Cassandra Townshend
Co-Director, Vermont BEST/PBIS Project
Director, Project AWARE
208 Colchester Ave
311 Mann Hall
Burlington, VT 05401
United States
- Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont
- M.S.W. in Children, Youth, & Families and Social & Economic Development from Washington University in St. Louis
- B.A. in Sociology from Skidmore College
BIO
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.
Area(s) of expertise
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
- Special Education Service Delivery
- Social-Emotional Learning
Bio
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.
Areas of Expertise
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
- Special Education Service Delivery
- Social-Emotional Learning