Training Future Leaders in EducationKennedy Krieger Institute is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to transforming the lives of children with disorders of the brain through groundbreaking research, innovative treatments, and life-changing education. Successful implementation of special education services requires highly trained individuals who can understand and interpret special education legislation, promote best practices in teaching, critically examine translational research and proposed interventions, and promote practices that positively influence behavior. The fellowship program at the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education at Kennedy Krieger Institute is designed to develop leaders in special education who will conduct the translational work needed to bridge the divide between clinicians, researchers, and schools.

Fellowship Overview and StructureThe Center provides a full-time, one-year immersive training experience. In the first six months of the program, fellows receive in-depth, concurrent training in four core content areas necessary for leadership in the field of special education. Each core area utilizes intensive didactics, clinical and field observations, mentoring, and supervision to impart invaluable information. Fellows also receive ongoing mentorship from co-directors Nancy Grasmick, PhD, and E. Mark Mahone, PhD, ABPP.

Core Content Areas:• Neuroscience of Learning and the Learner – Emphasizes the

broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders, from mild to severe, with exposure to a broad range of conditions, both acquired and congenital. Activities include participation in clinical rounds and observation of clinical care activities.

• Principles of Behavior Change – Exposure to principles of applied behavior analysis as they are used to ameliorate behavior problems in the school setting. Activities include supervised experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

• Knowledge Acquisition and Evidence-based Practice – Prepares fellows to develop, acquire, translate, and use scientific evidence to design and implement quality instruction. Activities include training in the principles of research design and the methods of scientific literature review.

• Leadership, Law, and Management Principles – Training in educational law, administrative leadership, program evaluation, cost-effectiveness of services, and appropriation of resources.

The second half of the fellowship involves a field placement internship within a public school setting. Throughout the internship phase of the fellowship, elements from the leadership program, including research projects, are put into practice under the supervision of a senior site supervisor, with weekly mentorship from Dr. Grasmick.” Fellows concurrently complete the state Administrator I certification via coursework at Towson University.

Outreach and Research OpportunitiesFellowship training includes collaboration in research, manuscript and grant preparation, school consultation, and professional presentations at regional, national, and international meetings. Additionally, all fellows are afforded the opportunity to teach an undergraduate section of the Introduction to Special Education course at Towson University (the only special education course required of all education majors).

Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education Fellowship Program at Kennedy Krieger Institute

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Kennedy Krieger Institute recognizes and respects the rights of patients and their families and treats them with courtesy and dignity. Care is provided in a manner that preserves cultural, psychosocial, spiritual and personal values, beliefs, and preferences. We encourage patients and families to become active partners in their care by asking questions, requesting resources, and advocating for the services and support they need.

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To ApplyFor more information about the fellowship and application guidelines, please visit KennedyKrieger.org/SpecialEducationFellowship or call 443-923-9252.

Program LeadershipNancy S. Grasmick, PhD, Co-Director: Dr. Grasmick was the nation’s longest serving state education chief and Maryland’s first female superintendent of schools. Under her leadership, the state of Maryland received one of the federal government’s coveted Race to the Top education grants in 2010, worth up to $250 million, to continue building upon a solid record of school reform. Dr. Grasmick has received numerous awards for her visionary leadership, including the national Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. In 2011, she was inducted into The Daily Record’s “Circle of Influence,” recognizing her as a “Most Influential Marylander.” In 2010, the College Board awarded her the national William U. Harris Award of Excellence, and the National Art Education Association honored her with the Distinguished Service, Outside the Profession Award. Dr. Grasmick is also a presidential scholar at Towson University.

E. Mark Mahone, PhD, ABPP, Co-Director: Dr. Mahone is a pediatric neuropsychologist and director of the Department of Neuropsychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is on the core faculty of the Institute’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program, and associate director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center. Dr. Mahone is the author of over 100 scientific papers and a full-time journal editor for five professional journals.

FacultyAll multidisciplinary training faculty have extensive experience working in the broad fields of neurodevelopmental disabilities and education, and hold academic appointments through the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Education, and through Towson University.

Who Should Apply?The fellowship program is designed for special education teachers with master’s degrees in education, as well as leaders in related disciplines within school systems (e.g., school psychology, speech-language pathology). Most graduates of the fellowship program are expected to return to the public school system; however, graduates will obtain skills that may lead to leadership positions within universities, research, policy making, and development of technology.

Application Timeline• November 1 Application process opens

• March 1 Applications due

• April 1 Fellow selections announced

• July 1 Fellowship begins