Online Special Education Licensure — Faculty

Meet Your Faculty

Learn From the Experts

Explore how Purdue’s faculty for the online MS in Education in Special Education can prepare you for leadership and advancement in your teaching career.

University Supervisors

  • Sandra Beach, University Supervisor

    Education

    • M.A. — Ball State University
    • B.A. — Ball State University

    Licenses

    • K-12 in Mental Retardation, IN
    • K-12 in Learning Disabilities/ Neurologically Impaired, IN
  • Ginny Bushyeager, University Supervisor- Clinical Practice Online Program

    Education

    • M.Ed. — Reading, California University of Pennsylvania
    • B.A. — Elementary Education and Special Education, West Virginia University
  • Rita Carlisle, University Supervisor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • MA, Purdue University
    • BA, Purdue University

    Licenses

    • Special Education-Mild
    • Elementary Education
  • Cathy Derrick, University Supervisor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • MA in Elementary Education, Ball State University
    • BA in Education, University of Evansville

    Certifications

    • Teaching, Learning Disabled, IN
    • Teaching, Seriously Emotionally Handicapped, IN
    • Teaching, General Elementary, IN
    • Indiana State Mentor Certification
  • Kirsten Elliott, University Supervisor

    Education

    • Masters — Effective Teaching and Leadership in Special Education, Butler University
    • B.A. — Social Work, Anderson University

    Licenses

    • License in Special Education, Mild Intervention, Grades K-12
    • Transition to Teaching Special Education, Butler University
  • Lee Anne Hahn, Limited Term University Supervisor

    Education

    • M.A. — Special Education, Ball State University (2004)
    • B.A. — Elementary Education, Hanover College (1989)
  • Peg Rideout, University Supervisor/Guest Lecturer

    Education

    • M.Ed. — Curriculum and Instruction, Indiana Wesleyan University (2002)
    • B.A. — Elementary Education/Minor Learning Disabilities, Hope College (1983)

    Licenses

    • Principal’s Licensure Program at Indiana Wesleyan University, 2011

  • Madeline Sandberg, University Supervisor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • Graduate work in Special Education (Research Methods and Design, Assessment and Evaluation), Purdue University
    • MS in Special Education (Serious Emotional Handicaps), Purdue University
    • BA in Special Education (Mild Mental Handicap, Learning Disabled), Purdue University

    Licenses/Certifications

    • Director of Exceptional Needs, Indiana
    • Learning Disabled (K-12, Indiana)
    • Mildly Mentally Handicapped (K-12, Indiana)
    • Serious Emotional Handicaps (K-12, Indiana)

Professors/Faculty

Course Instructors

  • Heather Davis, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Special Education, Texas A&M University
    • MA in Special Education, Texas State University
    • BA in Special Education, Angelo State University

    Research Interests

    • Behavioral modification
    • Applied behavior analysis in home, school, and clinical settings
  • Megan Elam, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • EdD in Special Education, University of Cincinnati
    • MEd in Special Education, University of Cincinnati
    • BS in Secondary Education — English/Language Arts, University of Cincinnati

    Licenses/Certifications

    • K-12 Intervention Specialist, Mild to Moderate
    • 7-12 Secondary Education/AYA, English/Language Arts
  • Melissa Grabner-Hagen, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Educational Psychology, Indiana University
    • BA in Psychology, Indiana University

    Research Interests

    • Gamification in special needs classrooms
  • Kelly Jackson, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • M.S. — Elementary Supervision and Curriculum, Butler University
    • M.A. — Elementary Education, Indiana University
    • B.S. — Elementary Education, Ball State University

    Licenses/Certifications

    • Administration (Elementary, Middle, Secondary, Mild, or Intense), IN
    • Elementary Education (1-6/7-8), IN
  • Jia Liu, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Special Education, Purdue University
    • MS in Special Education, Purdue University
    • MA in Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Tsinghua University, China
    • BA in English, Jilin University Changchun, China

    Licenses

    • K-12, Mild Disabilities
  • Rachel Scalzo, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Educational Psychology, Specialization: Behavior Management and Measurement, Baylor University
    • Master of Social Work, SUNY Stony Brook University
    • BA in Psychology, Siena College

    Certifications

    • Board Certified Behavior Analyst — Doctoral (BCBA-D)
    • Certificate #1-15-18433
    • American CPR Training — Adult, Child, & Infant C.A.R.E. CPR
    • American CPR Training — OSHA Standard First Aid & Emergency Care
  • M. Wade Wingler, Course Instructor

    SpecialEd@purdue.edu

    Education

    • MBA, Indiana State University
    • BA in Sociology, Butler University

    Professional Experience

    • Easter Seals Crossroads, Security Officer/VP of Technology and Information Systems
    • Easter Seals Crossroads, Director of Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation

Prepare to Lead

Explore how the faculty in Purdue’s Online Special Education Licensure can prepare you for leadership and advancement in your teaching career.

To learn more, call 877-497-5851 to speak to an admissions advisor or request more information.