Melissa Stoffers
Biographic Data
| ID | 4420296 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Melissa Stoffers |
| GIVEN NAMES | Melissa |
| FAMILY NAME | Stoffers |
| SIGNATURE | STOFFERS M |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Nevada, Las Vegas |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4891-3231 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 10 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Teacher‐Paraeducator Classroom Relationships: A Scoping Review
The special education workforce faces an ongoing shortage and high turnover rates, negatively impacting students and classrooms. Positive collegial relationships between teachers and paraeducators can reduce educator burnout and improve job satisfaction, potentially leading to reduced turnover. This scoping review identifies areas of knowledge and gaps in the literature pertaining to teacher‐paraeducator relationships, which may be used to inform…
Enhancing antiracism through educator professional development: A scoping review of U.S. intervention studies
In this scoping review, we identify and analyze antiracist professional development intervention studies in the United States for school staff to determine current areas of focus and identify future areas of research. We conducted comprehensive searches of peer-reviewed and gray literature using defined inclusion criteria. A total of 27 studies met the criteria and were included in the review. Most of these studies use qualitative methodologies a…
The role of Research‐Practice Ambassadors in strengthening socially just and equitable partnership processes
Research‐Practice Partnerships seek to close the research‐practice gap through developing collaborative, authentic partnerships between researchers and community members. Our team has leveraged Research‐Practice Ambassadors to support socially just and equitable partnership processes in schools. We describe how the Ambassadors can support these types of long‐term partnerships by building trusting relationships, uplifting practitioner voice and li…
Access to early care and education for Nevada’s infants and toddlers: A mixed methods examination of program characteristics and the role of Covid stabilization funds
Understanding Appropriate and Applicable Sex Education Instruction for People With Intellectual Disability
Although individuals with intellectual disability need sex education, little is known about the instructional practices of sex educators. To fill this gap and explore how instruction is appropriate and applicable to individuals with intellectual disability, we interviewed 58 U.S. sex educators about their instruction. Using thematic analysis, we identified four themes: (a) Deciding how to individualize: “A lot of my students have receptive skills…
Theorizing the Role of Sex Educators in the Resistance and Reification of Epistemic Injustices Related to the Sexual Expression of People with Intellectual Disability
People with intellectual disability face a variety of epistemic injustices—systems of knowledge and educational inequality—related to their access to sex education and perceptions of their sexuality. Sex educators are in a position to address these injustices; however, they may not be fully aware of their own epistemic ethics. Furthermore, there is little theoretical understanding of how sex educators provide instruction within an environment tha…
Pilot study of an anti-racist professional development: Effects on educators’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy
Purpose This study aims to understand the impact of a pilot of the actions against racism (AAR) intervention, aimed at enhancing educators’ multicultural efficacy and attitudes in a mid-Atlantic K-8 charter school. Design/methodology/approach AAR included eight sessions delivered over one school year. Experienced facilitators led these sessions, focusing on combating racism, prejudice and discrimination. Of the 84 school staff, 56 completed a bas…
Factors affecting enrollment of children with disabilities in child care and early education programs: A mixed methods study of Arkansas center-based programs
Unpacking the social‐emotional health of education support professionals during the Covid‐19 pandemic
This study sought to understand education support professionals' (ESPs) experiences early in the COVID-19 pandemic, including how they were feeling about their roles in education, strategies they were using to cope with unprecedented times, barriers they encountered toward maintaining SE health at work, and opportunities they identified as critical for creating safe and supportive school environments. This study employed a convergent parallel (QU…
Participation of early care and education centers in the child care subsidy system: A statewide mixed methods investigation
Factors affecting enrollment of children with disabilities in child care and early education programs: A mixed methods study of Arkansas center-based programs
Pilot study of an anti-racist professional development: Effects on educators’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy
Purpose This study aims to understand the impact of a pilot of the actions against racism (AAR) intervention, aimed at enhancing educators’ multicultural efficacy and attitudes in a mid-Atlantic K-8 charter school. Design/methodology/approach AAR included eight sessions delivered over one school year. Experienced facilitators led these sessions, focusing on combating racism, prejudice and discrimination. Of the 84 school staff, 56 completed a bas…
Participation of early care and education centers in the child care subsidy system: A statewide mixed methods investigation
Unpacking the social‐emotional health of education support professionals during the Covid‐19 pandemic
This study sought to understand education support professionals' (ESPs) experiences early in the COVID-19 pandemic, including how they were feeling about their roles in education, strategies they were using to cope with unprecedented times, barriers they encountered toward maintaining SE health at work, and opportunities they identified as critical for creating safe and supportive school environments. This study employed a convergent parallel (QU…
Participation of early care and education centers in the child care subsidy system: A statewide mixed methods investigation
Pilot study of an anti-racist professional development: Effects on educators’ multicultural attitudes and efficacy
Purpose This study aims to understand the impact of a pilot of the actions against racism (AAR) intervention, aimed at enhancing educators’ multicultural efficacy and attitudes in a mid-Atlantic K-8 charter school. Design/methodology/approach AAR included eight sessions delivered over one school year. Experienced facilitators led these sessions, focusing on combating racism, prejudice and discrimination. Of the 84 school staff, 56 completed a bas…
Factors affecting enrollment of children with disabilities in child care and early education programs: A mixed methods study of Arkansas center-based programs
Understanding Appropriate and Applicable Sex Education Instruction for People With Intellectual Disability
Although individuals with intellectual disability need sex education, little is known about the instructional practices of sex educators. To fill this gap and explore how instruction is appropriate and applicable to individuals with intellectual disability, we interviewed 58 U.S. sex educators about their instruction. Using thematic analysis, we identified four themes: (a) Deciding how to individualize: “A lot of my students have receptive skills…
Theorizing the Role of Sex Educators in the Resistance and Reification of Epistemic Injustices Related to the Sexual Expression of People with Intellectual Disability
People with intellectual disability face a variety of epistemic injustices—systems of knowledge and educational inequality—related to their access to sex education and perceptions of their sexuality. Sex educators are in a position to address these injustices; however, they may not be fully aware of their own epistemic ethics. Furthermore, there is little theoretical understanding of how sex educators provide instruction within an environment tha…
Teacher‐Paraeducator Classroom Relationships: A Scoping Review
The special education workforce faces an ongoing shortage and high turnover rates, negatively impacting students and classrooms. Positive collegial relationships between teachers and paraeducators can reduce educator burnout and improve job satisfaction, potentially leading to reduced turnover. This scoping review identifies areas of knowledge and gaps in the literature pertaining to teacher‐paraeducator relationships, which may be used to inform…
Enhancing antiracism through educator professional development: A scoping review of U.S. intervention studies
In this scoping review, we identify and analyze antiracist professional development intervention studies in the United States for school staff to determine current areas of focus and identify future areas of research. We conducted comprehensive searches of peer-reviewed and gray literature using defined inclusion criteria. A total of 27 studies met the criteria and were included in the review. Most of these studies use qualitative methodologies a…
The role of Research‐Practice Ambassadors in strengthening socially just and equitable partnership processes
Research‐Practice Partnerships seek to close the research‐practice gap through developing collaborative, authentic partnerships between researchers and community members. Our team has leveraged Research‐Practice Ambassadors to support socially just and equitable partnership processes in schools. We describe how the Ambassadors can support these types of long‐term partnerships by building trusting relationships, uplifting practitioner voice and li…
Access to early care and education for Nevada’s infants and toddlers: A mixed methods examination of program characteristics and the role of Covid stabilization funds
Psychology (5 works) · Medicine (4 works) · Qualitative research (4 works) · Sociology (4 works) · Pedagogy (3 works) · Professional development (3 works) · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies (3 works) · Child care (2 works) · Context (archaeology) (2 works) · Critical Race Theory in Education (2 works)