Current Members

Dr. Root is the director of the General Curriculum Access lab and an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Florida State University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and uses applied behavior analysis and single case design to evaluate interventions to promote general curriculum access for students with developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Dr. Root is originally from North Carolina and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling. 

You can find her CV on the FSU website.

Alicia Saunders, Ph.D., is the project coordinator for Math Scene Investigators, the lab's IES-funded project. In addition, she is a co-investigator for Project IMPACT, Inclusion Made Practical for All Children and Teachers, and adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focuses on coaching educators to use evidence-based practices, as well as providing access to the general curriculum for students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Saunders has published several articles and book chapters on general curriculum access and alignment, and has presented on this topic at international and national conferences and in-service trainings for teachers. Additionally, she has co-authored five mathematics curricula for students with intellectual disabilities.

View her CV HERE.

Dr. Garret Hall is an assistant professor in the MS/EdS School Psychology program as well as the Combined Counseling and School Psychology PhD program. He graduated with his PhD in Educational Psychology (School Psychology Area) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020. He received his M.S. in Educational Psychology (School Psychology Area) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017, and he received a B.A. with majors in English and Psychology from Northern Illinois University in 2015.

Dr. Hall’s research focuses primarily on development of academic skills (especially mathematics). This includes examining predictors of academic development (such as language and linguistic diversity as well executive functions) as well as equitable methods to assess, prevent, and intervene on academic difficulties. He is also interested in quantitative methods in school psychology research and practice (such as causal inference, measurement, and longitudinal methods) and how these methods can inform school-based prevention and intervention within multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS). Last, he is interested in how “ecological” factors within MTSS promote students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning, such as implementation fidelity and family-school involvement.

View his CV HERE.

Andy Masud, Ph.D., is a Field Researcher for Math Scene Investigators, the lab's IES-funded project. Additionally, Dr. Masud serves as a Research Associate at the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative, affiliated with the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES) Transition Evaluation Study at UNC Charlotte and serves as Managing Editor at Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, a SAGE Publications.

View her CV HERE.

Deidre Gilley is doctoral student supported and funded through Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs) at Florida State University. She previously was a self-contained classroom teacher in Knoxville, Tennessee and taught abroad in Madrid, Spain. While abroad she spent time teaching English, consulting on a secondary school's special education program, and taught at a transition school for adult students. Deidre received her B.A. at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina (2017) and her M.S. at Florida State University in Florida (2018). Her research interests include targeting functional academics for students with extensive support needs. Deidre has been working with the General Curriculum Access (GCA) lab for the last four years under the guidance of Dr. Jenny Root and is assisting in research targeting mathematical problem solving for students with extensive support needs. 

View her CV HERE.

Alice Williams is currently a doctoral student in Special Education. Prior to enrolling in this program, she worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist for five years and classroom teacher for nine years.  Alice earned her B.S. and M.S. from Florida State University in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Alice is supported by Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs). Her area of research interest is the implementation of evidence-based practices in classroom settings with students with extensive support needs.  Her focus currently is on working with students who use augmentative and alternative communication and building foundational literacy skills.

View her CV HERE.

Denise Dennis is a doctoral student supported and funded through Project RAISE (Research-based Academic Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs) at Florida State University. She previously supported elementary students at the School of Arts and Sciences at The Centre and Kate Sullivan both in Tallahassee, Florida.  She has worked with students with a wide range of support needs in a variety of settings for the past 15 years. Denise also worked with preschool aged students with and without disabilities. Denise received her B.S. in Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education at Flagler College Tallahassee Campus (2005) and her M.S. in Special Education at Florida State University (2014). Her research interests include teacher support, family collaboration, and behavioral and academic interventions for students with extensive support needs. Denise is excited to be joining the team working with the General Curriculum Access (GCA) lab under the guidance of Dr. Jenny Root and is currently assisting in research targeting mathematical problem solving for students with extensive support needs.  

View her CV HERE.

Saurym Quezada is a doctoral student at Florida State University (FSU). She is a licensed teacher in K-6th Elementary Education and K-12th Exceptional Student Education with an Autism endorsement; certified in Advanced TEFL/TESOL, and job development services through the Division of Blind Services. She has over 7 years of experience in both general and special education instructional practices across Pk-12th primary and secondary classrooms locally and internationally. She earned a bachelor's degree in Christian Ministry from Trinity International University and a master's degree in special education from Florida Atlantic University. She is currently a Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Michael Tuttle, Ph.D. at FSU and a member of Dr. Jenny Root’s Graduate Curriculum Access (GCA) Lab. Her research interests include transition across the lifespan, coexisting  low incidence disabilities (e.g., autism and blindness), faith & belonging, and international special education.

View her CV HERE.

Graduate Research Assistant

Florida State University

Danielle Morsching is a second-year PhD student at Florida State University and is a proud alumna of FSU's Special Education Master’s Program with a specialized focus in Autism Spectrum Disorders. With thirteen years of elementary classroom teaching, Danielle has served as both a special education teacher and a general education teacher. Danielle's research interest lies in empowering novice teachers in inclusive environments, particularly within elementary math classrooms. Committed to improving teacher retention, she seeks to enhance the support structures available for educators.

View her resume HERE.

Marie Fraser is a Ph.D. student in Special Education, as well as a FIREFLIES fellow working with Dr. Jenny Root. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2018 with a Master's in Teaching, specializing in English Education. Before beginning her Ph.D., she taught Middle School Language Arts in Tallahassee where she grew a passion for working with students with specific learning needs. Marie's research interests include reading motivation and using novels to build social-emotional skills and community culture in neurodiverse classrooms.

Sara Comella is a Ph.D. student in the combined doctoral program in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology at Florida State University. Before beginning her Ph.D., she received a master’s degree in Psychological Sciences from the University of North Florida. Sara’s research interests include reading literacy and math development. In addition, Sara is interested in developing school-based interventions for neurodivergent students.

Ainsley is a Presidential Scholar in the Honors Program here at FSU, and is majoring in Health Management, Policy, and Information within the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences degree.  In high school, Ainsley graduated with the AP Capstone Diploma, a 2-year long program consisting of research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. In addition to conducting her own research on “Heteronormative Standards and Its Effect on LGBTQ+ Student Athlete Participation”, Ainsley was chosen to be a teacher's assistance for the research portion of the course.

Collin Mungall is a Presidential Scholar double majoring in Finance and Management Information Systems. Collin has a history of working with individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and is involved in the Best Buddies club at FSU. In high school, Collin was president of his Best Buddies club, volunteered for the Special Olympics, and was a peer mentor in my local community 

View his resume HERE.

Savannah Seger is a finance major who was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. Savannah's hobbies include drawing, baking, reading, writing, working out, and researching. When she has free time, Savannah is looking at the latest news or searching Google for anything that piques her interest. One of her favorite topics to learn about has been developmental disabilities. Many of Savannah's family members and friends have autistic spectrum disorder, which inspired her to learn more about it and join this project. 

View her resume HERE.