom, schools and community, Kosobud “strived to make things work better for diverse students in educational settings, either directly or indirectly,” said nominator Ann Marie Borders, president of the Washtenaw County MEA-Retired chapter.

“Kathy advocates for the underdog,” Borders said.

Kosobud engaged in policy advocacy at the State Board of Education that led to changes in the Michigan Merit Diploma, including a personal curriculum process that enabled students with disabilities to meet full diploma requirements by alternative routes and timelines.

She completed doctoral research on communication challenges between families of chronically ill students and schools and served as a teacher-in-residence at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

In addition, Kosobud has led a local PFLAG chapter supporting individuals and families in the LGBTQ+ community and has written thousands of get-out-the-vote postcards to help elect pro-public education candidates.

As a retiree, she spoke out for transgender students being bullied and locked out of restrooms at a local high school, testifying at school board meetings, writing letters to the editor, and adopting the school’s Gay Straight Alliance with donations of swag and snacks.

An active member of the county’s MEA-Retired chapter, Kosobud “helps coordinate donations for our neediest students at meetings and on Facebook for school supplies, hats, coats, gloves, diapers, food, and books,” Borders said.

In her acceptance speech, Kosobud said she has always felt the need to challenge the status quo when she sees injustice. “My retirement plan is to continue working with youth-serving organizations to get out the vote and encourage civic awareness,” she said.

“I’m humbled to be given this award. It’s a reminder that retirement is another opportunity to help support the public and public education today.”

Read More: Four MEA award winners named for 2026

• David McMahon Human Rights Award — Kathleen Kosobud
• Maurine Wyatt Feminist and Gender Equity Award — Wendy Winston
• Educational Excellence Award — Daniel Clason
• Gerry Crane Human and Civil Rights Award — Frank Burger