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 Director – West Tennessee
Shelby Cook earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Mississippi and her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Memphis. She is a Licensed School Social Worker and Licensed Master Social Worker. She has worked with children and families in underserved communities through community mental and behavioral health agencies and the public school system. Her professional interests include family and community engagement, advanced tier implementation, mental health integration, social emotional learning, and cultural responsiveness.
Education Consultant
Paula Brownyard served as a Special Education Supervisor in Jackson-Madison County for more than 20 years. She worked at Lambuth University as head of the Education Department prior to joining the project staff. Paula has served as past president of the Governor’s Advisory Council for the Education of Students with Disabilities and as the Interim Assistant Commissioner for Special Populations at the TN Department of Education. Paula earned her master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Memphis.
Educational Consultant
Carolyn Stark spent more than thirty years as a classroom teacher and Reading Recovery Supervisor in Dyer County and Dyersburg City Schools. She was then selected for the TN Department of Education’s Exemplary Educator program, working as a consultant in struggling TN schools, before joining the project team. Carolyn’s professional interests include tiered interventions and support of behavior interventions, as well as coaching support for districts and schools. She earned her master’s degree from UT Martin in Education Leadership and an Education Specialist degree in Reading from the University of Arkansas.
Educational Consultant
Sandra Harper served as public educator for over forty years. During that time, she served as a principal, curriculum and special education supervisor, and superintendent of schools. Sandra served as a board member on the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents and other Tennessee Department of Education Task Forces. She brings the local school and district perspective to the project team to assist in implementation and sustainability. Sandra completed a master’s degree at the University of Memphis in Guidance and Counseling and completed additional hours at Tennessee State University for administrative licensure.
Educational Consultant
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
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.
Project Assistant
Ashlyn Blair has been with the project since 2016. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Memphis in May 2017 and August 2020, respectively. Her professional interests within the project involve media, data, creative projects, and supporting schools and districts throughout the training process and additional supports as requested.
Business Manager
Erin Strowder joined the project team in 2015. As Business Manager, she provides financial and administrative office support to assist with the daily functions of the project. Prior to working for this project, she served as an Office Assistant for another grant at the University of Memphis (Project Memphis) that specialized in the provision of early intervention services.