Current Members

Dr. Root is the director of the General Curriculum Access lab and an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Florida State University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and uses applied behavior analysis and single case design to evaluate interventions to promote general curriculum access for students with developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Dr. Root is originally from North Carolina and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.

You can find her CV on the FSU website.

Dr. Sarah Cox is an assistant professor of Special Education at Eastern Michigan University. You can find more information here. Her scholarly interests focus on academic supports for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her current projects explore how explicit instruction of mathematical practice standards (e.g., representation of mathematical thinking, problem solving, mathematical discourse, and abstract reasoning) can help students with ASD enhance their mathematical proficiency. Her dissertation was recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children with the 2020 Division of Research, Student Award for Single Case Designs. Dr. Cox currently collaborates with the GCA lab to explore how students with ASD use problem solving strategies to solve math problems and to investigate effective interventions to improve those problem-solving practices.

View her CV HERE.

Alicia Saunders, Ph.D., is the project coordinator for Math Scene Investigators, the lab's IES-funded project. In addition, she is a co-investigator for Project IMPACT, Inclusion Made Practical for All Children and Teachers, and adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focuses on coaching educators to use evidence-based practices, as well as providing access to the general curriculum for students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Saunders has published several articles and book chapters on general curriculum access and alignment, and has presented on this topic at international and national conferences and in-service trainings for teachers. Additionally, she has co-authored five mathematics curricula for students with intellectual disabilities.

View her CV HERE.

Taryn Wade is teaching at Florida State University and working as a school psychologist in Florida and Georgia. She is a nationally certified school psychologist (NCSP), a licensed school psychologist in the state of Florida, and a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA). She earned her B.A. in psychology from the University of South Carolina and her M.S./Ed.S in school psychology at Florida State University. Her research interests include teaching math vocabulary or social-emotional vocabulary in the context of a shared reading routine to preschool children at risk for or with identified language delays. She has participated in the GCA lab since 2018 assisting on research tasks.

View her CV HERE.

Deidre Gilley is doctoral student supported and funded through Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs) at Florida State University. She previously was a self-contained classroom teacher in Knoxville, Tennessee and taught abroad in Madrid, Spain. While abroad she spent time teaching English, consulting on a secondary school's special education program, and taught at a transition school for adult students. Deidre received her B.A. at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina (2017) and her M.S. at Florida State University in Florida (2018). Her research interests include targeting functional academics for students with extensive support needs. Deidre has been working with the General Curriculum Access (GCA) lab for the last four years under the guidance of Dr. Jenny Root and is assisting in research targeting mathematical problem solving for students with extensive support needs.

View her CV HERE.

Addie McConomy is currently a doctoral student in Special Education. Prior to enrolling in this program, she worked as a classroom teacher and district professional development trainer for 9 years. Addie earned her B.S. from the University of South Florida in Special Education and is a National Board-Certified teacher. Addie is supported by Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs). Her area of research interest is the implementation fidelity of high-leverage and evidence-based practices in classroom settings. At FSU Addie is a member of the General Curriculum Access lab and participates in research in the area of mathematics problem solving for students with extensive support needs.

View her CV HERE.

Erika is a doctoral student at Florida State University’s Visual Disabilities program. Through two decades of working in the field of education in a variety of capacities, she has developed an interest in early intervention and service delivery to children with visual impairments. She finds working in the field of providing services to students who are blind and who have low vision a challenge due to its low incidence status and society's lack of understanding towards its complexities. Her dissertation research focuses on current working knowledge of self-determination and instructional strategies used for instruction of self-determination by teachers of students with visual impairments.

View her CV HERE.

Denise Dennis is a doctoral student supported and funded through Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs) at Florida State University. She previously supported elementary students at the School of Arts and Sciences at The Centre and Kate Sullivan both in Tallahassee, Florida. She has worked with students with a wide range of support needs in a variety of settings for the past 15 years. Denise also worked with preschool aged students with and without disabilities. Denise received her B.S. in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education at Flagler College Tallahassee Campus (2005) and her M.S. in Special Education at Florida State University (2014). Her research interests include teacher support, family collaboration, and behavioral and academic interventions for students with extensive support needs. Denise is excited to be joining the team working with the General Curriculum Access (GCA) lab under the guidance of Dr. Jenny Root and is currently assisting in research targeting mathematical problem solving for students with extensive support needs.

View her CV HERE.

Alice Williams is currently a doctoral student in Special Education. Prior to enrolling in this program, she worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for five years and classroom teacher for nine years. Alice earned her B.S. and M.S. from Florida State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Alice is supported by Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs). Her area of research interest is the implementation of evidence-based practices in classroom settings with students with extensive support needs. Her focus currently is on working with students who use augmentative and alternative communication and building foundational literacy skills.

View her CV HERE.

Emily Stover is currently a doctoral student in Special Education at Florida State University. Prior to beginning her doctoral program, Emily was an educator at the elementary school level. Most recently, she was a Special Education Resource Teacher for students with specific learning disabilities for two years. Prior to that she was a classroom teacher for students with extensive intellectual and developmental disabilities for 7 years. Emily earned both her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Florida. Her teaching certifications include Elementary K-6 and Exceptional Student Education K-12. She also holds an endorsement in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Emily is supported through the Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs) grant. Her research interests are focused on culturally responsive education focusing on literacy in students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and extensive support needs. In her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her husband and two young sons and teaching yoga.

View her CV HERE.

Graduate Research Assistant

Florida State University

Danielle Morsching is a 1st year PhD student at Florida State University. Danielle is a recent graduation of FSU's Special Education Master's Program, with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Danielle also graduated from Flagler College in 2007 with a dual degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Danielle has thirteen years of classroom teaching experience as both a special education teacher and as a general education teacher. Danielle's research interests focus on supporting special education teachers who work inclusive settings.

View her resume HERE.

Saurym Quezada is a doctoral student at Florida State University. She is a licensed teacher in K-6th Elementary Education and K-12th Exceptional Student Education with an Autism endorsement; certified in Advanced TEFL/TESOL, and job development services through the Division of Blind Services. She has over 7 years of experience in both general and special education instructional practices across K-12th primary and secondary classrooms locally and internationally. She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant at FSU and a Job Placement Specialist at the Lighthouse for the Blind in Broward County where she provides employment services to individuals between the ages of 19 to 68 years who are blind or visually impaired. Her research interest includes lifespan/transition, low incidence disabilities (e.g., autism, blindness, multiple disabilities), inclusion/belonging and, international special education.

View her resume HERE.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Florida State University

Madison Klick is currently an undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Criminal Justice and Biological Science at Florida State University; in junction, Madison is completing a double minor in Chemistry and Underwater Crime Scene Investigations. Madison is part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and is working with mentor Taryn Wade in a shared reading intervention with the integration of mathematical concepts designed for children aged up to 5 who are at risk for language delays. Prior to joining the FSU community, Madison earned her Associates Degree with honors at Eastern Florida State College as a dual enrollment student. Succeeding her collegiate studies, Madison strives to become a forensic biologist and on-call crime scene diver.

View her resume HERE.