ETSU professors part of major project studying student behavior

Project has received $3.8 million grant 

A bevy of long-term problems can be the result when students struggle with social and behavioral issues. 

A lack of access to behavioral health services often amplifies the problem, especially in rural America. 

Researchers are hoping to discern how to address this. 

A pair of East Tennessee State University professors are at the center of the effort. 

“What an opportunity to live out the mission of ETSU to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond,” said Drs. Kim Hale, a professor in Educational Foundations and Special Education and director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development, and Pamela Mims, a Special Education professor and associate dean of Research and Grants in the Clemmer College of Education and Human Development. “We are thrilled to be part of this project, working not only with other scholars but communities, parents and teachers.” 

Hale and Mims have joined Drs. Amanda Witte, HyeonJin Yoon and Sue Sheridan, all from the University of Nebraska, on the research.

The project has received impressive funding, earning a $3.8 million grant from the Institute of Education Services. 

The research team will recruit nearly 200 students, ranging from kindergarten through sixth grade, with disruptive behaviors. The first group of students will most likely hail from the Appalachian Highlands, including schools in Tennessee and southwestern Virginia.    

The five-year project will utilize a technique known as Teachers and Parents as Partners, also known as TAPP. The study will ultimately address how effectively TAPP is delivered through distance technology in rural Appalachia. 

“The work that Drs. Hale and Mims are doing is a critical topic, and I commend them for their collaborative efforts,” said Dr. Janna Scarborough, dean of the Clemmer College of Education and Human Development. “Their work reflects the leadership, scholarship and innovation values central to the Clemmer College of Education and Human Development and our focus on improving rural education and wellness.”

From discoveries entirely new to science to books about little-known maladies, Hale and Mims are part of the dozens of ETSU faculty generating cutting-edge scholarship.  

“This is an incredible opportunity to make a real difference for generations to come in the Appalachian Highlands,” said Hale and Mims. 

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East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.