By: Cassidy Delamarter, USF College of Education
The 黑料爆料 is home to an opportunity that students can鈥檛 find anywhere else. Through a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the USF College of Education and the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, USF has launched Project Interdisciplinary Training of Special Educators and Behavior Analysts (iSEBA). The federally funded program is designed to tackle one of the most urgent workforce needs in education: teachers and school-based board-certified behavior analysts (BCBA庐s) equipped to support students with severe emotional and behavioral disorders.
Backed by a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Project iSEBA is available exclusively at USF and is now recruiting its first cohort.
The program will bring together students from two disciplines, exceptional student education (ESE) and applied behavior analysis (ABA), that traditionally train separately, but work side-by-side in schools.
Through this interdisciplinary program, future special education teachers and school-based BCBA庐s will train together鈥攍earning how to collaborate, consult with families, design and implement evidence-based individualized instruction and behavior interventions in real school settings.
The project is led by Catia Cividini-Motta, assistant professor and associate director of the ABA program in the Department of Child and Family Studies, with Elizabeth Doone, professor of instruction and ESE program coordinator in the College of Education, serving as co鈥損rincipal investigator.
鈥淭his program was funded because of the interdisciplinary focus,鈥� Doone said. 鈥淲hen professionals begin their careers working together, they create a positive working environment with combined expertise and shared goals that improve the outcomes for students and families, and all reap the benefits of effective collaboration.鈥�
Each year for five years, the program will support up to six students. In total, Project iSEBA will prepare 30 highly trained professionals to serve high-need school communities. Each selected scholar will receive $27K in stipend support. Graduates will leave prepared, not just with credentials鈥攂ut with a deep understanding of how educators and school-based BCBA庐s work together to support students across classrooms, schools and communities.
鈥淭his level of funding, combined with this kind of interdisciplinary training, provides an incredible opportunity,鈥� Doone said. 鈥淔or anyone considering a career in special education or school-based behavior analysis, this is a perfectly timed opportunity.鈥�
Who Should Apply?
The program is ideal for individuals who:
- Hold an undergraduate degree in any field and want to become a certified special education teacher or behavior analyst
- Passionate about supporting students with significant behavioral and emotional needs
- Are interested in interdisciplinary, hands-on training
- Want to earn a master鈥檚 degree and teaching certification in an accelerated timeframe
Interested applicants can apply to the College of Education鈥檚 Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Exceptional Student Education program or the Child & Family Studies鈥� on-campus Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program.
Note: The MAT program leads to certification in Exceptional Student Education, while also earning endorsements in Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). It is now a one-year, accelerated program with a summer start, allowing students to enter classrooms sooner while completing their degree.
Project iSEBA is a 5-year, $1.25 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (H325K250092).