Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education Fellowship Program at Kennedy Krieger Institute Training Future Leaders in Education Kennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to transforming the lives of children with disorders of the brain through groundbreaking research, innovative treatments, and life-changing education. Successful implementation of special education services requires highly trained individuals who can understand and interpret special education legislation, promote best practices in teaching, critically examine translational research and proposed interventions, and promote practices that positively influence behavior. The fellowship program at the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education at Kennedy Krieger Institute is designed to develop leaders in special education who will conduct the translational work needed to bridge the divide between clinicians, researchers, and schools.
Fellowship Overview and Structure The Center provides a full-time, one-year immersive training experience. In the first six months of the program, fellows receive in-depth, concurrent training in four core content areas necessary for leadership in the field of special education. Each core area utilizes intensive didactics, clinical and field observations, mentoring, and supervision to impart invaluable information. Fellows also receive ongoing mentorship from co-directors Nancy Grasmick, PhD, and E. Mark Mahone, PhD, ABPP.
Core Content Areas: • Neuroscience of Learning and the Learner – Emphasizes the broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders, from mild to severe, with exposure to a broad range of conditions, both acquired and congenital. Activities include participation in clinical rounds and observation of clinical care activities. • Principles of Behavior Change – Exposure to principles of applied behavior analysis as they are used to ameliorate behavior problems in the school setting. Activities include supervised experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings. • K nowledge Acquisition and Evidence-based Practice – Prepares fellows to develop, acquire, translate, and use scientific evidence to design and implement quality instruction. Activities include training in the principles of research design and the methods of scientific literature review.
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• L eadership, Law, and Management Principles – Training in educational law, administrative leadership, program evaluation, cost-effectiveness of services, and appropriation of resources. The second half of the fellowship involves a field placement internship within a public school setting. Throughout the internship phase of the fellowship, elements from the leadership program, including research projects, are put into practice under the supervision of a senior site supervisor, with weekly mentorship from Dr. Grasmick.” Fellows concurrently complete the state Administrator I certification via coursework at Towson University.
Outreach and Research Opportunities Fellowship training includes collaboration in research, manuscript and grant preparation, school consultation, and professional presentations at regional, national, and international meetings. Additionally, all fellows are afforded the opportunity to teach an undergraduate section of the Introduction to Special Education course at Towson University (the only special education course required of all education majors).