SSEPC Executive Board Members

Chair of SSEPC:

Tamara Lynn, EdD tglynn@nwmissouri.edu

My name is Tamara Lynn, and I am a Smithville, MO native. I am married to Brian, who is the Coordinator of Student Services in the Maryville School District in Maryville, MO. Brian and I have two children, Cooper, and Sofia. Our family enjoys traveling and have set a goal to travel to all 50 states before our children graduate. When traveling, I always seek out a local joint for new foods and flavors. In my free time, I am most often found at Cooper and Sofia's activities or watching some sort of sporting event, and I have recently taken up golf to have a hobby of my own! I love dark chocolate and coffee and am most happy when I can entertain and cook for my family and friends.

I am an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Northwest Missouri State University. My background includes working as a special education paraprofessional, teacher, administrator, and professor for over 20 years. I completed my EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2022 in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis program. My current research and teaching interests are in the areas of novice teacher induction, collaborative scholarly writing, educator preparation, transition services, stakeholder collaboration, professional development, and autism consultation. 

I have been a member of SSEPC for six years. My love for the many SSEPC members who guided and coached me as a young faculty member led me to get involved in SSEPC’s Executive Board. If you are in a small program, please consider connecting with SSEPC as your professional home!

Associate Chair:

Kristin Murphy, PhD Kristin.Murphy@umb.edu 

My name is Kristin Murphy, and I’m thrilled to be the incoming Associate Chair of SSEPC. I’m currently at UMass Boston, where I serve as an Associate Professor of Special Education and the Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Academic Programs for the College of Education and Human Development. I began my career as a special educator for the New York City Department of Education and collectively, have spent over twenty years serving in various special education focused teaching, research, and policy roles. I have a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Florida, an Ed.M. in Risk and Prevention Research from Harvard University, and a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College.

While I have been a CEC member since 2009, it wasn’t until 2019 that I discovered and attended my first SSEPC meeting! I was relieved and excited to find a community of TED colleagues navigating the same professional opportunities, challenges, and experiences as me in other small special education programs across the country. I love the KINDNESS and welcoming spirit of the SSEPC community. My experiences in both K-12 and higher education have led me to care deeply about professional learning opportunities, mentorship, collaboration, and relationship-building with colleagues—all critical components to our well-being in our work. I am also deeply interested in and committed to identifying ways to recruit, retain, and diversify within our small special education programs. I love thinking about and engaging in mentorship and professional learning. I count both TED and DEBH as professional homes, and most recently served as co-chair of DEBH’s professional development committee from 2019-22. 

Past Chair:

Kathy Boothe, PhD kboothe@se.edu

My name is Kathy Boothe and I am excited to serve as the SSEPC Past Chair this year! I am currently living in Chandler, AZ with my husband, our cat (Zoey) and dog (Zeus). I am an associate professor and program coordinator for Special Education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. I teach graduate asynchronous courses, which has afforded me the opportunity to live remotely.

I have a B.S. in Rehabilitation Studies and my M.Ed. and Ph.D. are both in Special Education with an emphasis in Emotional/Behavioral disorders. I began my career as a self-contained classroom teacher for students with Emotional/Behavioral disorders. Additionally, I have worked as a district level behavior specialist After all these positions, I believe I have found my calling in working with pre- and in-service teachers at the college level. I truly enjoy working with teachers as they learn more about themselves and the field of special education. 

I have been a member of CEC and TED since beginning my doctoral studies in 2007. My involvement with SSEPC dates back to 2010 when I was in my first year teaching at a university in Augusta, GA. During my tenure with SSEPC I have served in the capacity of communications editor, membership chair, chari, and associate chair. Additionally, the last two years I have served on the TED Conference Advisory Committee. Previously I have served as sponsor of the Augusta State University (now Augusta University) student CEC group in GA, and have experience working at the state level as a board member of both Georgia and Oklahoma CEC. 

My current research interests include effective online teaching, and effectively preparing general and special educators to handle disruptive behaviors through the use of proper classroom management techniques. 

I am excited to continue working with SSEPC! 

Membership Chair:

Sarah Jin Wong, Ed.D.  sarah.wong@brynathyn.edu

I am an Assistant Professor and Head of Graduate Programs in Education at Bryn Athyn College in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. After my undergraduate studies at Smith College and a short-stint at a private school in Connecticut, I stumbled upon the world of early childhood special education during my graduate studies at Teachers College, Columbia University and fell in love with the field of special education. After serving in the realm of early intervention (Birth – 5yrs.) for over a decade, higher education came knocking on my door in 2013. I took the chance, as it became quickly apparent that teacher education in special education might be where I can make create most impact. So recently, I substantiated my commitment by completing my doctorate in July of 2021, at the University of Pittsburgh – with my dissertation titled Embracing Ambiguity: A Case Study of One Teacher Education Program’s Collaborative Inquiry into the Teacher Dispositions Construct. As a teacher educator, I aim to foster and develop teacher candidates’ inclusive dispositions and abilities to provide equitable learning opportunities for their students. My recent body of research focuses on utilizing disability literature to prepare teacher candidates for facilitating conversations about disability in their classrooms, as one way of creating inclusive classrooms.

Currently as a party of 1 at BAC, I often crave connecting with and collaborating with like-minded colleagues in the field. SSEPC and TED-CEC have been that professional family and home for me. I have experienced incredible warmth, friendships and supportive collegiality as a SSEPC member and would love officially welcome you to our family as the Membership Chair!

Treasurer:

Lynn Scott, Ph.D. 

lynn.scott@indstate.edu

My name is Lynn Scott, I am an Assistant Professor in Special Education at Indiana State University. My background includes 20+ years of teaching and educational leadership roles in support of students with exceptionalities across the life span. I began my work in education after changing careers and leaving the business world.  My journey initiated as a paraeducator within a girl’s juvenile facility. I have a B.S. in special education from Saint Mary of the Woods College (Indiana), M. Ed. in educational leadership from Indiana State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Central Florida. I’ve been a member of CEC since 2010, additionally joining TED and TED Kaleidoscope in 2019. I served as the SSEPC Student Representative during the last two years of my doctoral program.  Currently, I serve as the faculty advisor for Indiana State University’s Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) Chapter. In addition, I participate as a member and presenter with the following CEC divisions: Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT), Council for Administrators in Special Education (CASE), and Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD). My mission is to better prepare educators in the pursuit of inclusive and equitable practices. I believe in an interdisciplinary approach in research to practice and maintain a commitment and presence within two local K-12 schools through affiliation with the National Association of Professional Development Schools (NAPDS). Through my work in local schools, I aim to bridge disparities by equipping teachers and administrators to create genuine progress in diversity and inclusivity for all students. 

Secretary:

Kristine E. Larson, Ed.D. klarson2@ndm.edu

My name is Kristine E. Larson. I am an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU). I received my B.A. in Psychology at Loyola University Maryland in 2003, my M.A. in Teaching Secondary Social Studies from Johns Hopkins University in 2005, and my doctorate in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University in 2015. In 2019, I traveled to India to study yoga and use this experience to inform my work and life. In addition to teaching special education courses at Notre Dame of Maryland University, I research flourishing/ comprehensive wellbeing in education, and translate my research into practice in my efforts to create affirming organizational and institutional climates- particularly for students with emotional and behavioral challenges. I am the founder and chair of the Teacher Education for Flourishing Collaborative, at NDMU, which seeks to transform the world by promoting flourishing in teacher education, research, and policy. I have been involved with SSEPC since the fall of 2019. I served as the Shares Chair in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and began serving as secretary in the Spring of 2023. I am excited to continue serving our community as secretary in the 2024 year!

Communications Editor:

Kelly Acosta, Ph.D.

kacosta@ric.edu 

My name is Kelly Acosta and I am excited to serve as the communications editor for the Small Special Education Programs Caucus (SSEPC) for the Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). I have been a long standing member of CEC since I was a master’s student in the special education program at the University of NC at Greensboro. I recently received my doctoral degree in special education with a focus on teacher education in special education at the University of FL. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. Previously, I was a special educator at my alma mater, Brockton High School in Brockton, MA, which is the largest high school in New England. At Brockton High, I was a moderate special needs teacher, teaching academic support classes, which entailed providing students with study skills and post-secondary transition supports. I also taught English in a substantially separate setting and co-taught English courses. My last three years at Brockton High School I served as Team Chairperson, facilitating IEP meetings, coordinating evaluations, and connecting with outside agencies to ensure a smooth post-secondary transition for students and their families. 

My research interests are examining special education teacher shortages, special education teacher preparation, post-secondary transition, and adolescent literacy. When I am not busy working, I enjoy spending time with my three children and reading mystery novels.

Professional Development Chair:

Jennifer D. Walker, PhD jwalker4@umw.edu

I am an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I am also a graduate of the (University of) Mary Washington College, and it feels amazing to be back “home.” I have been working in the field of special education for over 25 years as a teacher and behavior specialist. My last K-12 position was teaching and supporting behavior related challenges with middle and high schoolers in a juvenile detention center.   I earned my M.Ed. and Ph.D. at George Mason University and my dissertation focused on the manifestation determination process for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. In my current research, I continue to focus on classroom management, functional analysis, and tiered interventions. However, much of my time is spent working directly with pre- and in-service teachers and I love supervising our student interns in the field.   When I’m not juggling teaching, research, and service, I’m spending time with my husband, 3 active children, a very clingy yellow lab (Bruce), and a temperamental cat (Patty). I don’t have much time for hobbies these days, but traveling and reading are always at the top of my list for free time activities.   I’ve been part of TED, the TED board, Kaleidoscope, the Early Career SIG, and SSEPC for over a decade. This organization, particularly SSEPC, has been instrumental in my research, collaborations, professional opportunities, and friendships. I’m so excited to be part of the SSEPC board and look forward to working with familiar and new small program colleagues.  

Student Representative:

Rachel Silva, M.Ed. rsilva1@ufl.edu