Dr. Jacqueline Specht, PhD

Professor & Director, Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education - Applied Psychology

Dr. Jacqueline Specht, PhD

Professor & Director, Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education - Applied Psychology

I am the director of the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education. My research interests encompass pedagogical issues with the participation of children in the school system. My  research expertise is located in the area inclusive education with a focus on educators, leaders, and parents and their roles in developing effective schools for all students. I have worked with schools nationally and internationally to support their transition to inclusive education.

Research

Start Date

End Date

Principal Investigator

Co-Investigator

Granting Agency

Title

Total Amount

2023

2024

Jacqueline Specht

N. Neil, J. Whitley, E. Fournier, P. Boutis

SSHRC- Partnership Engage Grant

Navigating the special education system: Parents supporting parents

$21,859

2021

2022

Jacqueline Specht

G. Porter, D. Richler, K. Carr

SSHRC – Connection Grant

Let’s Chat about Inclusion

$33,697

2021

2024

Steve Sider

J Specht; J. Vansteenkiste; J. Grischow; M. Mfoafo-M'Carthy; K. Maich; J. Morvan

SSHRC – Partnership Development Grant

Supporting Inclusive Education in Haiti : Developing a Canada-Haiti Partnership for Research and Teacher Education on Disability and Inclusion

$199,981

2019

2024

Steve Sider

D. McGhie-Richmond, J. Specht, K. Maich, J. MacCormack

SSHRC – Insight grant

Canadian school principals support of students with special education needs: An examination of critical incidents as a form of professional learning

$215,569

2019

2022

Magnus Mfoafo-M'Carthy

J. Specht, J. Grischow S. Sider, W. Mprahn, K. Maich M. Ashun, & S. Imoro

SSHRC – Partnership Development Grant

Fostering Equitable Education Systems for those with Disabilities: A Canada-Ghana Partnership for addressing Indicators of Inclusive Education and Building Training Networks

$199,818

2018

2020

Steve Sider

J. Specht, K. Maich

SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant

Technology-enhanced, interactive case studies for principals' professional development to support

students with special education needs

$24,975

2018

2019

Steve Sider

K. Maich, J. Specht, J. Katz, D. McGhie-Richmond, J. Morvan, & D. Smith

SSHRC – Connection

Intersectionalities in leadership for supporting students with special education needs in Canadian

schools

$24, 998

2017

2019

Jacqueline Specht

As a Communities of Practice Lead for South Region

(Listed alphabetically)C. Battagli, S. Bennett, D. Ciuffetelli Parker, T. Gallagher, K. Llewellyn, D. Ogilvie,

Ontario Ministry of Education

 

Réseau de Savoir sur l’Équité | Equity Knowledge Network (RSEKN)

$63,000

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

Charles, E., Metsala, J. & Specht, J. (2023). Gains in pre-service teacher efficacy for inclusive education: Contributions of initial beliefs and practicum length. International Journal of Inclusive Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2023.2264855

VanderKaay, S., Dix, L., Rivard, L., Missiuna, C., Ng, S., Pollock, N., Sahagian Whalen, S., Eisen, I., Kyte, C., Phoenix, M., Bennett, S., Specht, J., Kennedy, J., McCauley, D., & Campbell, W. (2023). Tiered approaches to rehabilitation services in education settings: Towards developing an explanatory program theory. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 70(4), 540-561. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2021.1895975

Sider, S., Maich, K., & Specht, J., Treadgold, C., & Winger, H. (2023). Choose your own adventure”: Web-based case studies of inclusive education as a form of professional learning for school principals. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 18(1), 132–154. https://doi.org/10.1177/19427751211046978

Specht, J., Miesera, S., McGhie-Richmond, D., & Haider, F. (2022). Experiences that shape the development of inclusive instruction in preservice teachers: An international comparison. European Journal of Special Education Research, 8(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v8i4.4436

Specht, J., Delorey, J., & Puka, K. (2022). The trajectory of inclusive beliefs in beginning teachers. Frontiers in Education, 7:928505. https:// doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.928505.

Whitley, J., Matheson, I., Specht, J., & MacCormack, J. (2021). Perspectives of parents of children with special educational needs: self-efficacy and school supports during COVID-19. Exceptionality Education International, 31, 97-114. https://doi.org/10.5206/eei.v31i1.14097

MacCormack, J., Sider, S., Maich, K., & Specht, J. (2021). Self-determination and inclusion: The role of Canadian principals in catalyzing inclusive-positive practices. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 17(2), https://doi.org/10.22230/ijepl.2021v17n2a969

Delorey, J., Specht, J., Fairbrother, M., Ismailos, L., Villella, M., Charles, E., Vanderloon, M., Gallagher, T., Howell, G., & Whitley, J. (2020). Experiences that shape pre-service teachers’ inclusive practice beliefs. International Journal of Inclusive Education, https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2020.1862403.

Specht, J. A. (2020) Intersectionalities in leadership conference: An introduction to the special issue. Exceptionality Education International, 30, 1-3.

Whitley, J., MacCormack, J., Matheson, I., Specht, J., Sider, S., & Maich, K. (2020). Diversity via distance: Lessons learned from families supporting students with special education needs during remote learning. Education Canada, 60(4), https://www.edcan.ca/articles/diversity-via-distance/

Bennett, S., Specht, J., Somma, M., & White, R. (2020). Navigating School Interactions: Parents of Students with Intellectual Disabilities Speak Out. Current Developmental Disorders Reports7(3), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-020-00203-z

Rodger, S., Bird, R., Hibbert, K., Johnson, A., Specht, J., & Wathen, N. (2020). Initial teacher education and trauma and violence informed care in the classroom: Results from a preliminary online teacher education course. Psychology in the Schools, 57(12), 1798-1814.

Kirkpatrick, L., Searle, M., Smyth, R., & Specht, J. (2020). A coaching partnership: Resource teachers and classroom teachers teaching collaboratively in regular classrooms. British Journal of Special Education, 47, 24-47.

Young, G., de Lugt, J., Penny, S., Specht, J. (2019). Exceptionality Education International: Responding to change and promoting dialogue on inclusive education for all. Scholarly and Research Communication, 10(2): 1001307, 8 pp.

Specht, J., & Metsala, J. (2018). Predictors of teacher efficacy for inclusive practice in preservice teachers. Exceptionality Education International, 28(3), 67-82. https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/eei/article/view/7772/6388

Young, G., Specht, J., Hunter, F., Terreberry, S., McGhie-Richmond, D., & Hutchinson, N. (2018). “The first day he kicked shoes at me, the last day he brought me a picture of himself”: Investigating the practicum experiences of preservice teachers. Exceptionality Education International, 28(3), 83-101. https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/eei/article/view/7773/6389

Books

Specht, J. & Hutchinson, N. (2024). Inclusion of learners with exceptionalities in Canadian schools. (7th ed.) Toronto, Canada: Pearson

Hutchinson, N., & Specht, J. (2020). Inclusion of learners with exceptionalities in Canadian schools.(6th ed.) Toronto, Canada: Pearson

Book Chapters

Sider, S., Morvan, J. Maich, K., Specht, J., & McGhie-Richmond, D. (2024). Between, betwixt, and amongst: Intersectionalities where school leadership and inclusive schools meet. In C. McGregor & S. Bedi (Eds.), Diverse leadership landscapes: Exploring the terrain. Montreal, Canada: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Rodger, S., Hibbert, K., Sereda, M., &  Specht, J. (2023). The trauma-and violence-informed classroom, K-12. In C.N., Wathen, &  C. Varcoe. (Eds), Implementing trauma- and violence-informed care: A handbook. University of Toronto Press.

Specht, J., & Thompson, S.A. (2022). Inclusive education in Canada: An overview. In T.M. Christou, R. Kruschel,  K. Merz-Atalik, & I.A. Matheson. Inclusion in education: European and Canadian perspectives on diverse learners in schools (pp.61-73). Routledge, UK.

Whitley, J., Specht, J., Matheson, I., & MacCormack, J. (2022). Holes, patches and multiple hats: The experiences of parents of students with special education needs navigating at-home learning during COVID-19. In V. Cooper and C. Simon (Eds.) Childhood during COVID-19 (Book 1): Education in the global North. Palgrave, UK. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-02469-6_3

Specht, J. (2022). Commentary on the case of Charles.  In S. Sider and K. Maich (Eds.) Leadership for inclusive schools: Real cases from real leaders. Rowman & Littlefield.

Fairbrother, M., & Specht, J. (2021). Moving research into practice: It’s a collaborative effort. In C. Brown, J. Flood & S. MacGregor. The research-informed teaching revolution North America: A handbook for the 21st century teacher (pp 145-152). John Catt Educational, UK

Lee, S.L.  & Specht, J. (2018). Implementing parent education into early childhood education environments. In A. W. Leschied, D. Saklofske and G. Flett (Eds).  The handbook for school based mental health promotion: An evidence informed framework for implementation. NY: Springer

Reports

Specht, J.A. (2022). Strategies for building your inclusive classroom – From beliefs to strategies. https://www.ldatschool.ca/strategies-inclusive-classroom/

Owusu, P., Kassen, J., Specht, J.,  Battagli, C., &  Gallagher, T. (2020). Building inclusive schools toolkit: Video and discussion guide. https://rsekn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/RSEKN_Building_Inclusive_Schools_Discussion_Guide.pdf

Sider, S., Maich, K., Morvan, J., Specht, J., & Smith, D. (2018). Exploring leadership practices through case inquiry: Supporting inclusive schools. Toronto, Ontario: Ontario College of Teachers.

Reid, L., Bennett, S., Specht, J., White, R., Somma, M., Li, X., Lattanzio, R., Gavan, K., Kyle, G., Porter, G., & Patel, A. (2018). If inclusion means everyone, why not me? https://www.inclusiveeducationresearch.ca/events/inclusive_education_news.html

Presentations

Specht, J., Charles, E., & Puka, K. (2023, August). The development of efficacy for inclusive practice: Initial teacher education to early career teachers. Presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Glasgow, UK

Miesera, S., Specht, J., Metsala, J., McGhie-Richmond, D. (2023, August). Predictors of efficacy for inclusive education: Canada vs. Germany. Presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Glasgow, UK

Delorey, J. & Specht, J. (2023, August). Stories of teacher development: Experiences that Influence inclusive practice beliefs. Presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Glasgow, UK

Bota, S., Specht, J., Porter, G., Richler, D., & Carr, K. (2023, May).  Championing inclusive education in Canada: Voices of educators, advocates, and researchers.  Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Toronto, Canada.

Owusu, P. & Specht, J. (2023, May). Amplifying Black Canadian youth voices on mental health service Utilization. Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Toronto, Canada.

Thompson, S.A., Specht, J., Delorey, J., & Lau, T.Z. (2023, May). Mapping four years of beginning teacher confidence in the inclusive classroom: A poetic inquiry. Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Toronto, Canada.

Delorey, J., Thompson, S.A., Specht, J., & Lau, T.Z. (2023, May). Four years of confidence: Stories of efficacy development for inclusive education.  Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Toronto, Canada.

Maich, K., Sohrabi, T., Specht, J., Belcher, C., Sider, S. (2022, December).  Examining children’s picture books to understand representations of disability in Ghana. Presented at the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Specht, J. (2022, October).  Supporting students with learning disabilities. Keynote presented at the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada conference. Virtual (invited).

Whitley, J. & Specht, J. (2022, May). Stress, skills and squeaky wheels: Parent advocacy for students with special education needs in the context of COVID-19. Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Edmonton, Canada. Conference virtual.

Specht, J. (2022, March). The development of inclusive practice in beginning teachers. Presented at 47th Conference of Learning Disability Institute, Quebec, Canada, conference virtual (Invited).

Specht, J. (2022, March). Inclusive education: We all benefit. Presented at St. Ambrose School Parent Engagement Evening, HPCDSB, virtual (invited).

Terreberry, S. & Specht, J. (2021, December). Living and learning in higher education. Presented at the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Specht, J. (2021, November). Strategies for inclusive education. Presented at the education speaker series of the Brockville and District Association for Community Involvement (virtual).

Specht, J., Delorey, J., Ismailos, L., Fairbrother, M., Charles, E., & Villella, M. (2021, August). Experiences that shape beginning teachers’ inclusive practice beliefs: a group concept mapping study. Presented at ISEC2021, London, UK, Conference virtual

Miesera, S., Specht, J., McGhie-Richmond, D., Howell, G., & Weidenhiller, P. (2021, August). Experiences that promote the development of inclusive practice in beginning teachers in Canada and Germany. Presented at ISEC2021, London, UK, Conference virtual

Sider, S., Specht, J., Treadgold, C., Fraser, C., Maich, K., & Winger, H. (2021, August). Collaboration for Inclusion: The development of interactive case studies. Presented at ISEC2021 London, UK, Conference virtual

Whitley. J., Matheson, I., MacCormack, J., & Specht, J. (2021, June). Experiences of families surrounding children and youth with special education needs: Learning and living at home during the pandemic. Presented at the Canadian Psychological Association Virtual Series.

VanderKaay, S., Missiuna, C., Dix, L., Bennett, S., Sahagian Whalen, S., Kennedy, J., Rivard, L., Ng, S., Camden, C., Eisen, I., Kyte, C., Phoenix, M., Specht, J., McCauley, D., & Campbell, W. (2021, May). Tiered models of rehabilitation services: Insights from realist research to support inclusion of children and youth with disabilities. Presented at Annual CAHSPR Conference, virtual.

Campbell, W., VanderKaay, S., Dix, L., Rivard, L., Missiuna, C., Ng, S., Sahagian Whalen, S., Eisen, I., Kyte, C., Phoenix, M., Bennett, S., Specht, J., Kennedy, J., & McCauley, D. (2021, May). Optimizing inclusion of children and youth at school: Insights from a realist synthesis of tiered approaches to rehabilitation services. Presented at Child Health Symposium, London, ON, Canada, virtual

Specht, J., & Maich, K. (2021, May/June). Inclusive education and teaching. Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Edmonton, Canada. Conference virtual.

Thompson, S.A., Whitley, J., Villella, M., & Specht, J. (2021, May/June). Group discussion: Songs of beginning teachers.  Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Edmonton, Canada. Conference virtual.

Sider, S., Specht, J., Maich, K., Trépanier-Bisson, N. (2021, May/June). Examining a collaborative research project to support principals’ professional learning for leading inclusive schools (during a pandemic). Presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Edmonton, Canada. Conference virtual

Specht, J., & Gardner, L. (2019, September). Navigating the Individual Education Plan. Presented at the Brain, Mind Institute Speaker Series. London, Canada. (invited).

Miesera, S., Specht, J., McGhie-Richmond, D., & Weidenhiller, P. (2019, September). Beliefs and self-efficacy of prospective teachers regarding inclusive teaching: An international comparison. Presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Hamburg, Germany.

Weidenhiller, P., McGhie-Richmond, D., Miesera, S., Specht, J., & Nerde, C. (2019, September).  Inclusion in teacher training: A comparative empirical study of secondary (gymnasium) and vocational school student teachers' attitudes and self-efficacy. Presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, Hamburg, Germany.

Specht, J. & Bennett, S. (2019, August). Parent voice: What matters in the education of students with intellectual disabilities. Presented at the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, Glasgow, UK.

Specht, J., Vanderloon, M., Fairbrother, M., Whitely, J., & Charles, E. (2019, August). Inclusive education In Canada. Presented at the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, Glasgow, UK.

Specht, J. Bennett, S., & Thompson, S.A. (2019, August). Beginning teachers study: Implications for the development of inclusive practice. Presented at the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities, Glasgow, UK.

Specht, J. A., Howell, G., Ismailos, L., Fairbrother, M., & Vanderloon, M., Gallagher, T., & Whitley, J.  (2019, April). The influence of preservice education on the development of inclusive practice. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA), Toronto Canada.

Howell, G., Specht, J., Sider, S., Ismailos, L., Fairbrother, M., Vanderloon, M. (2019, April). Understanding preservice teachers’ perceptions of the role of school leaders in developing their inclusive practices. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Toronto Canada.

Specht, J. (2019, January). Inclusion in Canada: Beginning teacher study. Presented at the Queen’s Education Conference. Kingstone, Canada. (invited).

Maich, K., Morvan, J., Sider, S., Smith, D., & Specht, J. (2019, January). The experiences of new teachers and school principals in inclusive schools: Research-informed case studies as a resource for professional learning. Presented at the International CEC-DADD conference, Maui, HI.

Somma, M., Specht, J., Bennett, S., & White, R. (2018, December). If inclusion means everyone, why not me? Presented at the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Specht, J., Faulconbridge. O., Bennett, S., & Gallagher, T. (2018, December). RSEKN - Equity knowledge network and educating students with exceptionalities.  Presented at the Ontario Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Toronto, Canada.

McGhie-Richmond, D. & Specht, J.  (2018, October). Inclusion in teacher education programs. Presented at Symposium Inclusion Munich, Germany (invited).                 

Specht, J., & McGhie-Richmond, D. (2018, October). Inclusion in Canada:
Beginning teacher study
. Presented at Symposium Inclusion Munich, Germany (invited) 

Specht, J., & McGhie-Richmond (2018, October). Inclusion in teacher education: Effective schools. Presented to Research Group Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany (invited).

McGhie-Richmond, D., & Specht, J. (2018, October). Inclusion in teacher education:
Teacher education for inclusion.
Presented to Instructor Group Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany (invited).

Specht, J. (2018, September). Inclusive Education: It’s All about Belonging. Presented at the Professional Development Day for CPOV. Veenendaal, Netherlands. (invited)

Specht, J., & Miesera, S. (2018. September).  Inclusive education: Let’s chat. Presented at the Professional Development Day for CPOV. Veenendaal, Netherlands. (invited)

Teaching and Supervision

Recent Courses Taught

Graduate Education

Independent Reading Courses:

  • A cross-Canada perspective on exceptionality
  • Understanding Models of Adolescent Development and Adolescent Identity Formation
  • Ethics and Human Development

Inclusive Education

Social and Emotional Learning

Psychology in Education: Issues, Theories and Practices

Bachelor of Education

Educating Exceptional Students: Issues and Instruction

Educational Psychology/Special Education

Special Education and Inclusion

Recent Theses Supervised

Petra Owusu “Amplifying Black Canadian Youth Voices on Mental Health Service Utilization”. PhD Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

Jessica Delorey “An Exploration of How Beginning Teachers Develop Beliefs Related to Inclusive Education”. PhD Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

Sydney Bota “The State of Inclusive Education in Canada”.  M.A. Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

Evan Charles “Following the Development of Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Efficacy for Teaching in Inclusive Classrooms: A 4-Year Mixed Methods Analysis”. PhD Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario

Tsz-Wing Zita Lau “Beginning teachers' development of inclusive practices: A longitudinal multiple-case study approach”. PhD Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario

Olivia Faulconbridge “Managing Interpersonal Conflict: Adolescents with and without MID”. PhD Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario

Jessica Delorey “Understanding the experiences that shape beginning teachers’ inclusive practices, beliefs, and efficacy: A group Concept Mapping study”. M.A. Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

Petra Owusu “Evaluating the Effectiveness of START’s Peer to Peer Program” M.A. Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

McKenzie Vanderloon “A longitudinal perspective on the development of teacher efficacy for the use of inclusive practices among Canadian teachers.” PhD Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

Evan Charles “Contributors of self efficacy for teaching within inclusive classrooms.” M.A. Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario.

Other

Honours and Awards

  • Canadian Association for Educational Psychology Robbie Case Memorial Award
  • Western University Edward G Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • Canadian Society for the Study of Education Carol Crealock Memorial Award
  • Canadian Association for Community Living Inclusive Education Award