Special education teachers are at heightened risk for stress and burnout, which negatively impacts teacher effectiveness and well-being. With a 5-year grant from the Institute of Educational Sciences, Penn State and Georgia State University researchers are teaming up with school districts in Georgia and Louisiana to test the effectiveness of the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) professional development program for the first time with special education teachers.
The researchers will conduct a randomized controlled trial with more than 220 special education teachers in elementary schools in the metropolitan Atlanta and New Orleans areas. Teachers will participate in three days of CARE training to practice skills such as mindfulness, caring and compassion for themselves and others, listening, and managing classroom stress. They will also participate in monthly virtual check-in meetings during the school year.
In addition to measuring teacher, student, and classroom outcomes, the study will determine the cost-effectiveness of the CARE program in a special education setting.
View the CARE for Special Educators website.
Duration: 2021 - 2026
Project Funder(s)
Level(s) of Analysis
Special education teachers are at heightened risk for stress and burnout, which negatively impacts teacher effectiveness and well-being. With a 5-year grant from the Institute of Educational Sciences, Penn State and Georgia State University researchers are teaming up with school districts in Georgia and Louisiana to test the effectiveness of the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) professional development program for the first time with special education teachers.
The researchers will conduct a randomized controlled trial with more than 220 special education teachers in elementary schools in the metropolitan Atlanta and New Orleans areas. Teachers will participate in three days of CARE training to practice skills such as mindfulness, caring and compassion for themselves and others, listening, and managing classroom stress. They will also participate in monthly virtual check-in meetings during the school year.
In addition to measuring teacher, student, and classroom outcomes, the study will determine the cost-effectiveness of the CARE program in a special education setting.
View the CARE for Special Educators website.
Project Funder(s)
Level(s) of Analysis
Duration
2021 - 2026
Project Team
Jennifer Frank (PI) Associate Professor, Education
Andrew Roach (Co-PI) Professor and Coordinator of the School Psychology Doctoral Program, Georgia State University
Deborah Schussler (Co-I) Professor of Education, University at Albany - State University of New York
Damon Jones (Co-I) Research Professor, Health and Human Development
Sebrina L. Doyle Fosco (Co-I) Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
Chavez Phelps (Co-I) Assistant Professor of School Psychology, Georgia State University
Mark T. Greenberg PRC Founding Director
Catherine Jantzer CARE Project Manager
Michelle Quintero CARE Co-Project Manager, Georgia State University
Xiaoxuan Li Postdoctoral Scholar
Alleigh Szabo Graduate Student
Gregory Massara Graduate Student, University of Albany - State University of New York
Devon Slaughter Graduate Student, Georgia State University
In the News
Project Team
- Jennifer Frank (PI)
Associate Professor, Education
- Andrew Roach (Co-PI) Professor and Coordinator of the School Psychology Doctoral Program, Georgia State University
- Deborah Schussler (Co-I) Professor of Education, University at Albany - State University of New York
- Damon Jones (Co-I)
Research Professor, Health and Human Development
- Sebrina L. Doyle Fosco (Co-I)
Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
- Chavez Phelps (Co-I) Assistant Professor of School Psychology, Georgia State University
- Mark T. Greenberg
PRC Founding Director
- Catherine Jantzer
CARE Project Manager
- Michelle Quintero CARE Co-Project Manager, Georgia State University
- Xiaoxuan Li Postdoctoral Scholar
- Alleigh Szabo Graduate Student
- Gregory Massara Graduate Student, University of Albany - State University of New York
- Devon Slaughter Graduate Student, Georgia State University
