Stephanie J. Gardner, Ph.D.

I've always been drawn to helping others and it is this deep-rooted interest of mine, along with the inspiration from my mom who is an educator herself, that guided me into the field of education. Growing up, my brother and I learned the importance of accepting every person for their unique strengths as we volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding center for individuals with special needs where our mom was an instructor. Throughout these experiences starting when I was young, I developed a passion for working with and helping children who have special needs. This passion led me to pursue a career as a special educator, working with students in elementary and middle school who had a variety of disabilities. These students truly touched my life in so many ways and helped shape me into the teacher educator I am today.

While I was teaching, I also had the opportunity to work with several education students at a local university. Being able to take on amentorship role with these aspiring teachers sparked my interest in the field of higher education, where I could possibly touch even more students' lives by working with our future educators.

All of these experiences have led me here, to Susquehanna University, where I am so grateful to be a member of the Department of Education. It is a privilege to be a part of such a driven, cohesive group of professionals who strive on a daily basis to ensure that our pre-service educators develop into dedicated, successful, and passionate teachers.

My recent scholarship includes:

Gardner, S.J. & Wolfe, P. S. (in press). Teaching students with developmental disabilities daily living skills using video prompting with error correction. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.

Gardner, S. J. (2013). Book Review: Positive behavior supports in classrooms and schools: Effective and practical strategies for teachers and other service providers. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 38 (3), 206-207.

Gardner, S.J. & Wolfe, P. S. (2013). Use of video modeling and video prompting interventions for teaching daily living skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A review. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 38 (2), 73-87.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Special Education—August 2010- December 2014  
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
      * Dissertation - Impact of a Video Prompting with Graduated Guidance
                                  Intervention on Daily Living Skill Acquisition for Students with
                                  Autism Spectrum Disorder
     * Cognate: Autism and Augmentative and Alternative Communication
     * Advisor: Pamela S. Wolfe

M. Ed. in Elementary Education (with certification)—January 2007- May 2010
Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

B.S. in Special Education (with certification)—August 2001- May 2005             
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

LICENSURES AND CERTIFICATIONS              

Pennsylvania: Instructional II Special Education, N-12 and Elementary Education, K-6
Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Educating Individuals with Autism, Penn State World Campus

 
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

August 2006 - June 2010           Special Education Life Skills Support & Extended School Year Teacher
                                                             Bloomsburg Middle School, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
                                                             In addition to teaching responsibilities, mentored three student teachers from Bloomsburg University and worked with  3-5 students
                                                              per semester who were required to fulfill classroom observation hours and projects for two courses from Spring 2007-June 2010.  

June 2007- July 2007                 Homebound Instruction Educator- Extended School Year       
                                                             Berwick Area School District, Berwick, Pennsylvania

August 2005 - June 2006           Special Education Learning Support Teacher
                                                             Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Elementary School, Gilbertsville, New York

 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

August 2013-present                  Assistant Professor of Education
                                                           Susquehanna University
                                                           Teaching three education courses for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students:        

• Developed syllabi and curriculum materials for each course
• Organize and manage accompanying field experiences for EDUC 240 & 260
• Mentored seniors on their Honors Self-Study project
• Serving as department advisor to nine education majors

August 2010-July 2013               Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant

                                                             The Pennsylvania State University

                                                             Teaching Assistant: SPLED 511: Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis (web based- Dr. Dana Garner)

                                                             Research Assistant: PACS intervention model (socio-sexuality education for students with ASD); Inclusive education                                        
                                                             practices for students with severe disabilities (Dr. Pamela Wolfe); SRSD Writing Interventions (Dr. Linda Mason and Dr.                                                      
                                                             Elizabeth Benedek-Wood)

                                                             Graduate Assistant: (Dr. Richard Kubina and Dr. Kathy Ruhl)                                               

June 2008-August 2008              Graduate Assistant
                                                              Bloomsburg University (Dr. Gordon Snow)

 
COURSES TAUGHT

            Susquehanna University
                         EDUC 240: Cognition and Classroom Learning, EDUC 260: Introduction to Special Education, & EDUC 270: Instruction of Exceptional Children

            The Pennsylvania State University
                          Independent Teaching
                                SPLED 411: Intervention for Students with Severe Disabilities
                          Co-teaching
                                 SPLED 401: Motivating Exceptional Learners
                          Supervision
                                 SPLED 495E: Experience with Exceptional Children; SPLED 495G: Experience in an Inclusion Classroom

PUBLICATIONS

Gardner, S. J. (2013). Book Review: Positive behavior supports in classrooms and schools: Effective and practical strategies for teachers and other service providers. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 38 (3), 206-207.

Gardner, S.J. & Wolfe, P. S. (2013). Use of video modeling and video prompting interventions for teaching daily living skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A review. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 38 (2), 73-87.

Gardner, S.J. & Wolfe, P. S. (2014-published online before print). Teaching students with developmental disabilities daily living skills using video prompting with error correction. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. doi: 10.1177/1088357614547810

 
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Gardner, S. J. (2014, December). Video prompting: An easy-to-use and evidence-based intervention to teach daily living skills. TASH Talk Presentation made at the 2014 International TASH Conference. Washington, DC.  Refereed Conference Presentation.

Gardner S. J. & Lylo, B. (2014, October) Encouraging reflective thinking in higher education through the use of exit slips. Presentation made at The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.

Gardner, S. J. & Wolfe, P.S. (2013, December). Fostering Daily Living Skill Independence through Video Modeling and Prompting Interventions. Poster Presentation made at the 2013 InternationalTASH Conference. Chicago, IL.  Refereed Conference Presentation.

Wolfe, P.S, Domire, S. C, & Gardner, S. J.. (2013, December). Sexuality Curricula: Evaluating and Adapting Curricula for Individuals Having Severe Disabilities. Presentation made at the 2013 International TASH Conference. Chicago, IL.  Refereed Conference Presentation.

Lylo, B. & Gardner S. J. (2013, October) Pre-service teachers use of self-monitoring to enhance self-awareness and instructional skills. Presentation made at The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators in Harrisburg, PA.

Lylo, B. & Gardner S. J. (2013, April) Using self-monitoring procedures to enhance the student teaching experience. Presentation made at the National Student Teacher Supervision Conference at Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA.

Witcoski, G. & Gardner, S.J. (2013, March) Assessment and evidence-based measures impacting instruction for individuals with ASD: A guide for professionals. Refereed Conference Presentation accepted at the New Jersey Council for Exceptional Children (NJCEC), Mahwah, NJ.

Gardner, S. J. & Wolfe, P. S. (2012, November). Daily living instruction for individuals with ASD through video modeling and prompting. Presentation made at the 2012 CEC Teacher Education Division Conference. Grand Rapids, MI. Poster Presentation: Kaleidoscope Student Forum.

Wolfe, P. S. & Gardner, S. J. (2012, November). More than social skills: Modifying academic skills for students with severe disabilities. Presentation made at the 2012 CEC Teacher Education Division Conference. Grand Rapids, MI. Refereed Conference Presentation.

Wolfe, P. S. & Gardner, S. J. (2012, November). Preparing educators to teach socio-sexual skills to students with ASD. Presentation made at the 2012 CEC Teacher Education Division Conference. Grand Rapids, MI. Refereed Conference Presentation.

Gardner, S. J. (2011, December). Asperger's in the classroom. Presentation made at the St. Francis University Asperger's Syndrome Workshop. Loretto, PA. Invited Presentation/Workshop.

Wolfe, P. S. & Gardner, S. J. (2011, November). Facilitating socio-sexual decision-making through direct instruction: The PACS Model / Using Social Stories to promote socio-sexual decision-making for individuals with severe disabilities Presentation made at the 2011 International TASH Conference. Atlanta, GA.  Refereed Conference Presentation

Wolfe, P. S. & Gardner, S. J. (2011, April). The PACS model for socio-sexual education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Presentation made at the 2010 Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center (PEAL) Center Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. Refereed Conference Presentation.

Gardner, S. J., Fries, K. M., & Park, Y. J. (2011, April).  Effectiveness of unison responding for students with disabilities.  Poster presentation accepted for the 2011 Annual Convention and Expo for Exceptional Children, Division for Learning Disabilities Student Reception.  National Harbor, MD. 

Gardner, S. J., Fries, K. M., & Park, Y. J. (2011, March). Effectiveness of unison responding on academic and social behaviors for students with special needs. Presentation made at the 2010 Graduate Student Exhibition. The Pennsylvania State University.  Poster Presentation.

 
EDITORIAL WORK

Reviewer
         National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders Evidence-Based Practices Review Update (Spring 2012)           

Guest Reviewer

• Teacher Education Division (TED) of CEC proposal reviewer (June 2013, June 2014)
• Journal of Emotional and Behavior Disorders (April 2012; August 2012; August 2013; January 2014; January 2015)
• Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities (February 2012-supervised reviewing with advisor)
• DLD (CEC) Student Poster Session reviewer (February 2012) 

HONORS AND AWARDS

2010- 2013        Recipient of federally-funded grant -Preparing Professor/Researchers of Evidence-based Practices (PPREP) for full-time doctoral study at The Pennsylvania State University.

August 2009      Mary Weaver Evans Scholarship, Bloomsburg University

 
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
                     Teacher Education Division (TED); Division on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (DADD)
The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH)
The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE    

January 2014-current                  Student Organization Faculty Advisor, Study Buddy, Susquehanna University
Spring 2014                                      Search Committee Member, Susquehanna University Education Department
Fall 2010 - Spring 2013                Prospective doctoral student screening, Penn State
April 2011, 2012, 2013               Undergraduate Student Exhibition Judge, Penn State