Who We Are
Jim Ansaldo
Title: Research AssociateEmail: jansaldo@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Download 113kb .pdf file
Degree/Major:
- M.A.T. in English
- A.B.D. in Indiana University doctoral Curriculum Studies Program
Areas of Interest:
- Classroom management
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Curriculum design
- Differentiating instruction
- Instructional consultation teams
- School-wide positive behavioral support
- Service learning
- Technology
- Universal access
Bio: Before joining the CELL staff, Jim was a high school English and drama teacher in both New Haven, CT and Chicago, IL. Currently, Jim collaborates with other CELLmates to facilitate systems change in schools. Past and present change efforts have focused on culturally responsive teaching, classroom management, differentiating instruction, instructional consultation, school-wide positive behavior support, smaller learning communities, universal access, and writing/problem solving across the curriculum. Jim also is plugging away at his doctoral dissertation, which examines a service learning program operating in two large urban high schools.
Linda Clark Baker
Title: Research Associate
Email:
Curriculum Vitae:
Degree/Major:
M. S. Science in Education, Emphasis in Reading
B. A. Elementary Education, Minor Science and Math
Areas of Interest:
· Positive Behavioral Supports
· School Climate
· Universal Support Systems
· Secondary Tier Support Systems
· Tertiary Tier Support Systems
Bio: Linda joined the Center in September 2009. Prior to that, Linda was a Technical Assistance Coordinator with the Illinois PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) Network, a component of the IS-TAAC (Illinois Statewide Technical Assistance Center). She trained and supported teams within districts and schools in the creation and implementation of supports for all students. Linda has also taught kindergarten through eighth grade in public schools, and is currently an adjunct professor at Loyola University in Chicago.
Sandi ColeTitle: Director
Email: cmcole@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Download 105kb .pdf file
Degree/Major:
- Ed.D. in Educational Leadership/Curriculum and Instruction
- Ed.S. In Educational Leadership/Special Education Leadership
- M.S. in Special Education
Areas of Interest:
- Collaboration
- School reform
- Inclusive school communities
- Educational leadership
- Curriculum and instruction
- Equity and diversity issues
- Participatory Research
Bio: Sandi came to the Indiana Institute to help develop, design, and ultimately establish the Center on Education and Lifelong Learning. Prior to becoming the Director of CELL, Sandi spent 22 years as a public school teacher and administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels. She is a faculty member in the Research and University Graduate School, teaches undergraduate courses, and directs the Special Education Leadership Program in the School of Education. Additionally, she consults extensively with school districts across the country on designing schools that welcome, include, educate and support all learners.
Cate Hart
Title: Research AssociateEmail: camhart@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Download 116kb .pdf file
Degree/Major:
- ABD & MS. in Instructional Systems Technology
- M.S. in Counseling
- MS Special Education
- B.S. in Elementary Education
Areas of Interest:
- Service learning
- School change
- Teacher-leadership development
- Intergenerational Programming
Bio: Cate has spent 30 plus years as an educator, pre-school through graduate school. At CELL she delivers a variety of effective professional development strategies, trainings, graduate courses, and onsite coaching to foster better collaboration and teaming as a vehicle to increase organizational and individual capacity in K-12 schools.
Cate and her CELL co-teaching partner, Carrie Chapman, have trained nearly 3000 educators in the art of shared practice in individual, school, and district-wide settings.
In addition, Cate leads Indiana’s efforts in VETS: Voicing Experiences Through Service. VETS is funded with a $1.3 million grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service in partnership with colleagues in Maryland and Vermont. The purpose of this project is to expand service opportunities as part of transition planning for youth with disabilities (ages 14-21) and increase their participation in service, specifically through the gathering of oral histories for the National Veteran’s History Project.
Barbara A. Horvath
Title: Research AssociateEmail: bhorvath@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Download 96kb .pdf file
Degree/Major:
- M.S. in Special Education
Areas of Interest:
- Curriculum
- Family Literacy
- Instructional strategies
- Inclusive schools
Bio: Barbara brings an extensive background in public schools to the Center on Education and lifelong Learning. She has spent 20+ years in schools in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, consulting teacher, case conference coordinator, transition coordinator and inclusion coordinator for grades K-12. Barbara currently teaches in the Language Education Department in the School of Education and has taught university undergraduate and graduate level courses in Special Education. She has consulted with teachers around the country on brain research and responsive instructional strategies designed to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
Michael Horvath
Title: Research AssociateEmail: horvath3@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Coming soon!
Degree/Major:
- Ed. S. in School Administration/Special Education Leadership
- M.S. in Special Education
- B.A. in English
Areas of Interest:
- Inclusive schools
- School Reform
- Educational Leadership
- Classroom management and instruction
Bio: Before joining CELL, Mike was the director of special education in the Monroe County Community School Corporation for twelve years and was the assistant before that. He also has taught students with significant emotional disabilities and has taught English at the junior high school level. He has been a long time member of the Indiana Professional Standards Board, now known as the Advisory Board of the Indiana Department of Education’s Division of Professional Standards. Mike has been working in school districts to help them evaluate their services for students with disabilities and develop improvement plans. He also has done some work with his colleague, Dr. Sandy Washburn, in the area of classroom climate and management.
Patricia L. Merida
Title: Administrative SecretaryEmail: pmerida@indiana.edu
Areas of Interest:
- Conference planning
- Computer graphic design
- Office management and support
Bio: Tricia joined CELL in July 2007. As a new mother she is currently here part time. Her days are spent working on Regional Workshops, Web Page Design & Updates, Technical and Clerical Support. Her previous 15 years were spent working for the Monroe County Community School Corporation, 8 of which she worked directly with the Director of Special Education.
Kay L. Moore
Title: Administrative SecretaryEmail: moorel@indiana.edu
Degree/Major:
- Associate in Secretarial Science
Areas of Interest:
- Conference planning
- Computer graphic design
- Work culture
- Fiscal management
- Office management and support
Bio: Kay has been a part of the Indiana Institute for over 18 years. Her talents and expertise are vital to the smooth operation of the Center. Kay has served as Administrative Secretarial Support for over 15 federal and state-wide initiatives including the Indiana Least Restrictive Environment Initiative, the Indiana Employment Initiative, the Indiana Transition Initiative, the School to Work grant, the Peer Education Project and the Schools Initiative Grant. Kay provides daily support to all Center Staff, including conference planning, coordination and management of schedules, technical and clerical support, and product development.
James Robinson
Title: Research AssociateEmail: jarobins@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Download kb 152.pdf file
Degree/Major:
- M.S. Educational Leadership
- B.S. in Special Education
Areas of Interest:
- School transformation/Universal access
- Teacher development/leadership
- Co-teaching
- High schools
- Literacy/Reading Instruction
Bio: For the past seven years, James was a special educator at Bloomington High School South in Bloomington. A major portion of his work there involved co-teaching in freshman English classes, where he partnered with several teachers during his tenure. These shared classrooms led to dialogue surrounding the obvious need for the integration of reading instruction into the standard English curriculum, which he and his partners implemented in several classes. The same literacy framework also informed James’ work in teaching reading to students with higher support needs.
As part of his master’s degree and administrative licensure work, James played a role in planning and implementing his high school’s freshman academy, a pilot project that began in the 2006-2007 school year with over 60 students. Paralleling this work was his membership on a district wide Graduation Work Group, which examined the issues and need for comprehensive high school reform.
Currently pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Indiana University, James is energized by the opportunity to work with the CELL team. His primary work is with Cate Hart and Carrie Chapman in developing and presenting co-teaching workshops for Indiana teachers, and will also support Barb Horvath in her work in Differentiated Instruction.
Sandy Washburn
Title: Research AssociateEmail: swashbur@indiana.edu
Curriculum Vitae: Download kb 94.pdf file
Degree/Major:
- Ph.D. in Special Education and Educational Psychology
- M.S. in Special Education
- B.S. in Psychology
Areas of Interest:
- Positive behavioral supports
- School climate
- Bullying prevention
- Action research
- Teacher education
- School discipline practices
- Disability studies
- Students labeled emotionally/behaviorally disordered
Bio: Prior to beginning doctoral studies at Indiana University, Sandy worked as a secondary public school teacher at both the middle and high school levels. She has also taught adolescents and adults in a residential psychiatric setting and a correctional facility. Before joining the center in 1998, she taught numerous graduate and undergraduate courses in the Special Education Department at Indiana University-Bloomington and supervised pre-service teachers in their teaching internships. Currently, Sandy teaches courses and conducts professional development in the area of functional behavioral assessment, positive behavioral support, and classroom management. Major projects include working with schools in several districts as they create and implement school-wide systems of behavioral support and Mentor Training for mentors of new teachers. Sandy is a certified trainer for the Second Step Violence Prevention Program and a certified facilitator for the School-wide Information system (SWIS), a discipline data base.