School of Education

Education

• Ph.D. in special education, University of Illinois
• M.M. in music therapy, Florida State University
• B.S. in psychology, University of Florida
• B.M. in music, University of Florida
  
  

Research interests

Infants and toddlers with disabilities; infant mental health; family-centered practices and coaching; professional development and personnel preparation; family and child well-being; early childhood systems

Recent publications/projects

• Spence, C. M., Miller, D. L., Corr, C. P., Santos, R. M., & *Bentley, B. (2024). When in doubt, reach out! Teaming strategies for inclusive settings. In M. L. Masterson & R. Grady. (Eds). Focus on Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Equitable & joyful learning with infants & toddlers. (p. 96-101). National Association for the Education of Young Children.
• Stayton, V., Kilgo, J., McCollum, J., Lifter, K., Mickelson, A., Purcell, M., Spence, C. M., Vail, C., Zaghlawan, H., & Barton, E. (2024). Evolution of professional standards: Reflecting on the past to inform the future. Journal of Special Education Preparation, 4(1), 10-22. https://openjournals.bsu.edu/JOSEP/issue/view/353/147
• Walter, H., Spence, C. M., & Rooks-Ellis, D. (2023). Leading systems change: A framework for embedding well-being in EI/ECSE. Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practices Leadership Monograph, p. 39-57. Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
• Williams, M., Spence, C. M., Hill, C. F., Coogle, C., DeArment, S., & Xu, Y. (2023). Early Intervention leadership: Strategies and collaborations. Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practices Leadership Monograph, p. 147-157. Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
• Spence, C. M., *Stuyvenberg, C. L., Kane, A. E., Burnsed, J., & Dusing, S. (2023). Parent experiences in the NICU and transition to home. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(11), 6050. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20116050
• Spence, C. M., Rooks-Ellis, D. L., *Brown Ruiz, A., Fish, L. A., *Jones, B., *O’Grady C. E., & *Sulinski, E. (2023). How early interventionists support families experiencing vulnerable circumstances: A closer look at family-centered practice. Children and Youth Services Review, 144, 106752. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106752
• Spence, C. M., Rooks-Ellis, D. L., *Brown Ruiz, A., Fish, L. A., *Jones, B., *O’Grady C. E., & *Sulinski, E. (2022). The language we use: Providers’ perceptions about families. Early Childhood Education Journal, 50, 1291-1302. doi: 10.1007/s10643-021-01258-2
  
  

Bio

Dr. Christine Spence is an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, program faculty for Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), and program coordinator for the Early Childhood Special Education programs. Her research focuses on 1) personnel preparation focused on culturally responsive teaching and learning; 2) hearing the voices of families engaged in and impacted by early childhood and disability-focused services and systems; and 3) investigating the systems themselves, particularly focused on collaboration between systems.

Curriculum Vitae