The BEST Project, Project Co-Director (CDCI)

CDCI Roles

With 20 years of experience in education, Cassandra has consulted, coached, and trained school staff and district personnel to develop systems to support all students’ social, emotional, and behavioral well-being.

For five years, Cassandra was the Director of Special Education at Charlotte Central School and Director of Behavior Systems for Champlain Valley School District, where she developed and led a district-wide program that supports students with significant social, emotional, and behavioral needs within their home school community, minimizing the need for outside alternative placements.

Cassandra is a certified Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) trainer and has extensive experience training school staff in de-escalation techniques, positive behavior interventions and supports, and crisis intervention.  

Previous work experience includes a high school social worker, elementary/middle school behavior specialist, outpatient therapist, behavior system coordinator/coach. Previously, Cassandra worked for the BEST/VTPBIS project as Training and Development Coordinator and is excited to be back with the BEST Project/VTPBIS as Co-Director.

Cassandra Townshend: a white woman in her early forties, with green eyes and straight blonde hair falling to her shoulders, looks directly into the camera with a quiet, confident smile. She is wearing a business suit and standing in front of an arched window.

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

  • Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
  • Special Education Service Delivery
  • Social-Emotional Learning

Education

  • Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Policy. University of Vermont. (Burlington VT)
  • M.S.W., Children, Youth, & Families, and Social & Economic Development. Washington University. (St. Louis MO)
  • B.A., Sociology. Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs NY).

Contact

Email:

cassandra.townshend@uvm.edu

Office Location:

Mann Hall, Room 311

Website(s):
  1. PBIS Vermont
  2. Building Effective Supports for Teaching (BEST)