Faculty Profiles

My research interests are interdisciplinary and have been inspired by my own teaching experiences, my experiences preparing and mentoring new special education teachers, and my doctoral training and opportunities at the University of Louisville. My interests include examining burnout in special education teachers; supporting special educators and students in rural areas; special education teacher retention strategies and practices; effective mentoring practices; the use of antecedent physical activity as an intervention for students with disabilities; and academic and behavioral interventions to support students with special needs.

Dissertation title: “Burnout in rural special education teachers of students with low incidence disabilities: A mixed methods study on the fall of the dedicated and committed” (Publication date TBD)

Selected Publications

• Covington, K. & Rowlett, L. (2021) The Who, the Why, the How… a guide to planning effective, 2021collaborative, person-centered transition services for students with disabilities. Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children, 8(2), 6. https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/ktej/vol8/iss2/6/

Submitted Works

• Ackerman, K., Ault, M., Courtade, G., Elliott, M., Harmon, T., Jones, K., Jordan, K., Long, A., Nutt, J., O’Neill, K., Rowlett, L., Snider, K., Swain, R., & Wright, E. (2023). Preparing future special education faculty for service in rural communities. Rural Special Education Quarterly.