Megan Worth, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Scientist
About
Dr. Megan Worth is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Prevention and Intervention Network (PIN) at the University of Florida. A former special educator, Dr. Worth’s research is grounded in her experience supporting students with significant emotional and behavioral challenges. Her work focuses on improving access to evidence-based social, emotional, and behavioral interventions for these historically underserved students and the educators who serve them. Dr. Worth is particularly interested in promoting resilience in students with and at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders, prioritizing feasibility, social validity, and sustainability.
Her current work uses mixed methods and collaborative inquiry to center the voices of educators, families, and communities in intervention development and refinement. She has contributed to projects funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, among others. Dr. Worth’s long-term goal is to help build school systems that empower all students and educators—especially those facing the greatest challenges—with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
Her current work uses mixed methods and collaborative inquiry to center the voices of educators, families, and communities in intervention development and refinement. She has contributed to projects funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, among others. Dr. Worth’s long-term goal is to help build school systems that empower all students and educators—especially those facing the greatest challenges—with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
Affiliations
- School of Special Education School Psychology and Early Childhood Studies
- Prevention and Intervention Network Center
Research Interests
Behavior Management, Conflict / Aggression, Diverse Learners, Evidence-based Practices, Implementation Science, Multi-tiered Systems of Support, Resilience, Social/Behavioral Interventions, Special Education
Education
- Ph.D., Special Education; Quantitative Research & Evaluation Methodology Minor
Professional Appointments
- Postdoctoral Associate, University of Florida, Prevention & Intervention Network
Activities and Honors
- Division for Research Doctoral Student Scholar, Council for Exceptional Children
Selected Grants
Patient-Centered Enhancements to Reduce Disparities in Students’ Unmet Mental Health Needs
Role
- Co-I
Funding Agency
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
Project Period
- 2022-2029
Award Amount
- $6,263,797
Efficacy Trial of I Control: An Intensive Intervention to Improve Self-Regulation for Middle School Students with Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Role
- Study Coordinator
Funding Agency
- U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences
Project Period
- 2018-2024
Award Amount
- $3,292,300
Selected Publications
Articles
- Worth, M. R., Smith, S. W., & Poling, D. V. (2021). Students with emotional and behavioral disorders and verbal aggression: Why school professionals should care and what they can do. Beyond Behavior, 30(3), 135-147.
- Daunic, A. P., Corbett, N. L., Smith, S. W., Algina, J. A., Poling, D. V., Worth, M. R., Crews, E., Boss, D. L., & Vezzoli, J. (2021). Efficacy of the Social-Emotional Learning Foundations curriculum for kindergarten and first grade students at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. Journal of School Psychology, 86, 78-99.
- Smith, S. W., Poling, D. V., Worth, M. R., Zhou, S. J., & Taylor, G. G. (2020). Verbal aggression among students with emotional and behavioral disorders: Teacher perceptions of harm, levels of concern, and relationship with certification status. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 28(4), 209-222.
- Poling, D. V., Smith, S. W., Taylor, G. G., & Worth, M. R. (2019). Direct verbal aggression in school settings: A review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 46, 127-139.
- Smith, S. W., Poling, D. V., & Worth, M. R. (2018). Intensive interventions for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 33(3), 168-175.
Presentations
- Worth, M. R., Trainor, K. M., Splett, J. W., & Smith, S. W. (2024, December). Social-Emotional Learning Instruction for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Survey Results and Proposed Model. National Center for School Mental Health-Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health, Orlando, FL.
- Smith, S. W., Worth, M. R., Barber, B. R., Ma, J.*, & Aydin, B. (2024, April). Improving Self-Regulation for Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Preliminary Results of the I Control Study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
- Smith, S. W., Barber, B. R., Worth, M. R., Ma, J.*, & Aydin, B. (2024, March). Improving Self-Regulation for Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Results of the I Control Curriculum. Council for Exceptional Children-102nd Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX.
- Worth, M. R., & Smith, S.W. (2023, April). Social and Emotional Learning for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Teacher Survey Pilot Study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois.
- Graham, J. W., Ma, J., Worth, M. R., & Smith, S. W. (2022, April). Confirmatory Factory Analysis on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2 Teacher Form for Middle School Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.