S0515 - Building an Inclusive Educator Mindset: An Interview with Dr. Chris Closson

Guest Biography Dr. Closson brings over two decades of experience in special education and educational leadership.  He began his career as a high school special education teacher in New York State, before continuing his work as a teacher in Tennessee.  His dedication to inclusive education led him to a district-level administrative role, where he championed equity and inclusion across schools.  Throughout his career, Dr. Closson has been a driving force behind the implementation of the co-teaching model and inclusive practices to foster collaborative environments that support diverse learners.  He strives to prepare preservice teachers to create inclusive, student-centered classrooms.  His work continues to shape the next generation of educators with a strong foundation in inclusive pedagogy.   Article Featured in the Episode Closson, C. T., & Silver, C. F. (2026). Investigating the mindset of educators regarding students with disabilities. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, 10(1), 1–31.   Article: https://go.southernct.edu/jelps/files/2026-spring/8p_Investigating_the_Mindset_of_Educators.pdf Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies: https://go.southernct.edu/jelps/ Empire State University: https://www.sunyempire.edu/ IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University: https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/  National Center on Intensive Intervention: https://intensiveintervention.org/ CEEDAR Center: https://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/