Dr. Tom E.C. Smith is currently Professor and Chairperson, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Arkansas. Prior to coming to the university, Dr. Smith was on the faculties at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences campus, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1994, President Clinton appointed Dr. Smith to the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation; he was reappointed in 1998 and 2001. This national committee advises the President on issues affecting individuals with mental retardation. Since 1992, Dr. Smith has served as the Executive Director of the Division on Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children. This national organization of 7,000 members, advocates for educational programs for this group of students.

Dr. Smith has authored or co-authored 22 college textbooks in special education and more than 40 articles in professional journals; he has made more than 200 presentations at national, regional, and state meetings, frequently emphasizing curriculum, legal issues and special education. During the past five years, Dr. Smith has consulted with schools and held workshops on Section 504 in 40 states. He teaches graduate classes in legal issues and disabilities, behavior management, and characteristics of individuals with disabilities.

As the Executive Director of DDD, Dr. Smith has been extensively involved in the development of standards as they apply to children with mental retardation and autism. These standards have become a major component of the CEC standards used for NCATE program approval. Dr. Smith has also been involved in developing successful SPA reports for several universities.

Janette K. Klingner, Ph.D.

Co-Principal Investigator, National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems

Janette Klingner is professor of education specializing in bilingual special education. She was a bilingual special education teacher for ten years before earning a PhD in reading and learning disabilities from the University of Miami. To date she has authored or co-authored 50 articles published in refereed journals, 9 books, and 14 book chapters (including those under contract and in press), and presented at numerous national and international conferences.

Research foci include the disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education, reading comprehension strategy instruction for culturally and linguistically diverse students, and enhancing the sustainability of culturally responsive and evidence-based practices through professional development. Teaching interests are in the areas of learning disabilities, bilingual special education, bilingual education, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), multicultural education, and literacy.

She is a member of several professional organizations in special education, bilingual education/TESOL, and literacy, and presents frequently at national and international conferences. She is the past Co-Editor of the Review of Educational Research, an Associate Editor for the Journal of Learning Disabilities, and on the editorial boards of 8 other journals. In 2004 she was honored with AERA’s Early Career Award. She is also the past Chairperson of AERA’s Special Education Research SIG and is on the Executive Board of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division for Research as the Chairperson of the Diversity Committee.

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