Richard A. Villa is President of Bayridge Consortium, Inc. His primary field of expertise is the development of administrative and instructional support systems for educating all students within general education settings. Villa is recognized as an educational leader who motivates and works collaboratively with others to implement current and emerging exemplary educational practices. In the school districts where he has worked and consulted, his efforts have resulted in the inclusion of children with intensive cognitive, physical, and emotional challenges as full members of the general education community. Dr. Villa has been a classroom teacher, special education administrator, pupil personnel services director, and director of instructional services, and has authored seventeen books and more than 100 articles and chapters. Known for his enthusiastic, humorous style, Dr. Villa has presented at international, national, and state educational conferences and has provided technical assistance to departments of education in the United States, Canada, Vietnam, and Honduras and to university personnel, public school systems, and parent and advocacy organizations. Additional information about Dr. Villa can be found at his website, ravillabayridge.com.
Jacqueline S. Thousand is a professor in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services of California State University San Marcos, where she designed and coordinated the School of Education s special education professional preparation and master s programs. She previously directed Inclusion Facilitator and Early Childhood/Special Education graduate and postgraduate programs at the University of Vermont and coordinated federal grants concerned with inclusion of students with disabilities in local schools. Dr. Thousand is a nationally known teacher, author, systems change consultant, and disability rights and inclusive education advocate. She is the author of numerous books, research articles, and chapters on issues related to inclusive schooling, organizational change strategies, differentiated instruction and universal design, co-teaching and collaborative teaming, cooperative group learning, creative problem solving, and positive behavioral supports. Dr. Thousand is actively involved in international teacher education and inclusive education endeavors and serves on the editorial boards of several national and international journals.
I believe this book is essential for inclusive school best practice accountability measures! There is a huge need to assess current practices and promote best practices within inclusive education services and supports. Richard Villa and Jacqueline Thousand have written the most important assessment tool for schools to celebrate inclusive education accomplishments and further their services to best practice. This will also help struggling schools get on the journey towards reimagining and establishing quality student-centered services that meet the needs of all learners. I highly recommend this book for all schools that are focused on providing quality effective education for all learners in their school community. --Patrick Schwarz, Pd.D. - Professor in Learning and Teaching Program, National Louis University
This book is a beautiful resource to help schools use real data to improve their abilities to be inclusive. Incredibly useful in providing concrete ideas of best practice in a way to lets teams assess, discuss and improve. --Dr. George Theoharis - Department Chair - Teaching and Leadership, Syracuse University
Once again Villa and Thousand have given us a practical guide to creating inclusive schools. This books is unique in that it allows collaborative teams to self-assess and determine goals and actions to initiate, implement, and sustain inclusive education. It is an excellent resource that meets teams where they are on the journey of inclusion and guides them forward! --Jodi Robledo, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor, Special Education Program Coordinator, California State University San Marcos