B-W: Dr. Debra Janas

Dr. Janas is an assistant professor in the Education Division in the area of special education. She received her Ph.D. in special education in 1999 from Kent State University. She is certified as a school psychologist. She has coordinated and participated in various federal grants. She has worked with projects that focus on working with children with special needs living in poverty in both rural and urban settings, using developmentally appropriate practices with children with special needs, interdisciplinary personnel preparation, and embedding children’s IEP goals and objectives into the regular classroom routines and activities. She previously taught special education and was a school psychologist in an urban school setting. Further, she has a background in mental health working in areas such as jails, detention centers, runaway shelters, drug and alcohol rehabilitations centers and mental health organizations. Her previous work experiences included working with children with serious emotional and behavioral difficulties and their families. Her current research interests include working with teachers to implement an approach that includes authentic assessment, effective goals and objectives, utilizing and activity-based approach to intervention and evaluation.

Curriculum vita