Mary Beth Doyle, Ph.D.
Mary Beth Doyle, Ph.D., works for the Vermont Department of Education as Project Coordinator of Vermont's Higher Education Collaborative to increase the number of licensed special education teachers available to the state's public schools. This project is aimed at providing field-based access to higher education for teachers in rural communities around the state. A unique aspect of this project is the partnerships that have been established among the University of Vermont, Castleton State College, Johnson State College, Lyndon State College, and St. Michael's College. These higher education institutions are working together with the state Department of Education and school districts on the design and delivery of instruction as well as administrative issues to create a strategic approach to issues of limited access to higher education for teachers around the state. The majority of Mary Beth's work has focused on creating positive learning communities for all children in which adults create a sense of welcome. To this end, Mary Beth's writing and training activities focus on issues of curriculum adaptations, paraprofessional teaming, and collaboration.