CHECK OUT MY TOOLS!
PAth to Literacy
A Tier 2 Alphabet Knowledge and Phonological Awareness Intervention
Pilot study is going on now.
LEARN MOREPuente de Cuentos
Bridge Made of Stories
Multi-tiered Spanish-English curriculum for preschoolers.
LEARN MOREStory Champs
A Multi-tiered Language Intervention Curriculum
Great for children preK-3rd grade and children with disabilities.
LEARN MORE Research SynthesisCUBED
Smarter Assessments for a Brighter World
True reading is the product of decoding and language. Why not measure all three validly and reliably?
LEARN MORE CUBED Report Template Quick LookASC
Assessment of Story Comprehension
Reliable listening comprehension assessment for preschoolers.
LEARN MOREPEARL
Dyslexia and Language Screener
A quick and easy kindergarten screener for decoding and language so you can intervene early.
LEARN MORE PEARL research synthesisUndergrads and Underdogs
Service Learning Experiences
Download storybook vocabulary lessons for free!
LEARN MOREEBP
Self-Assessment Tool
Examine your organization’s commitment to evidence-based practice.
LEARN MOREHealth Promotion
Evidence-Based Health Promotion Initiative
Download the health promotion curriculum checklist for free.
LEARN MOREBitz 'n Pix
Infographics Developed by Undergrads
Download bits of useful information in picture format.
LEARN MOREI am the Director of Juniper Gardens Children’s Project at the University of Kansas. I am also a professor in the departments of Applied Behavioral Science and Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. My passion is to develop assessment and intervention tools for educators and clinicians to use. I draw from a number of disciplines and their evidence to make sure the products I develop and disseminate have adequate research behind them and that considerations for their feasible and sustainable implementation have been integrated into the research and development process. Specific areas of expertise include evidence-based practice, implementation research, MTSS, academic language, narratives, prevention of reading comprehension and writing problems, children with autism, and culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Education and Experience
Tenured Professor / Senior Scientist / Director 2023-present
Tenured Associate Professor 2017-2023
University of South Florida
Research Director and Assistant Professor 2011-2017
Northern Arizona University
Managed a home-based service company for children with autism
Post Doctoral Researcher 2009-2011
Utah State University, The Ohio State University
Doctoral Student
2006-2009
Utah State University
School psychologist and behavior analyst in New York 2000-2006
Worked with teachers and parents of children with disabilities
Internship 2000
Morningside Academy, Seattle WA
M.S. School Psychology 1998-2000
Utah State University
What makes me...me!
What I've been working on
Invited Presentations
Conference Presentations
Peer-Review Publications
Funded Projects
Current and Past Courses
MHS 6900 - Intervention Design and Implementation Research (3 credits)
IDS 2600 - Research in Community Based Settings
MHS 4006/6915 - Directed Research for Undergraduate/Graduate Studies
- Undergraduate Research Internship
- Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral and Community Sciences
- Graduate Research Internship
- Building a Conceptualization of Curriculum for Young Children
- Language and Literacy Research with Young Children
- Assessment of Students with Severe Disabilities
- Foundations of Effective Assessment and Instruction
- Consulting with Parents and Professionals
- Analysis of Behavior: Basic Principles
MEDIA
Check out videos of me delivering interventions, podcasts where I'm interviewed, or news stories about my work!
My Legacy
2018-2020 | Post-Doctoral Researcher
Yi-Jui Iva Chen
PhD from School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley
2018-2022 | Chair/Major Professor
Megan Kirby
PhD in Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida.
Storytelling Interventions to Improve Young Chiuldren's Written and Oral Narrative Language
2018-2019 | Doctoral Committee Member
Noé Erazo
PhD in Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida
2017-2020 | Post-Doctoral Researcher
Anna Garcia
Post Doctoral Researcher, University of South Florida
2017-2019 | Thesis Chair
Stephanie Raymond
MS in Speech Language Pathology, University of South Florida
The Effect of Narrative Language Intervention on the Language Skills of Preschoolers with Hearing Loss Fitted to Hearing Aids
2017-2020 | Dissertation Committee Member
Yagmur Seven
PhD in Communication Science & Disorders, University of South Florida
Comparison of Mothers’ and Fathers’ Storybook Reading
2017-2019 | Dissertation Committee Member
Xigrid Soto
PhD in Communication Science & Disorders, University of South Florida
Effects of a Phonological Awareness Intervention on Latino Preschooler’s Dual Language Emergent Literacy Skills
2013-2017 | Chair/Major Professor
Tiffany Sellars
PhD in Educational Psychology, Northern Arizona University
The Evidence Based Practice Self-Assessment Tool: Evidence of Reliability and Validity
2015-2017 | Committee Member
Maria Gutierrez Arvizu
PhD in Applied Linguistics, Northern Arizona University
Teaching Story Grammar to Develop Retell and Speaking Skills in EFL Contexts
2012-2015 | Chair/Major Professor
Sarah Weddle
PhD in Educational Psychology, Northern Arizona University
The Effects of High and Low Preferred Qualities of Attention on Academic Demands
2011-2015 | BCBA mentor
Ken Baumgartner
Master’s degree in Special Education, Northern Arizona University
2017-2020 | Committee Member
Meaghan McKenna
Doctoral candidate at University of South Florida; Early Childhood Multi-tiered Systems of Support
2018-2022 | Mentor
Courtney Claar
School psychology graduate student at University of South Florida.
Pyschometric Chaaractersitics of Academic Discourse Analysis Tools
2021-2022 | Chair/Major Professor
Trina Tolentino
MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida
2022-present | External Committee Member
Francisca Pozo
PhD in Education, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
2022-2024 | Chair/Major Professor
Norah Almubark
PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida.
Committees & Collaborations
Co-owner
Language Dynamics Group
Develops, validates, and disseminates empirically supported assessment and intervention materials and procedures for diverse children.
Organizer
Nurture Me Alliance
A network of researchers teaming together to respond to the educational issues related to early childhood multi-tiered systems of supports.
Board Member
Current Developments, Inc.
Current Developments is a non-profit organization that sorts, filters, and organizes research so that practitioners can readily use it.
Chair
American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
Committee on Clinical Research, Implementation Science, and Evidence Based Practice (CRISP)
U.S. Coordinator
Belarus Autism Conference
I led an interdisciplinary team of experts to work in Belarus, helping to build their capacity around autism services.
Community Partnerships
Academic Language Community Service
Undergraduate students provide academic language interventions to elementary students.
i
Research & Grant Coordinator
SPABA Special Interest Group of ABAI
Trina served on the executive committee of SPABA and supports interprofessional collaboration
Research-Practice Partnership
GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
Trina partners with the museum to study things that are important for the Tampa community and the museum
Leadership Team
USF-HCPS RESEARCH-PRACTICE PARTNERSHIP
RPPs are collaborations among researchers, practitioners, and members of the community to examine a topic of interest, enhance the quality of research, and generate approaches or solutions to address problems of practice