Dia Jackson

Dia Jackson is a senior researcher at AIR who provides technical assistance, research, and professional development projects to states and school districts in the areas of response to intervention (RTI)/multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and special education best practices. Currently, Dr. Jackson is the project director for the Arkansas RTI State Professional Development Grant and is director of professional development and coaching for the Delaware Early Literacy in MTSS Project. Dr. Jackson also serves as project director for the Vermont High Leverage Practices project which builds capacity of general educators in inclusive settings through training and coaching.

From 2014–2017, Dr. Jackson led professional development for the New York State Education Department RTI Professional Development project, providing technical assistance to 54 elementary schools in New York City. Additionally, Dr. Jackson co-authored CEC/CEEDAR’s High-Leverage Practices for Special Educators, has authored numerous publications on effective implementation of RTI/MTSS, and is an advisor on the National Center for Learning Disabilities’ (NCLD) education practitioner advisory council.

Prior to joining AIR, Dr. Jackson taught in both inclusive and self-contained special education settings for students with disabilities for over nine years and also taught graduate level special education courses at universities in the Washington, DC area. Dr. Jackson studied issues of disproportionality and equity at the University of Virginia under Dr. Stanley Trent.