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Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC)
Providing professional learning, resources, and technical assistance to educators

Get to Know TTAC

Providing professional learning, resources, and technical assistance to educators.

Mission

To assist schools in improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

Scope of Work

GMU TTAC assists the VDOE in its work toward the goals of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). TTAC staff provide high quality professional development and technical assistance, using research-based, evidence-based, effective, and/or promising practices, particularly focused on High Leverage Practices in Special Education (CEC & CEEDAR Center, 2017), designed to build capacity in schools and school divisions. GMU TTAC services aim to foster students’ access to the general curriculum, achievement in the least restrictive environment, and knowledge and skills to make progress toward graduation.

Funding

The GMU TTAC is funded by the Virginia Department of Education.

Additional Resources

GMU TTAC serves the 19 school divisions in Superintendent’s Region 4. This includes:

  • Alexandria
  • Arlington County
  • Clarke County
  • Culpeper County
  • Fairfax County
  • Falls Church
  • Fauquier County
  • Frederick County
  • Loudoun County
  • Madison County
  • Manassas
  • Manassas Park
  • Orange County
  • Page County
  • Prince William County
  • Rappahannock County
  • Shenandoah County
  • Warren County
  • Winchester

Faculty and Staff

  • Christan Coogle Principal Investigator, TTAC Early Childhood
    PhD, Florida State University
  • Margaret Weiss Principal Investigator, TTAC School Age
    PhD, University of Virginia
  • Jennifer Sassano Co-Director
    Coordinator, Literacy
    MS, Old Dominion University
  • Karen Berlin Co-Director
    Coordinator, Significant Disabilities; VTSS
    MEd, Georgia State University
  • Boris Gafurov Programmer
    PhD, Kazan State Medical University, Russia
  • Amber Gant Associate Director, Early Childhood Special Education Specialist
    MS, East Carolina University
  • Melissa Gunter Coordinator, Inclusion/High-Leverage Practices; Math
    MS, Longwood University
  • Jacqueline Kilkeary Early Childhood, LEADS Online Coordinator
  • April Lennox Coordinator, Literacy
    MEd, Whitworth University
  • Catherine Martin Coordinator, Transition; Inclusion/High-Leverage Practices
    PhD, George Mason University
  • Alexandra Morris Coordinator, Early Childhood
    MAT, Trinity Washington University
  • Seunghun Ok Online Administrator
    MEd, George Mason University
  • Ruth Santos Coordinator, Specially Designed Instruction
    MEd, George Mason University
  • Megan Thompson Administrative Assistant
    MS, George Mason University
  • Samit Vartak Programmer
    MS
  • Geoffrey Weber Coordinator, Assistive Technology
    MEd, GMU
  • Kate Welsh Coordinator, Early Childhood Special Education
    MEd, George Mason University
  • Paul Yang Media Specialist
    BA