Dr. Alana Schnitz (PhD, BCBA) is an Assistant Research Professor at Juniper Gardens Children’s Project. Alana completed her PhD in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Schnitz’s line of inquiry focuses on determining effective coaching methods to support pre- and in-service teachers and paraprofessionals to implement evidenced-based practices. Through collaboration with schools and childcares, Alana has used single-case research design studies to evaluate coaching teachers and paraprofessionals of infants to elementary students.She also has participated in research around the Pyramid model, including using Practice Based Coaching to support teachers to implement practices associated with the model. Alana worked in collaboration with Drs. Mason and Wills on a series of single case research design studies to evaluate the teacher-as-coach model to increase paraprofessionals’ use of discrete trial straining and data collection with students with moderate to severe disability diagnoses. A second line of inquiry is around supporting families to promote social-emotional competence and address challenging behaviors in young children. Alana is a former Head Start Research Scholar. She has worked with Head Start teachers and families providing teacher and parent trainings, technical assistance to teachers, and provided behavioral support to families.
