Beth Jones, Ph.D.

Professor

Beth Jones, Ph.D., enjoys time with her family taking care of their commercial and show cattle. Her children enjoy showing cattle all over the country. Traveling the circuit has allowed them to make many new friends and see many new places. Part of the fun is trying cheeseburgers wherever they go. So far, they report, the best cheeseburgers can be found at the Feed Barn in Bryan, Texas.

A Conversation with Dr. Beth Jones

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?

A&M-Commerce will give you the opportunity to meet and learn from faculty who are innovators in their respective fields. The small class sizes allow for personalized attention and mentoring. Specific to the field of education, A&M-Commerce has a legacy of producing first-class educators and you will graduate positioned for employment and leadership.

How has A&M-Commerce influenced your life and/or career?

A&M-Commerce has afforded me the opportunity to explore my passion for meeting the needs of students with disabilities, especially those with visual impairments, through research and service. This work earned me a gubernatorial appointment to the Board of Trustees for the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 2019.

Tell us about an academic project you are working on or recently completed.

My most recent publication to come out of the Assistive Technology (AT) Lab on campus investigated how first-hand exposure to AT and instruction using the SETT method (Students, Environment, Tasks, Tools) facilitated pre-service educators’ ability to analyze a hypothetical case study and make recommendations for appropriate accommodations and AT.

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, Louisiana State University, 2006
• M.Ed., Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University, 2001
• B.S., (Cum Laude), Interdisciplinary Studies (Special Education), Texas A&M University, 1998

Academic Positions

• Associate Professor, 2015-present
• Assistant Professor, 2009-2015
• Special Education Graduate Program Coordinator, 2012-present

Professional Organizations

• Board of Trustees & Program Committee Vice Chair, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Honors and Awards

• Faculty Senate Aware for Service, 2020
• Appointed by Governor Abbott to Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) Board of Trustees, 2019
• Invited Member of Editorial Board, Intervention in School and Clinic, 2016-2019
• Member, Community of Learning on Universal Design for Learning, 2016-2017
• Special Education Teacher of the Year Nominee, 2007-2008
• Member, Collin County Special Education Cooperative (CCSEC)

Research Interests

• Collaboration with families
• Visual impairments
• Assistive technology
• Learning disabilities

Featured Courses

• SPED 526: Characteristics of Students with Moderate Disabilities

Selected Publications

• Jones, B. A., Peterson-Ahmad, M., Fields, M., & *Williams, N. (2020). Training pre-service teachers to match assistive technology to student needs. Journal of Special Education Technology.
• Hott, B. L., Jones, B. A., Rodriguez, J. A., Brigham, F. J., *Reid, C., *Martin, A., & *Mirafuentes, M. (2019). Are rural students receiving FAPE? A descriptive review of IEPs for students with social, emotional, or behavioral needs. Behavior Modification. [Invited Article]
• Jones, B. A., Rudinger, B., *Williams, N., & *Witcher, S. (2018). Training preservice general educators in assistive technology competencies for students with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment.