Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) - College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University
About KIHd
About Us

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) is an interdisciplinary campus-based organization focusing on improving the lives and productivity of children and adults with disabilities. KIHd combines the resources of the university with local, state, regional, national, public, and private sector agencies and organizations to develop products, services, and programs for persons with disabilities.

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Licensure, Certificates & Training Grants

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) collaborates with a consortium of Virginia universities to offer training/licensure options for teachers of students with visual impairments and severe disabilities. Distance education makes the programs more accessible and maximizes the number of individuals who can receive the training.

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students, parents, professionals attending state of the art conference
VDOE Grants

With the support from Virgina Department of Education KIHd serves teachers, parents, therapists, and community service providers by providing a variety of continuing learning experiences via annual workshops, conferences, and project activities. In many cases, KIHd uses distance education to provide teacher training and professional development across the state.

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Project We Got It
Research

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) continues to build and support numerous educational research projects that vary across disciplines spearheaded by the Mason faculty members. Our goal is to increase evidence based instructional and behavioral strategies to improve academic outcomes for all students with disabilities.

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Leadership Grants
DOCTORAL AND MASTERS STUDENTS

The Kellar Institute for Human DisAbilities (KIHd) doctoral and masters students conduct cutting edge research at George Mason University that is aimed to serve persons with disabilities and their families.

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PRISE

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About PRISE

Policy and Research Intensive Special Educators (PRISE) Doctoral Training Program

Mason’s PhD in Education with a specialization in Special Education prepares leaders in the field focused on research, teaching, and policy. Now, six doctoral candidates will have their tuition and other expenses covered through the OSEP funded PRISE program.

The PRISE Doctoral Training Program is a four-year, collaborative project between Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University and will allow doctoral students to develop skills needed to:

  • Fill faculty roles in teaching and research universities
  • Lead the preparation of the next generation of special educators to improve the integration of evidence-based teaching and instruction
  • Conduct research on factors impacting the teacher shortage using rigorous research methodology and disseminating findings through research- and policy-focused outlets
  • Advocate for the development of national, state, and local policies that will ultimately improve the lives of children, youth, and adults with disabilities

PRISE scholars will have a full-time course load and participate in an internship 20 hours per week. The internship experiences will be facilitated by faculty mentors in partnership with national organizations and government agencies. The program begins fall 2020 and requires four years to complete.

About PRISE Scholars

Scholar Initial Research Plan
Gino Binkert

gbinkert@gmu.edu		 Gino plans to study the application of sub-discipline organizational behavior management (OBM) and Applied Behavior Analysis to processes for attracting, preparing, and retaining special education teachers.
Christopher Claude

cclaude@gmu.edu		 Christopher plans to study approaches to improving the academic outcomes of students with high incidence disabilities through teacher education and policymaking that accounts for acceptance rather than tolerance.
Margaret (Margot) Gerry

mgerry@gmu.edu		 Margot plans to investigate international education systems to identify new approaches to systems change across special education and teacher education policies and practices within the United States.
Kevin Monnin

kmonnin@gmu.edu		 Kevin plans to study policies that have implications for attracting, preparing, and retaining special education teachers including recent changes to special education licensure requirements at the state level.
Morgan Strimel

mthomp26@gmu.edu		 Morgan plans to study bridging the research to policy to practice gaps regarding preparing special education stakeholders to help individuals with disabilities transition to post-secondary life.
Katherine Szocik

kszocik@gmu.edu		 Katherine plans to study EC/ECSE professional preparation practices and the implications of special education policy on EC populations.

About PRISE Student Affiliates

Student Initial Research Plan
PRISE Student Mentor
Anna Macedonia

amacedon@gmu.edu		 Anna is currently studying the connection between special education teacher education policy and practice at the federal, state, and local levels specific to teacher retention issues such as working conditions and administrative supports.
PRISE Student Partner
Jamie Day

jrogan2@gmu.edu		 Jamie currently researches teacher labor market trends and state level policy solutions to the special education teacher shortage including National Board Certification and Assistant to Teacher programs.