West Virginia University
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Dr. Ann Richards

TITLE: Associate Professor

CONTACT INFORMATION:

AREAS OF EXPERTISE/INTEREST:

  • Multicategorical Special Education
  • Special Education Law and Policy
  • Therapeutic Recreation

ACADEMIC DEGREES:

Ph.D. University of Arizona
  • Major: Special Education
2000
M.A. College of New Rochelle
  • Major: Special Education
1992
B.S. Bryant College
  • Major: Business Administration
1988

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:

State of New York Teaching Certificate
Elementary Education K-6
Special Education K-12

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE :

Associate Professor, Special Education
  • West Virginia University
  • Morgantown, WV
2006-present
Assistant Professor, Special Education
  • West Virginia University
  • Morgantown, WV
2000-2006
Teaching Assistant
  • University of Arizona
  • Tucscon, AZ
1996-2000
LD Specialist
  • Manhattan College
  • Riverdale, NY
1995-1996
Special Education Teacher
  • Rye Neck Central School District
  • Mamaronek, NY
1992-1995
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
  • Northeast Special Recreation, Inc.
  • Hawthorne, NY
1988-1996

RECENT PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS :

Refereed Journals

Richards, A. M. (2004).  Rural transition:  Know No Bounds.  Rural Special Education Quarterly, 23(3), 36-40.

Perreira, D. C. & Richards, A. M. (2000).  The role of undergraduate programs in preparing students with learning disabilities for professional school enrollment.  Learning Disabilities:  A Multidisciplinary Journal, 10, 57-64.

Books and Book Chapters

Richards, A. M. & Dooley, E.  (2004). Curriculum modifications for students with learning disabilities. In F. E. Obiakor, C. A. Utley, & A. F.  Rotatori (Eds.), Advances in special education:  Current perspectives on learning disabilities.  Stamford, CT: JAI Press.

Mitchem, K., & Richards, A. M.  (2003). Students with learning disabilities. In F. E. Obiakor, C. A. Utley, & A. F.  Rotatori (Eds.), Advances in special education:  Psychology of effective education for learners with exceptionalities. Stamford, CT:  JAI Press.

Mather, N., Lynch, K., & Richards, A. M. (2001). The thinking blocks:  Language, images and strategies. In S. Goldstein & N. Mather (Eds.), Learning disabilities and Challenging behaviors: A guide to intervention and classroom management.  Baltimore, MD:  Brookes. 

RECENT FUNDED PROJECTS :

Perpetual Alternate Routes (Submitted June 2006).  Funded in the amount of  $49,154.00 by the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Special Education. 

Alternate Routes (Submitted June 2005).  Funded in the amount of $99,257.99 by the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Special Education. 

Blue Ribbon Algebraic Learning Communities (Submitted April 2005).  Funded in the amount of $31, 397.00 by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

RECENT PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS :

Richards, A. M.  (April 2006). Building a better bakery:  Collaborative professional development.  Poster presentation moderated at the 2006 Annual Convention for the Council for Exceptional Children. 

Richards, A. M. & Pyzdrowksi, L.  (March 2006).  Building a better bakery II:  Collaborative professional development.  Concurrent session presented at the 26th Annual National Conference for American Council on Rural Special Education.

Richards, A. M. & Pyzdrowksi, L.  (March 2005).  Building a better bakery:  Collaborative professional development.  Concurrent Session presented at the 25th Annual National Conference for American Council on Rural Special Education. 

Richards, A. M.  (April 2004).  Special education and parents.  Concurrent session presented at the 13th Annual Community Connections Conference. 

Richards, A. M.  (April 2004).  Choosing a college:  Issues, responsibilities, and repercussions.  Poster presentation moderated at the 2004 Annual Convention for the Council for Exceptional Children. 

Richards, A. M. & Kossar, K.  (March 2004).  Using service learning to prepare rural special education teachers.  Concurrent Session presented at the 24th Annual National Conference for American Council on Rural Special Education. 

Richards, A. M.  (April 2003).  Planning for postsecondary placements:  Issues, responsibilities, and repercussions.  Concurrent session presented at the 2003 Annual Convention for the Council for Exceptional Children. 

Mitchem, K.  & Richards, A. M. (October 2003).  You can’t be a prophet in your own land:  The use of outside facilitation to promote system-ide change in schools.  Concurrent Session presented at the International Conference on Children and Youth with Behavioral Disorders. 

Richards, A. M. & Mitchem, K.  (March 2003).  Transition to postsecondary placements:  From a rural perspective.  Concurrent session presented at the 23rd Annual National Conference for American Council on Rural Special Education. 

Mitchem, K. & Richards, A. M. (March 2003).  Ensuring rural survival:  Designing professional development that builds local capacity.  Concurrent session presented at the 23rd Annual National Conference for American Council on Rural Special Education. 

RECENT PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION:

West Virginia University Heebink Award for Service to West Virginia (2007)

West Virginia University College of Human Resources Outstanding Teacher Award (2004)

RECENT INVOLVEMENT IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS :

American Council on Rural Special Education
Member
Member, National Advisory Board
Chair, Membership Committee

Association on Higher Education and Disability
Member

Council for Exceptional Children
Member, Teacher Education Division
Member, Division of Learning Disabilities
Member, Council on Children with Behavior Disorders
President/Past-president, West Virginia Council for Exceptional Children

Learning Disabilities Association
Member

Department of Special Education