Don Deshler is director of the Center for Research on Learning (CRL) and a professor in the School of Education and at the University of Kansas. The work of the CRL focuses on the validation of academic strategies for adolescents who struggle with becoming good readers, writers, and learners. Deshler’s work addresses ways to close the large “achievement gap” and to reduce the escalating drop out rate for struggling adolescent learners. His work also focuses on designing instructional routines that can be used by secondary teachers to help them more effectively teach subject matter content to academically diverse classes in secondary schools. Don and his colleagues have completed in excess of $80 million of contracted R & D that has resulted in the validation of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) – a comprehensive instructional model for improving outcomes for at-risk adolescents.
Through the CRL’s International Professional Development Network, more than 400,000 educators have been trained to use different components of SIM. Deshler's most recent text, Teaching Content to All: Evidence-Based Inclusive Practices in Middle and Secondary Schools (Allyn & Bacon), details several of the instructional practices validated through CRL research. Additionally, CRL researchers have produced in excess of 50 teacher-use curriculum materials for teaching struggling adolescent learners. Deshler serves as an advisor on adolescent achievement to several organizations including the Carnegie Foundation, the National Governor’s Association, Alliance for Excellent Education, Council on Families and Literacy, and the U. S. State Department.
Deshler is the recipient of numerous awards including the J.E. Wallace Wallin Award from the Council for Exceptional Children and the Learning Disabilities Association Award from the Learning Disabilities Association of America for outstanding research and service for at-risk populations.
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
“Raising the Bar,
Closing
the
Achievement Gap”
Training Sessions for Friday and Saturday include: Strategies for Enhancement of Content, Grades 3-12, and Self Advocacy for Students with Disabilities
