Meet the Lab
Dr. Jenny Root
Dr. Sarah Cox
Deidre Gilley
Director
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 her FSU webpage.
Associate Director
Assistant Professor at Eastern Michigan University
Dr. Sarah Cox is an assistant professor of Special Education. 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.
Graduate Assistant and RAISE Scholar
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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 three years under the guidance of Dr. Jenny Root and is assisting in research targeting mathematical problem solving for students with extensive support needs.
Addie McConomy
Alice Williams
Taryn Wade
Graduate Assistant and RAISE Scholar
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.
Denise Dennis
Graduate Assistant and RAISE Scholar
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.
Graduate Assistant and RAISE Scholar
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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.
Emily Stover
Graduate Assistant and RAISE Scholar
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.
Graduate Assistant and CYCEL Scholar
Taryn Wade is currently a doctoral student in Special Education at Florida State University. Prior to enrolling in this program, she worked as a school psychologist. Taryn earned her B.A. from the University of South Carolina in experimental psychology and her M.S./Ed.S from Florida State University in school psychology. She is currently working toward her BCBA certification. Taryn is supported by a US Department of Education doctoral leadership grant focusing on the language, emergent literacy, and pro-social behavior of children birth to 5 years old who are at risk for developmental delays or have identified disabilities.