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Dr. Britt Baker
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Impact of academic/instructional coaches on student achievement
- Impact of ACT courses on test performance
- Impact of Teacher Mentors on newly hired teachers' performance
- Teacher morale in a school under transformation and how it impacts student achievement
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Student data analysis
- Targeting areas of improvement and prioritizing professional development
- Leading professional development on instructional strategies based on data analysis
- Researching effects of best practices
Dr. Brian Bell
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Technology
- School Facilities
- Professional Development
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Technology
- School Facilities
Dr. Rick N. Bolling
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Educational Leadership Styles
- Student Engagement
- College Access
- School Climate
- Student Achievement in Mathematics
- Academic Achievement of Subgroup Populations
- School Improvement Planning
- Teacher Evaluation
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- School Improvement Planning
- Student Engagement
- Student Achievement in Mathematics
- Academic Achievement of Subgroup Populations
Dr. Rebecca Burleson
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Special Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Families, Agencies, and Collaboration
- Distance Education Delivery
- Teacher Education
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Distance Education
- Teacher Preparation
- Families and Family Systems
Dr. Chessica Cave
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Teaching Strategies
- Literacy
- Professional Development
- Literature Circles
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Teaching strategies
- Literacy
- Professional Development
Dr. Vicki Clevinger
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Literacy Instruction
- Change Theories
- Literature Studies
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Instructional Strategies in Secondary Environment
- Classroom Management Techniques for Secondary Students
- Meeting Diverse Learners in the Classroom
- Establishing a Positive Climate for Learning
Dr. Shannon Collins
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Writing and Developing Learners as Writers
- Reading and Developing Learners as Readers
- Literacy and Language (Development/Best Practices)
- Young Adult / Adolescent Literature
- Professional Development of Teachers
- Language Education and Social Advantage
- Microaggressions
- Social Justice
- Special Education Topics
- Middle School Education
- Language Arts/English Education
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Writing and Developing Learners as Writers
- Reading and Developing Learners as Readers
- Literacy and Language Education (Development/Best Practices)
- Young Adult / Adolescent Literature
- Professional Development of Teachers
Dr. Edward L. Diden
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Developing Collaborative School Cultures
- Professional Learning Communities of Practice
- Principal Leadership in the 21st Century Context
- Place-Based Education
- Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Education
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Qualitative
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Development of PLC Structures within Schools
- Leadership Development for Teacher-Leaders and Administrators
- Place-Based Learning
- The Impact of "Brain Drain" on Rural Communities
Dr. Joel "David" Effler
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Quantitative EEGs and Neurofeedback as Diagnostic and Treatment Modalities for Mental Disorders
- Universality and Diversity Issues in Counseling
- Transgender Theory
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Neuropsychological Issues in Understanding Mental and Learning Disorders.
Dr. Barbara Flanagan
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Universal Design for Learning
- 21st Century Schools
- Inclusive Education and Instructional Practices
- Supporting Diverse Learners
- Building LEA/School Capacity through Special Education Program Reviews
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Qualitative
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- K-12 Inclusive Education and Practices;
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Special Education Program Reviews
Dr. Cherie Gaines
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Rural Schools
- Teacher Leadership
- School Climate
- Social Justice
- Middle School Education
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Writing Development
- School Climate
- Teacher Burnout
Dr. Kristina Hudson
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Education
- Homework
- Teaching Pedagogy
- STEAM-STEM
- Assessment
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Homework
- Pedagogy
- Assessment
- STEM
- AdvanceEd Certification
Dr. Anthony Maxwell
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Poverty
- Academic Achievement
- Family Structure
- Diversity
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Poverty
- Academic Achievement
- Family Structure
- Diversity
- Data Analysis
- Educational Leadership
- Relationships for Success
Dr. John McCook
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- School Law Issues
- Special Education
- Section 504
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Quantitative
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Special Education Law
- Section 504
- RTI
Dr. Justin McCulley
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Assessment Types
- Teacher Efficacy
- Impact of Leadership Practices
- Professional Development for Teachers
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Curriculum Design and Implementation
- New Teachers
Dr. James R. Myers, Jr.
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Poverty and Academic Success
- Online Graduate Learning vs. Classroom Learning
- Special Education Students and Standardized Test Accommodations
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Framework For Understanding Poverty
Dr. Adam NeSmith
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Social Studies Education
- Literacy
- Teaching Strategies
- Professional Development of Teachers
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Literacy
- Teaching Strategies
Dr. Alexander Parks
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Social Justice
- Diversity and Equity
- LGBTQA Research
- Young Adult Literature
- Literacy
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Qualitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Social Justice / Diversity Issues
- Young Adult Literacy
Dr. Scott Porter
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Instructional Leadership
- Executive Leadership
- Parental Involvement for Disadvantaged Families
- Middle Grades Education
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Instructional Leadership
- Teacher and Administrator Evaluation
- School Resource Management
- Professional Learning Communities
Dr. Chad Smith
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- School Financing
- School Safety
- Instructional Leadership
- School Culture
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- School Culture
- Professional Learning Communities
- School Improvement
Dr. Ashley Stanley
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- English as a Second Language
- Elementary Curriculum
- TN Ready
- Assessment
- Reading / Math Programs
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Elementary Curriculum
- TN Ready
- Math / Reading Programs
Dr. Terry Stevenson-Parsons
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Elementary Literacy
- Grit/Student Motivation
- Content Literacy
- Conceptual Approaches to Mathematics Instruction
- Daniel Pink-Drive
- Strategy Effectiveness
- Professional Development / ESSA Model
Areas of Expertise:
- Assessment-Classroom
- Assessment-Formative/Summative
- Literacy
- Disciplinary Literacy
- Effective Classroom Practices
Dr. Chris Stotts
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- STEM/STEAM Education
- Educational Technology
- Private Education
- Educational Leadership
Areas of Expertise:
- STEM/STEAM Education
- Educational Technology
- Accreditation/Certification
- Private Education
- Science Education
- Educational Leadership
Dr. Jessica Taylor
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- College student success
- Student development
- Institutional supports for at-risk populations
- Remediation/Developmental education
- Community college students
- Academic preparedness
- Higher education
- Student engagement
- Mindset and grit
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
- Qualitative
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Community college student success
- Co-requisite remediation
- Assessment
Dr. Connie T. Theriot
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Title IX, Clery Act, and FERPA compliance for Counseling Practicum and Internship students
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Behavior Management
- Consultation
- Working with Students with Special Needs
Dr. Mark Tichon
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Counseling Process and Outcome Research
- Neuroscience
Preferred Research Methodology/Methodologies:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Career Counseling
- Evidence-Based Treatment for Behavioral Health Disorders
- Group Counseling
- Neuroscience
Dr. Susan Wagner
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Research Interests:
- Literacy
- Content Literacy: Social Studies
- Instructional Models
- Self-Directed Learning
- Pre-Service Teachers
- Hybrid Learning
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Mixed Methods
Areas of Expertise:
- Instructional Models: Cooperative Learning Models
- Literacy Instruction and Coaching
- Social Studies Instruction
- Content Literacy
- Self-Directed Learning;
Dr. Courtney L. Whitehead
Adjunct Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Poverty
- Rural Education
- Middle School
- School Leadership
- Physical Education
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- School Leadership
- "Creating a Reading Culture Within a Middle School"
Dr. Stephen W. Wright
Full-Time Faculty Member
Research Interests:
- Faculty Evaluations
- Student Dispositions
- Student Post Degree Career Choices
Preferred Research Methodology:
- Quantitative
Areas of Expertise:
- Administrative Leadership Skill Sets
- Classroom Organization and Management
- External Review Team Pre-Assessment
- Federal Program Need Assessments