Meet the Tennessee Tiered Supports Center
Successful RTI2-A+RTI2-B implementation relies on systems and practices that fit local context and address local need. Tennessee TSC offers community-based expertise and relevant support in each of Tennessee’s core regions through a long-standing partnership between Vanderbilt University, University of Memphis, and University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Meet our team of consultants in the sections below!
Middle TN Team
Located at Vanderbilt University, the Middle TN team provides assistance to the following counties:
Montgomery, Robertson, Sumner, Macon, Clay, Pickett, Dickson, Cheatham, Davidson, Wilson, Trousdale, Smith, Jackson, Overton, Fentress, Hickman, Williamson, Rutherford, Cannon, De Kalb, Putnam, White, Cumberland, Lewis, Maury, Marshall, Bedford, Warren, Van Buren, Rhea, Lawrence, GIles, Lincoln, Moore, Coffee, Grundy, Franklin, Marion and Sequatchie.
Contact Information regarding assistance:
Contact Middle TN Center
Meet the Middle TN Team
Primary Investigator
Casey Chauvin, Ph.D., BCBA, is a Senior Research Analyst in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. As Co-Investigator of Tennessee TSC, she supports efforts to build aligned RTI2-A + RTI2-B supports and practices. Her research interests include behavior assessment and the provision of evidence-based academic and behavioral interventions within multi-tiered systems of support.
Co-Primary Investigator
Blair Lloyd, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. In the Department of Special Education, Dr. Lloyd teaches graduate courses on Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Single Case Research Methodology, and special topics courses on Childhood Aggression and Intensive Interventions. Her current research focuses on intensive, individualized assessments and interventions for students with persistent challenging behavior.
Technical Assistance Team Director – Middle TN
Dia Davis, M.A., Dia is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of South Florida, she holds a master’s degree in Varying Exceptionalities. Dia has worked as a consultant on Tennessee Behavior Supports Project, Florida’s Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support Project, served as a District Coordinator for PBIS, a District Multi-Tiered System of Supports Facilitator, and a special education teacher. In her time as a local and state-based consultant she has worked with over a hundred schools in designing prevention-focused systems and interventions at all three tiers for academics and behavior. Dia has a strong passion for systems change and implementation science as it relates to improving policies, systems, and practices to support all learners. She has worked over the past decade to help support putting research into practice and truly believes that the greatest impact comes from building relationships between all key collaborators.
Technical Assistance Consultant
Tara Axelroth, M.Ed., BCBA, Tara earned a Master’s degree in Comprehensive Special Education from Vanderbilt University and is a board-certified behavior analyst. Before joining the TSC team, she was a special education teacher in Middle Tennessee. Tara served on her school’s leadership team to develop their school-wide positive behavioral support program. While teaching, her focus on providing behavior support to students and staff led to an interest in aligned tiered supports for both academics and behavior and an overall model for prevention.
Technical Assistance Consultant
Julie Daye, Ph.D., NCSP, Julie earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University, Provo, an Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of South Florida, Tampa. She worked as a school psychologist in every age group from kindergarten through twelfth grade. As an assistant professor in the school psychology program at West Texas A&M University in Amarillo, she taught multiple courses including school systems, program evaluation, and counseling interventions. She became acquainted with systems approaches through her graduate-level thesis and dissertation work. Her research was primarily focused on implementing multi-tiered systems of support in high schools. She believes is important to provide preventative services to change the trajectories of students.
Technical Assistance Consultant
Caroline Robinson, M.Ed., Caroline earned a Master’s degree in Learning and Design from Vanderbilt University. She has worked as an educator in Middle Tennessee and has extensive experience implementing RTI2-A+RTI2-B systems. Her interests include developing and sustaining preventative models for academics and behavior as well as utilizing targeted intervention strategies to address academic and behavioral skill gaps.
East TN Team
Located at University of Tennessee – Knoxville, the East TN team provides assistance to the following counties:
Scott, Campbell, Claiborne, Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan, Johnson, Morgan, Anderson, Union, Grainger, Hamblen, Greene, Washington, Carter, Unicol, Roane, Anderson, Knox, Jefferson, Cocke, Loudon, Blount, Megis, McMinn, Monroe, Hamilton, Bradley and Polk.
Contact Information regarding assistance:
Contact East TN Center
Meet the East TN Team
Co-Primary Investigator
Tara Moore, PhD, BCBA assumed many roles and responsibilities in rural and urban Tennessee public schools while working directly with students with learning, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities and their teachers. As a classroom teacher, she taught students with and without disabilities in special education and inclusive classrooms in elementary, middle, and high school settings. As a research liaison and school-based consultant, she provided training and on-going consultation to both special education and general education teachers who were implementing classroom-based interventions to prevent and reduce students’ problem behaviors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and both a Master of Education degree and a PhD degree in special education from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. Tara is certified as a behavior analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. Her research interests include classroom and behavior management and teacher-student interactions to prevent and reduce problem behavior.
Technical Assistance Team Director – East TN
Jessica Eshbaugh is The East TN Technical Assistance Director for Tennessee TSC. Jessica has ten years of experience in public education working in high-needs school settings where she taught English Language Arts and provided support, instructional coaching, and professional development to teachers as a TAP Master Teacher. Jessica has served as an educational consultant since 2015 when she came to UT, Knoxville to support East Tennessee districts and schools implement a state-wide tiered framework for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Jessica is currently pursuing a PhD in Special Education and certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). While working towards her BCBA, Jessica has served as a behavior interventionist in a clinical setting for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD). Her research interests include school-wide and classroom-based interventions to improve behavioral and academic outcomes for all students.
Educational Consultant
Michael Morrow is an educational consultant with the Tennessee TSC at the University of Tennessee. He taught special education in Knox County Schools, serving students with both low and high incidence disabilities, specifically focused on students with Autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and complex behavior and communication needs. Following years of service in the classroom, he served in the Knox County Schools as a district level special education facilitator, overseeing programming and working with teachers to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Michael has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education from the University of Tennessee, and is currently pursuing a PhD in special education and certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst at UT.
Educational Consultant
Ashlee Smethers is an Educational Consultant for the Tennessee TSC. Ashlee was a special education teacher for students with low and high incidence disabilities, including students with significant communication and behavioral needs in inclusive and special education classroom settings. Ashlee is pursuing a Ph.D. in Special Education and certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Her research interests include evaluating and utilizing teacher preparation, teacher training and coaching models, behavior skills training and performance feedback models, and technology tools to improve teachers’ use of classroom management strategies to improve student outcomes. Ashlee has a Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Baker University located in her home state, Kansas.
Educational Consultant
Jessica Ogburn is an educational consultant with the Tennessee TSC at the University of Tennessee. Jessica has over 20 years of experience working with children with behavioral disorders and implementing inclusionary practices to support children with disabilities in child care facilities and schools in East Tennessee. She enjoys providing technical assistance, trainings, and guidance to teachers in the education field. She graduated with a BA in human growth and learning with a focus in elementary education from Tusculum College and obtained a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Phoenix.
West TN Team
Located at University of Memphis – Lambuth, the West TN team provides assistance to the following counties:
Lake, Obion, Weakley, Henry, Stewart, Dyer, Gibson, Carroll, Benton, Houston, Humphreys, Lauderdale, Crockett, Madison, Henderson, Decatur, Perry, Tipton, Haywood, Chester, Shelby, Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy, Hardin and Wayne.
Contact Information regarding assistance:
Contact West TN Center
Meet the West TN Team
Co-Primary Investigator
William Hunter Ed.D. is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Memphis. Since 2015, he has served as Principal Investigator for this project. Dr. Hunter received his Ed.D. in Special Education from the University of Cincinnati. His background includes working as a special education teacher in urban schools for 12 years, as a special education administrator for 2 years, and as a residential mental health intervention specialist for 9 years. His professional interests include Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and Classroom Level Positive Behavior Intervention Supports.
Co-Primary Investigator
Laura Casey Ph. D. earned her Ph.D. in 2006 in School Psychology. Prior to joining University of Memphis as a professor of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), she worked as a behavior consultant, counselor, and psychometrist in the schools. She currently teaches ABA classes and primarily provides Tier 3 supports for this project. She holds the following certifications: Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral level (BCBA-D), Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Licensed Professional Counselor-MS (LPC).
Technical Assistance Team Director – West TN
Victoria Perry has served as a public educator for 22 years. She is a licensed school administrator, certified teacher, and holds a library science endorsement. She has experience as being a classroom teacher, a school librarian, and an assistant principal of a middle school and high school. She earned her B.S. from University of Memphis and earned both her M.Ed. and Ed.S. from Union University. Prior to joining the project in 2018, while serving as a high school assistant principal, Victoria led the implementation of PBIS at her school with great success. Her professional interests include supporting schools at the secondary level and advanced tier implementation.
Educational Consultant
Angelica Burks, Ed.D., Angelica is a proud graduate of the University of Memphis where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and Sociology, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Doctorate in Literacy Education. During her 22 years of experience, she has served in numerous positions including teacher, advisor, and mentor as well as RTI Coordinator, Instructional Coach, Instructional Facilitator, Professional Learning Coach, New Teacher Mentor, and Reading Specialist. Her areas of interests include increasing the academic growth of K-12 students while decreasing the negative behaviors displayed by schoolchildren which allows for the implementation of strategies used in a multi-tiered system of support.
Educational Consultant
Debbie Williams received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin and received certification as a Vision Specialist from Middle Tennessee State University. She served as a K-12 special education teacher before becoming a teacher of students with visual impairments teaching braille and cane skills. She has served as a special education teacher consultant, a reading consultant, and an RTI2 District Coordinator. Her focus in the study of reading and working alongside consultants with the State Personnel Development Grant helped her establish a county as a demonstration site for RTI2. Debbie’s professional interests consist of tiered interventions, strategies for decreasing inappropriate behaviors, and increasing academic achievement for all students.
Content Development Team
Meet the Content Development Team
Senior Research Scholar
Rachel E. Donegan, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scholar in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. Before earning her Ph.D., Rachel was a special education teacher and instructional coach for elementary and middle school special educators. Rachel’s areas of expertise include reading interventions, reading disabilities, tiered interventions and supports, and methods for intensifying and individualizing instruction.
Content Development Team Consultant
Jennifer Higgs, M.S. received her Master’s degree in Administrative Leadership & Supervision in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining the Vanderbilt team, Jennifer taught Instructional Methods for Special Education at Lipscomb University and supervised resident teachers at both Lipscomb and Belmont University. She previously served as the Associate Director of Pupil Services for GBAPS managing student support programing.
Content Development Team Consultant
Melissa Hine, M.Ed., NCC, received her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from The University of Georgia and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. Previous to Vanderbilt, she worked as a Professional School Counselor for school districts in Georgia and Iowa and managed grant work at the UGA Disability Resource Center.
Media Specialist
Kyle Kurlick works on multiple projects as a media specialist for the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, Kyle has spent the past decade telling the stories of Tennesseans across the state as a multimedia producer for various organizations.
Research Analyst
Caitlin Bernstein graduated Next Steps last year and loved the program. This is her first year working on this project. She is from Saint Louis but lives in Nashville now. She likes to go to the mall, hang out with friends, and go to Starbucks. She is a big fan of coffee. She also likes to exercise in her room and hang out with her family.