Dr. Gwendolyn Deger

Lecturer
Dr. Gwendolyn Deger - profile photo

Dr. Gwendolyn Deger

Lecturer

Teacher Education & Leadership Studies

Beeghly Hall 2401

phone: (330) 946-2441

gdeger@ysu.edu

Bio

Dr. Gwendolyn K. Deger received her Ph.D in Special Education at Pennsylvania State University with a focus on research methodology and statistics in 2021. Prior to her Ph.D., Dr. Deger taught for seven years as a learning support (special education) teacher in Pennsylvania where she worked with students with high incidence disabilities (specific learning disabilities, other health impairment, emotional behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, etc.). She is a big advocate for inclusive, culturally sustaining practices that revolve around trauma informed teaching.

Research Interests

Dr. Deger's research interests revolve around four main themes: teacher wellbeing, gamification, behavior, and parental involvement. The interest in these four areas stem from the current teacher shortage and experiences as a special education, her own experiences in teaching, and her own experiences of being a parent of three children with special education needs.

Recently, Dr. Deger introduced a themized gamified introduction to special education course where students explored a school with a Great Dane canine and his four adolescent friends on why students were being removed from the classroom. The initial findings revealed that students were more involved in class, had higher levels of enjoyment of the course, and had higher perceived value of inclusive practices for students with varying disabilities.

Dr. Deger also recently published a manuscript on the discussion topics in mentorship sessions for beginning special education teacher, particularly those at the highest risk of attrition.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Deger's teaching interests revolve around high engagement activities that allow for students to interact with peers to construct their learning, which includes embedding game-based elements into non-game settings. Dr. Deger's passion is working on preparing preclinical and student teachers for developing classroom and behavior management practices that are inclusive, culturally sustaining, restorative justice, and trauma informed. She currently teaches several courses in Behavior Management, IEP writing, Educational Teaching Strategies, Differentiated Teaching Practices, and Diagnosing/Intervening in Mathematics.

  • Education
    • 2021

      Ph D, Special Education, Focus in Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodology

      The Pennsylvania State University

    • 2014

      MEd, Reading Specialist

      Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

    • 2009

      BS, Elementary Education and Special Education

      Millersville University of Pennsylvania

  • Intellectual Contributions
    • 2024

      "Behavior, Paperwork, Instruction, & Supervision...Oh My!: A Review of the Literature on Mentorship for Teachers of Children with EBD"

      G. Deger, M. Mohr, B. Riden, J. Taylor

      Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Sage Publishers, volume 00, issue 0, p. 1-15

    • 2021

      "Promoting Anti-Racism Practices and the Cycle of Critical Consciousness within Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Frameworks"

      J. Taylor, W. Hanley, G. Deger, W. Hunter

      Teaching Exceptional Children, Sage Journals, volume 55, issue 5, p. 314–322

  • Professional Service
    • 2022 - present

      Member
      Division of Innovations in Special Education of the Council for Exceptional Children

    • 2022 - present

      Member
      Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children

    • 2022 - present

      Committee Chair
      CEC Division of Emotional Behavioral Health Professional Development Committee

    • 2020 - present

      Member
      Division of Emotional & Behavioral Health of the Council for Exceptional Children

    • 2020 - present

      Attendee, Meeting
      Council for Exceptional Children's Division of Emotional and Behavioral Health

    • 2019 - 2022

      Member

    • 2019 - 2022

      Member

    • 2019 - present

      Member
      Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children

    • 2018 - present

      Member
      Council for Exceptional Children, State

    • 2018 - present

      Member
      Council for Exceptional Children, National