Universal Design and Executive Function: Tiered Instruction to Support the Needs of ALL Learners

Executive function strategies are the key to successful learning for all students, yet different populations of students benefit from different levels of support. In this presentation, we will use the principles of UDL and tiered instruction to discuss how to support the success of students across grades and learning settings.

Michael Greschler, M.Ed., SMARTS Director

Michael Greschler, M.Ed. is the Director of the SMARTS program. Over the past 8 years, he has worked to develop and grow the SMARTS program, collaborating with teachers and administrators in schools. In addition to leading the pilot and launch of both the secondary and elementary curricula, Michael hosts trainings and workshops for SMARTS educators. Since the launch of SMARTS in the fall of 2015, Michael has supported more than 2,000 SMARTS educators around the world, helping them bring the power of executive function into the classroom. In addition, Michael is a conference coordinator for ResearchILD’s Executive Function Conference. As an educational specialist, Michael uses executive function strategy instruction to support teenagers and young adults.

Jessica Chiusolo, M.Ed., SMARTS Trainer / Instructional Designer 

Jessica Chiusolo, M. Ed. has been with ResearchILD since 2022 and works as a SMARTS Instructional Designer and Professional Development Trainer.  Jessica works on SMARTS course design, development, and implementation. She also delivers SMARTS training, consultations, and coaching services for a variety of audiences. Jessica has been a classroom educator for over 20 years in both public and private schools while serving on various curriculum and design committees.  Her work in Community Engagement and Instructional Design has inspired her to create content that engages all learners. Jessica has also led Professional Development Trainings in the areas of Executive Function, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Social Emotional Learning, and STEM initiatives.