Tara Tedrow, MA
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Special & Inclusive Education
Location
SEC 523
Phone
(319) 273-3323
Directory Contact
Tara Tedrow, MA
Assistant Professor of Instruction, Special & Inclusive Education
Tedrow is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in Special Education at the University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Iowa, where her research focuses on the intersection of special education and neuroscience within teacher preparation. She is deeply committed to professional service, including active involvement with the Council for Exceptional Children and related advocacy initiatives. Beyond her academic work, she values family, wellness, and lifelong learning—and proudly geek out for all things education, trauma, and neuroscience.
Education
- PhD, Special Education, cognate: Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (Anticipated 2026),
Dissertation: Special educator preparedness in trauma-informed pedagogy: A basic qualitative design - MAT, Special Education, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA
Endorsements:
K-12 Instructional Strategist I: Learning Disabilities
K-12 Instructional Strategist II: Behavior Disorders
K-12 English as a Second Language - Teaching License, Secondary Education, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA
- BS, Administration of Justice, minor: Political Science, University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale, IL
Teaching Interests
- Diverse Learners
- Behavior Management
- Trauma-Informed Pedagogy
- Educational Neuroscience
- AI in Education
Research Interests
- Using neuroscience to inform and strengthen trauma-informed pedagogy.
- Preparing special education teachers to support students affected by trauma and emotional or behavioral disorders.
- Exploring the intersection of neurodevelopment, trauma, and learning within diverse educational contexts.
- Integrating artificial intelligence into teacher preparation to enhance instructional design, reflective practice, and responsiveness to learner needs.
Professional Accomplishments
- Rila, A., King, S., Thoele, J., Bruhn, A., Provis, E., Cho, E., Opeoluwa, O., Glazeck, C., Henrichs, J., Mendieta, C., Tedrow, T., & Holowicki, A. (in press). Fifty years of Behavioral Disorders: Designs, participants, and methods. Behavioral Disorders.
- Tedrow, T. J. (2023, March 29). What to Do When Students Have Experienced Trauma. University of Iowa: Scanlan Center for School Mental Health. https://scsmh.education.uiowa.edu/2023/03/29/what-to-do-when-students-have-experienced-trauma%ef%bf%bc/
- An Exploration of Trauma-Informed Pedagogy in Special Education Teacher Preparation: A Scoping Review [Manuscript in progress], University of Northern Iowa Division of Graduate Studies Fellowship. $4,000. June 2025.
- President of Iowa CEC
- Leadership CEC (nominated)