E35 - Stephen Ciullo

Dr. Stephen Ciullo is an Associate Professor of Special Education at Texas State University. His research focuses on two topics. First, he studies the extent to which classroom writing instruction provided to students with disabilities aligns with research evidence, and how observed instruction relates to students’ writing performance. Second, Stephen is interested in interventions that enhance teachers’ effectiveness in the area of writing and content-area knowledge.

Stephen has received three research grants from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). He is Primary Investigator (PI) on an IES-funded project that explores the extent to which effective writing instructional practices are used by special educators and general educators who teach writing to students with disabilities. This project also examines differences between the writing instruction of special educators and general educators. Stephen serves as Co-PI on a second IES-funded grant with Dr. Linda Mason (PI). This project explores relationships between middle school social studies and science teachers' use of evidence-based writing practices, teachers' beliefs about adapting instruction for students with disabilities, and students' writing outcomes. Additionally, Stephen is Co-PI on a recently funded IES grant (PI Alyson Collins, Texas State University). This project is a meta-analysis of writing interventions for students in Grades K-5. 

Stephen teaches undergraduate as well as graduate-level special education courses. His courses focus on Learning Disabilities, and instructional practices that improve reading and writing outcomes for students who receive special education services.

Before joining Texas State University, Stephen earned his doctorate in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin. He was also a Special Education teacher in New York for six years.

Websites: (with clickable links)

Stephen’s faculty page

DLD’s page: www.TeachingLD.org   

CLD’s page: www.//council-for-learning-disabilities.org 

Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD): https://srsdonline.org/

To read: (Check out your local bookstore or favorite online provider)

Books by Erik Larson

Currently reading The Splendid and the Vile

Books about Stoicism

Currently reading The Stoic Teacher: Ancient Mind Hacks to Help Educators Foster Resiliency, Optimism, and Inner Calm by Ryan Racine