Jennifer N. Mahdavi Associate Professor Sonoma State University Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education 1801 East Cotati Avenue Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609 (707)664-3311 jennifer.mahdavi@sonoma.edu ACADEMIC PREPARATION Ph.D. in Education, University of California, Riverside, December, 2000 Concentrations: Special Education, School Psychology, Research Methods and Statistics Dissertation: The Student Study Team Process for Prereferral Intervention: Connections between the SST Process, Outcome and Intervention Specificity Advisor: Dr. Sharon Borthwick-Duffy M.A. in Education, University of California, Riverside, June, 1996 Concentrations: Special Education, Mild/Moderate Disabilities Advisor: Dr. Donald MacMillan Special Education Specialist Credential, University of California, Riverside, June, 1996 (valid through July, 2012) Multiple-Subjects Credential, University of California, Riverside, June, 1992 Supplementary Authorizations: Science, Social Studies (valid through July, 2012) B.A. in Liberal Studies, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, December 1990 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Associate Professor, 2009-present Assistant Professor, 2005-09 Sonoma State University Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education Assistant Professor, 2001 2005 California State University, Los Angeles Division of Special Education and Counseling, Mild/Moderate program Adjunct Professor, 2003-2010 University of San Diego Online course in Mainstreaming of Students with Special Needs 1
Public School Teacher, 1991-2001 Riverside Unified School District, Riverside, CA General education, grades 1, 2, and 3 Resource specialist, grades K-6 Curriculum Development, 1997-98 Riverside Unified School District, Riverside, CA Committee to develop district-wide standards and benchmarks for language arts Selection and adoption of language arts textbooks Staff Development Riverside Unified School District, Riverside, CA October, 2000: Workshop to teach the use of the computerized Individual Education Program (IEP) software to first year special education teachers. August, 2000: Presentation to school staff on how to create curriculum based assessment tools September, 1996: Presentation to school staff on how to use the Student Study Team process May, 1995: Presentation to school staff on teaching science in the general education classroom. Teaching Assistant, School of Education, University of California, Riverside Fall 1997, 1998: Basic Statistics 1999-2001: Research Methods for First Year Doctoral Students Invited Lecturer, School of Education, University of California, Riverside February, 2000 in Controversial Issues in Special Education, taught by Dr. Sharon Duffy Topic: The Student Study Team in Research and in Practice April, 1997 and March, 1998 in Special Education Teaching Methods, taught by Dr. Kathleen Lane Topic: Practical Applications of the Student Study Team PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL PAPERS Mahdavi, J. N. (2010). [Test review of Process Assessment of the Learner-II]. From R. A. Spies & B. S. Plake, (Eds.), The eighteenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. Mahdavi, J.N., & Beebe-Frankenberger, M. (2009). Pioneering RTI systems that work: Social validity, collaboration, and context. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 42 64-72. Menzies, H. M., Mahdavi, J. N., & Lewis, J. (2008). Early reading intervention: From research to practice. Remedial and Special Education 29 (2), 67-77. 2
Mahdavi, J. N. (2007). [Test review of Early Reading Success Indicator]. From R. A. Spies & B. S. Plake, (Eds.), The seventeenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. Mahdavi, J. N. (2007). [Test review of Learning Styles Inventory, Version III]. From R. A. Spies & B. S. Plake, (Eds.), The seventeenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. Mahdavi, J.N. & Haager, D. (2007). Linking progress monitoring results to interventions. Perspectives on Language and Literacy, 33 (2), 25-29. Haager, D., & Mahdavi, J. N. (2007). What can we reasonably expect of teachers in a threetiered reading intervention model? In D. Haager, S. Vaughn, & J. Klingner (Eds.) Validated practices for three-tiers of reading intervention. Mahdavi, J. N. (2005). [Test review of the Suffolk Reading Scale 2]. From R. A. Spies & B. S. Plake, (Eds.), The sixteenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. Mahdavi, J. N. (2005). [Test review of the Single Word Spelling Test]. From R. A. Spies & B. S. Plake, (Eds.), The sixteenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. Lane, K. L., Mahdavi, J. N., & Borthwick-Duffy, S. A. (2003). Teacher perceptions of the prereferral intervention process: A call for assistance with school-based interventions. Preventing School Failure, 47 (4), 148-155. PAPERS/POSTERS PRESENTED AT CONFERENCES Beebe-Frankenberger, M. & Mahdavi, J.N. (2011, February). Exploring the relationship between social validity and fidelity in RTI. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, San Francisco, CA. Beebe-Frankenberger, M., & Mahdavi, J.N. (2010, March). True collaboration in RTI: Beyond simply working together. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Chicago, IL. Beebe-Frankenberger, M., & Mahdavi, J.N. (2009, April). Implementing RTI: Successful models, successful students. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Council for Exceptional Children, Seattle, WA. Beebe-Frankenberger, M., & Mahdavi, J.N. (2008, April). Collaboration and acceptability support successful RTI systems. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Council for Exceptional Children, Boston, MA. 3
Dingle, M., & Mahdavi, J.N. (2008, February). Professional development and RTI: It s what I was hungry for. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Research Conference, Coronado, CA. Mahdavi, J.N., Dingle, M., & Ayala, E. (2006, November). From oracle to friend: the changing role of mentors. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Teacher Education Division of Council for Exceptional Children, San Diego, CA. Mahdavi, J.N. (2006, February). Resistance to intervention in urban schools: What is its impact on referral to special education? Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Research Conference, Coronado, CA. Mahdavi, J. N. (2006, April). Prereferral intervention and IDEA 2004: What special educators should know. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Council for Exceptional Children, Salt Lake City, UT. Mahdavi, J. N., & Menzies, H. M. (2004, April). Early Reading Intervention: Using Curriculum-Based Measurement to Inform Instruction. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Council for Exceptional Children, New Orleans, LA. Menzies, H.M., & Mahdavi, J. N. (2004, April). Early Literacy Instruction for an At Risk Population: From Research to Practice. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA. Mahdavi, J. N., Menzies, H. M., Larson, L., & Munton, S. (2003, February). Early Intervention in Reading: Helping Teachers Better Use Assessment Data. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Research Conference, La Jolla, CA. Mahdavi, J.N. (2002, February). Prereferral Intervention Outcomes: The Contributions of Team Members and Team Consistency. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Research Conference, La Jolla, CA. Lane, K.L., Mahdavi, J.N., & Borthwick-Duffy, S.A. (2000, March). Two state comparison of the SST Process. Poster session presented at the annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, San Diego. Mahdavi, J.N., Borthwick-Duffy, S.A. & Lane, K.L. (1999, November). Teachers perceptions of the Student Study Team: Preparedness, feasibility and confidence. Poster session presented at the annual conference of American Association on Mental Retardation Region II, Riverside, CA. Lane, K.L., Mahdavi, J.N., Meyers, K., & Borthwick-Duffy, S.A. (1997, March). General educator s perceptions of the prereferral intervention process. Paper presented at annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Riverside, CA. 4
PAPERS IN PREPARATION Mahdavi, J. N. (in press). [Test review of Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills-Revised (CIBS-R) ]. From R. A. Spies & B. S. Plake, (Eds.), The nineteenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. Mahdavi, J.N. & Tensfeldt, L. (2011). Promising practices in teaching reading comprehension for young children. Manuscript submitted for publication. Beebe-Frankenberger, M. & Mahdavi, J.N. (2011). Creating successful RTI models through collaboration and social acceptability. Manuscript in preparation. GRANT RSCAP Summer Fellowship 2007/08 Project Title: Collaboration in Response to Intervention (RTI) UNIVERSITY SERVICE Sonoma State University University Student Affairs Committee (2007-present) Chair (2010-present) Executive Committee of Academic Senate (2010-present) Academic Senate (2010-present) Graduate Studies Subcommittee (2011-present) Fee Advisory Committee (Liaison from SAC, 2009-10) Professional Development Subcommittee (2007-2010) Structure and Functions Committee (2006-2009) Campus Climate Committee (2006-2008) School of Education Exemplary Student Teachers Scholarship (2005-2009) Graduate Committee (2007-present) Director of Graduate Studies (2011-present) Assessment and Accreditation Committee (2008-present) Interim Director of Assessment and Accreditation (Fall 2009) Recruitment Working Group (2005-06) Educational Leadership and Special Education Department ELSE Department RTP Committee (Chair, 2009-11) MA Program Coordinator (2007-present) Faculty Search Committees, three positions (2007-08, 10-11) Create Level 1 Education Specialist Handbook (2007) West Contra Costa County Intern Program Coordinator (2006) Chair, Search for Educator in Residence (2005-06) 5
Revisions of Level 1 Education Specialist Credential (2005-06, 2008-10) California State University, Los Angeles University Faculty Retreat Planning Committee (2004-05) Library Subcommittee of the Educational Policy Committee (2004-05) Charter College of Education Steering/Executive Steering Committee (2003-05) Division of Special Education Special Actions Committee (2001-04) Scholarships Committee (2001-04; Chairperson 2003-04) Instructional Policy Committee (2002-04; Chairperson, 2004-05) CONSULTATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Bennett Valley Union School District August 2010-February 2011 Consultation with teachers and administrators about how to implement Response to Intervention, with a focus on how to analyze progress monitoring data and select and implement interventions. Involvement has included participation in monthly RTI leadership team meetings and monthly grade level team meetings. Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District June, 2010 Presentation to 40 special and general education teachers about the research foundations and implementation implications of the Response to Intervention model. The objective of the presentation was to help teachers understand the model and the ways in which it can help boost achievement of struggling learners. Learning Disabilities: Research & Practice 2009-present LD:RP is a peer-reviewed journal, well regarded in the field of special education. I serve as a member of the editorial review board. Remedial and Special Education 2008-10 RASE is a highly selective special education journal. After an article I co-authored was published in this journal, I was invited to serve as an ad-hoc reviewer of a few manuscripts in my field of study. El Cajon Unified School District August, 2007 Presentation to general and special educators about how to use curriculum based measurement (DIBELS) to inform reading instruction. Talking Fingers Inc. June/July 2007 Collaborated with Talking Fingers Inc. to develop the research design for a Small Business Innovative Research Grant through the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD). I designed the sampling plan, assessment procedures and 6
statistical plan for the project, which will involve implementing a reading intervention program for students at-risk for reading problems. Mendocino County Office of Education April, 2007 Presentation on behalf of North Coast Beginning Teachers Program to new special education teachers, their support providers and paraprofessionals about behavior management and academic engaged time. The objective of the presentation was to increase collaboration among teachers and paraprofessionals by giving them a common language to use to frame their ideals and teaching. The Special Edge 2005/06 I served as a content consultant to The Special Edge, a publication funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division and created at Sonoma State University s CalSTAT Project. The Special Edge is offered free to teachers, parents and education professionals in the state of California and has a circulation of approximately 40,000. Texas Reading First 2006 Two days of presentation, one of administration and scoring of DIBELS and a second of how to use curriculum based measurement and other assessments to group students for reading instruction, monitor their progress, and improve their reading ability. Calaveras County Office of Education 2006 Presentation to special educators and school psychologists about the use of curriculum based measurement for progress monitoring. Shasta County Office of Education 2005/06 Presentation to general and special educators about how to use curriculum based measurement (DIBELS) to inform reading instruction. Also, work with small groups of teachers to assist them with analyzing their DIBELS data to help plan better reading lessons for children at-risk for reading failure. Lennox School District 2005 Two day presentation to special educators at one middle school about how to collect and plot data from curriculum based measurement in reading and mathematics. Implications for using informal assessment of students for making decisions about academic interventions were discussed. Washington Department of Education 2004/05 Presentation to general and special educators about how to use curriculum based measurement (DIBELS) to inform reading instruction. Funded by Reading First grant and by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Education of Washington. Project GEAR UP 2003/04 Presentation to tutors from an after-school program about how to manage the behavior of middle school age children at risk for academic failure. 7
Montebello Unified School District 2003 Presentation to special educators on credentialing requirements and teaching students with diverse needs. CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS Early literacy skills of young children, response to intervention, and helping teachers make the assessment to intervention connection Curriculum Based Measurement (CBM) and academic progress monitoring Response-to-Intervention (RTI) and the ways it is operationalized in public school systems. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Council for Exceptional Children, 2000 - present California Resource Specialists (CARS), 1998 present National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), 2010- present 8