About

Dr. Shannon is an Assistant Research Scientist with the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida. Dr. Shannon supports states and early childhood programs with the installation, implementation, sustainability and scale-up of professional development systems, including practice-based coaching. Dr. Shannon's research interests include professional development, coaching that supports teachers' acquisition and sustained use of effective practices, and system-level policies and mechanisms designed to enhance continuous improvement.

Prior to joining the Anita Zucker Center, Dr. Shannon was a classroom teacher in school- and center-based inclusive early childhood programs in the state of Florida. Since joining the Anita Zucker Center as a doctoral student in 2012, Dr. Shannon has been involved in projects funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Head Start, Office of Special Education Programs, and multiple state agencies.

Currently, Dr. Shannon is a Co-Principal Investigator of a model demonstration project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs designed to build the capacity of administrators, coaches, and practitioners to engage in data-informed decision making. In addition, she is the Project Coordinator of Embedded Instruction - California, a state-wide initiative funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division to support the use of practice-based coaching and embedded instruction to enhance the development and learning outcomes of preschool children with or at risk for disabilities.

Research Interests

Adult Education, Class-wide Positive Behavior Supports, Collaboration and Teaming, Early Childhood, Evidence-based Practices, Implementation Science, Inclusion, Instructional Practices for Young Children at Risk, Intervention, Language and Literacy Development, Mixed Methods, Multi-tiered Systems of Support, Professional Development, Professional Development in Early Childhood, Qualitative Research, Teacher Quality, Young Children at Risk

Education

• Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Minor in Early Childhood Studies, University of Florida, 2017
• M.A. in Reading Education, University of South Florida, 2007
• B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, Florida Southern College, 2004

Professional Appointments

• Ralph D. Turlington Fellowship Award, 2016
• Rosser Family Graduate Award, 2015
• The Jessie Hamm Meyer Graduate Award, 2014
• G. Ballard Simmons Memorial Scholarship Award, 2013

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

• Shannon, D., McLaughlin, T. & Snyder, P. (2021). Using practice-based strengths and needs assessment. In P. Snyder, M. L. Hemmeter, & L. Fox (Eds.), Essentials of practice-based coaching. Brookes.
• Shannon, D., Snyder, P., Bishop, B., & McLaughlin, T. (2021) Coaching strategies and definitions. In P. Snyder, M. L. Hemmeter, & L. Fox (Eds.), Essentials of practice-based coaching. Brookes.
• Snyder, P., Bishop, C., Shannon, D., & McLaughlin, T. (2020) Putting it all together: Implementing Pyramid Model practices to make a difference for children. In M.L. Hemmeter, M. Ostrosky, & L. Fox (Eds.), Unpacking the Pyramid Model: A practical guide for preschool teachers (pp. 161-170). Brookes.
• Peer-Reviewed Publications and Journal Articles
• Shannon, D. K., Snyder, P. A., Hemmeter, M. L., & McLean, M. (2021). Exploring coach-teacher interactions within a practice-based coaching partnership. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 40(4), 229-240. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121420910799
• Bishop, C., Shannon, D., & Harrington, J. (2019). Progress monitoring within the embedded instruction approach: Collecting, sharing, and interpreting data to inform instruction. In M. McLean, R. Banerjee, J. Squires & K. Hebbeler (Eds.), Assessment: Recommended Practices for young children and families: DEC Recommended Practices Monograph Series (No. 7, pp. 135-148). Division for Early Childhood.
• Shannon, D., Bishop, C., Snyder, P. A., & Jaramillo, J. (2018). Developing a collaborative partnership to enhance teaming: Using a practice-based coaching framework. In P. Winton, C. Guillen, & A. Schnitz (Eds.), Teaming and collaboration: Building and sustaining partnerships: DEC Recommended Practices Monograph Series (No. 6, pp. 39-52). Division for Early Childhood.
• Bondy, B., Shannon, D., Castaneda, M., & Munarriz-Diaz, R. (2017). Re-centering job-embedded graduate education for practicing teachers. Teacher Education and Practice, 30(1), 38-56.
• Poekert, P., Alexandrou, A., & Shannon, D. (2016). How teachers become leaders: An internationally validated theoretical model of teacher leadership development. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 21(4), 307-329. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2016.1226559
• Shannon, D., Smith, S., & Dana, N. (2016). Practitioner research in early childhood education and care. Infants & Young Children, 29(4), 312-334. https://doi.org/10.1097/IYC.0000000000000066

Selected Links

• Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies
• Embedded Instruction for Early Learning
• Embedded Instruction for Early Learning - California
• https://ceecs.education.ufl.edu/center-members