Title:
Professor, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Program
Organization:
University of Kentucky
Biography
Jennifer Grisham, Ed.D., is Professor in the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She received her doctorate in Education from the University of Kentucky. She is also Faculty Director of the Early Childhood Laboratory at the University of Kentucky, an inclusive early childhood program for children from birth to 5 years of age. Dr. Grisham has directed research projects on topics including linking assessment and instruction, early care and education program quality, and individualizing instruction for young children with disabilities. In addition, she has conducted research on the effectiveness of instructional procedures that are embedded into developmentally appropriate activities, the application of multi-tiered systems of support in early childhood settings, and coaching teachers and caregivers to implement evidence based instructional strategies with fidelity. As well, Dr. Grisham is Project Director for the Kentucky Deaf-Blind Project which provides technical assistance to families and service providers of infants, toddlers, children and youth with deaf-blindness. She has coauthored a book titled Reach for the Stars: Planning for the Future (2013), which is used to support families of young children to plan for their children’s future and articulate their priorities to educational team members, as well as Blended Practices for Teaching Young Children in Inclusive Settings (2017) and Blended Assessment Practices in Early Childhood Education (2011). Finally, Dr. Grisham directed the nation-wide field test for the AEPS-3 and is a member of the Early Intervention Management Research Group that oversees research and development of the AEPS-3. Dr. Grisham is frequently asked to provide professional development to state departments of education, universities, and local education agencies on topics on which she conducts research throughout the country. Dr. Grisham is co-founder of a children’s home and preschool program in Guatemala City called Hope for Tomorrow, where she accompanies students for the education abroad program. Dr. Grisham also works internationally in other locations to promote inclusion of young children with disabilities and collaborates with colleagues around the world on issues that support the development of early intervention services.
