Case Studies in Special Education and Additional Learning Needs

Dr. Mary Houser received a BFA in related arts from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, an MAT in special education from the College of New Jersey, and an EdD in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University. She is currently a professor in the Department of Special Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in foundations of special education, behavior management, autism spectrum disorder, language development, and family systems. Dr. Houser has also taught graduate special education courses for Walden University, where she served as a graduate special education curriculum developer and assessor. In addition, she has taught graduate special education courses and supervised pre-service teachers for Campbell University (NC). Dr. Houser has worked as a learning disabilities specialist and has taught high school special education in both inclusive and self-contained settings to children with various disabilities. Her research interests include families of students with autism spectrum disorders and improving school-home relationships for students with disabilities.

Dr. Tara Guerriero attended Northwestern University where she received her Ph.D. in Learning Disabilities, with a concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience. She also received her M.A. in Learning Disabilities and her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration in Learning Disabilities and a minor in Psychology from Northwestern University. She is currently a professor in the Department of Special Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She teaches at the graduate and undergraduate level in the areas of foundations of Special Education, assessment, curriculum and instruction/methodology, family systems, and communication/language development and assistive technology. Dr. Guerriero was certified as a Special Education Teacher in the state of Pennsylvania, as well as a Learning Behavior Specialist in Learning Disabilities in the state of Illinois. She was both a clinician and supervisor in a learning clinic at Northwestern University, where she provided remediation for children with learning disabilities and conducted psycho-educational evaluations of children and adults for the purpose of identifying and diagnosing learning disabilities. Dr. Guerriero’s research interests include assessment in special education, inclusive practices associated with special education, and both assessment and teaching within the areas of mathematics and reading in the field of learning disabilities.

Dr. Colleen Commisso received a BS in Special Education (PK-12) and Elementary Education (K-6) and a certification in Secondary English (7-12) from Bloomsburg University. She also received an MS in Special Education and a Supervisory Certificate from Bloomsburg University and her PhD in Special Education from Lehigh University. She is currently an Assistant Professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in foundations of special education, behavior management, trauma-informed practices, and supervises student teachers. Her research interests include brain-based approaches to support students who have experienced trauma, educational practices for pre-service teachers, and interventions for students who engage in problem behaviors.