As a full-time faculty member at George Mason University, I have taught a variety of special education courses, mentored graduate student research projects, and studied ways to facilitate the responsible inclusions of learners with special needs. Prior to making the move to higher education, I was the coordinator of a day treatment center for students with behavioral disorders in Newport News, VA. Our program supported students from six different school districts. Even though I enjoyed my time in administration, my heart has always been in the classroom. My master's degree is in the areas of Learning Disabilities and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders. I have taught students with special needs in a variety of settings from inclusion to self-contained, mostly grades 6-12. I have also taught math in the regular education setting at both the middle and high school levels as General Mathematics was my initial licensure area. My undergraduate background is Psychology.

Research Interests:

·        Responsible Inclusion of Learners with Special Needs

·        Preparation of Teachers and Administrators

·        Effective Interventions in both Classroom and Extracurricular Settings

Baker, P. H., & Brigham, F. R. (2007). Evaluation and professional development of special education teachers: Principles for the Principal. In S. Donahoo & R. C. Hunter (Eds.), Teaching leaders to lead teachers: Educational administration in the era of constant crisis (pp. 115-130), London: Elsevier Ltd.

Chapple, J., Baker, P. H., & Bon, S. C. (2007). Implementing IDEA takes more than just the facts. In CASE, 48(5), 1, 7.

Baker, P. H. (2005). Managing student behavior: How ready are teachers to meet the challenge? American Secondary Education, 33(3), 51-64.

Baker, P. H., & Fleming, L. E. (2005). Lesson plan design for facilitating differentiated instruction. Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 18(4), 35-44.

Fleming, L., Baker, P. H., & Rushton, R. (2002, Fall). Preparing middle grades teachers by design and example. Current Issues in Middle Level Education, 8(1), 2-11.

Baker, P. H., & Baker, R. E. (2000). Finding the Win Zone for athletes with special circumstances.  The Official Journal of the Ohio Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 3(2), 15-20.

• Graduate School of Education
• Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities
• Special Education

No courses taught this semester.

• Classroom Management and Applied Behavior Analysis (EDSE - 402)
• Classroom Management and Applied Behavior Analysis (EDSE - 502)
• Special Education Research (EDSE - 590)
• Secondary Curriculum and Strategies for Mild Disabilities (EDSE - 629)