College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University
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Graduate School of Education - George Mason University

Our Graduate School of Education is the alma mater for one third of teachers and administrators in Northern Virginia’s world-class school systems. Each year, more than 3,000 graduate students enroll in our innovative academic programs, which include advanced study for teachers and school leaders, instructional design and technology, and a renowned PhD in Education program that is among the largest in the country.

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School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism - George Mason University

The School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism (SRHT) offers exciting, career-ready majors in dynamic fields such as athletic training, tourism and events management, health and physical education, kinesiology, sport management, and recreation management. SRHT features renowned faculty, cutting-edge research, six laboratories and centers, and a diverse student body of more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Each major requires one or more internship or clinical experiences, ensuring that students graduate not just with a transcript but with a resume that demonstrates their professional aptitude and skills.

Dr. Jen Suh in classroom
Areas of Study

How will YOU make an impact?

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Our Philosophy

At George Mason University, our aim is not to be the best university in the world, but the best university for the world. We accept our responsibility to serve others, to help our students succeed, to enrich the life of our community, and to contribute to solving some of the most complex problems of our time.

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Dr. Brenda Bannan teaching in classroom
About CEHD

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) inspires undergraduate and graduate students to promote learning and development across the life span. Innovative, inclusive, and cutting-edge, the college and its two schools prepare professionals who improve lives and make a difference for our community and for the world.

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Students

One of the goals of the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is to provide all students with personalized, high-quality experiential learning opportunities, both regionally and globally with multiple pathways and delivery formats that will enable all graduates to pursue meaningful lives and successful careers.

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Research of Consequence
Research

The college’s innovative research and pace of performance has resulted in a research portfolio that has grown dramatically compared to peer institutions, with annual expenditures exceeding $16 million annually. This research of consequence, undertaken by faculty in both schools, advances knowledge in the learning and developmental sciences, benefiting the greater community in Virginia and beyond.

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Fontana, Judith

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PhD, George Mason University
Assistant Professor
Curriculum and Instruction Projects Coordinator, Region 4 Training and Technical Assistance Center
Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities
Sp Ed: General Curriculum

Contact Information

Send email to Dr. Fontana

Phone: (703) 993-4496
Fax: (703) 993-4497
Email: jfontan1 (@gmu.edu)

George Mason University
Fairfax Campus
Krug Hall 213F
4400 University Dr.
MS 1F2
Fairfax, VA 22030

Profile

Judith L. Fontanais the Mild Disabilities/Instructional Support Teams Coordinator at T/TAC. Judiths is known for her motto of "All children can learn. It is my responsibility as a teacher to discover how to help each child reach his/her potential." Judith has been a general educator, a reading specialist and a teacher of children with mild to moderate disabilities in self-contained and team classes. Assessment, teacher education as well as Instructional strategies for literacy and content area learning for students in grades K-12 with mild disabilities and ESOL students are areas of interest.  Judith earned a BA in English from Niagara University in NY, a M.Ed. in Reading Education from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY and a Ph.D. in Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. In addition to extensive work in private and public school in several states and overseas with the Department of Defense Public Schools, Judith has worked as a consultant for an educational publishing company and as a volunteer coordinating a Reading Is Fundamental program for American elementary students in Okinawa, Japan. She has been a consultant for WETA's Reading Rockets website and has contributed to the LD Online website. Current work efforts include the Multi-sensory Literacy Instruction Pilot Project (MSLIPP) and the "Real Co-Teachers of Virginia". Dr. Fontana is a certified professional developer for Content Enhancement Routines( Strategic Instruction Model, SIM  from KRCL).

Research Interests

  • Assessment practices
  • Reading instruction including the ESOL population
  • Teacher education

Other Information

Virginia State Project

  • Multi-sensory Literacy Instruction Pilot Project MSLIPP)
  • Co-Teaching Initiative (Real Co-Teachers of Virginia)
  • Strategic Instruction Model (SIM)