Melinda Burchard, Ph.D.

Recent Research:

• Assessment and Professional Development related to Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Response to Intervention (RTI)
• Developer of the MTISES, The Multi-tiered Instructional Self-Efficacy Scale
• Effective Teaching Practices
• Effectiveness of Learning Strategies for postsecondary students with and without disabilities
• Investigated Interactions Between Information Literacy and Self-Efficacy and Performance Related to Teaching with Evidence-Based Practices

Current Projects:

• Studying the needs and gains of in-service and pre-service teachers in components of multi-tiered instruction
• Development of the IEP Quality Inventory, used to evaluate the quality of IEPs
• Coordinating Special Education Program
• Coordinating Minor in Speech and Language Pathology

• Ph.D., George Mason University, 2010
  Special Education and Teacher Education
• M.Ed., James Madison University, 2002
  Special Education
• ​​​​​​​B.A., The College of William and Mary, 1985
  Human Relations

• EDSP 399 - Positive Behavior Support for Learners with Emotional Behavioral and Social Disabilities
• EDSP 398 - Instructional Strategies for Learners with Severe to Profound Disabilities
• EDSP 397 - Instructional Strategies for Learners with Mild to Moderate Disabilities
• EDSP 307 - Inclusion Practices

Vocational Story :

When I was just ten-years-old, my heart was stolen by Russ, a young neighbor with Down Syndrome. That same year, I read the book, The Family that Nobody Wanted by Helen Doss. At the age of ten I felt called to adopt children with disabilities. My husband and I have four children, one of whom has severe autism. Johnny taught me so much and I began to teach other parents of children with disabilities, first informally, and later as a grant funded Parent Trainer. From that position, I pursued a career as a Special Educator, teaching students with learning disabilities and ADHD. My successes teaching strategies led to a move to coordinate a learning strategies program at a university, and to teaching opportunities in Special Education and Math Education courses in their teacher education program. I love teaching special education courses at Messiah College, energized by my interactions with students both in and out of the classroom. Because my first venture into the field of special education was motivated by faith, it is exciting to now integrate faith with empowering my students to teach "the least of these" (The Holy Bible, Matthew 25:45).

Recent Research:

• Assessment and Professional Development related to self-efficacy of future teachers for Cultural Responsiveness
• Assessment and Professional Development related to self-efficacy of future teachers for implementing interventions
• Information literacy needs of future teachers 
• Scale Developer including the Culturally Responsive Special Education Experiences and Efficacy Scale, the Multi-Tiered Instruction Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Finding Belonging through Children's Books Rating Scale, all available for free through Messiah University MOSAIC at https://mosaic.messiah.edu/

Current Projects:

• Studying the needs and gains of pre-service teachers in cultural responsiveness within special education
• Studying information literacy needs and gains of future teachers compared to students in other social sciences, especially concerning finding practices that work in teaching or services fields
• Coordinating Special Education Program
• Coordinating Minor in Speech and Language Pathology

Recent Publications: 

Selected Recent Publications: 

Burchard, M.S. (2022). Interactions and gains in cultural responsiveness in pre-service teachers. Pennsylvania Teacher Educator.

Burchard, M.S., Amels, A., Hagar, K.M., and Buckley, C.M. (2022). Preparing pre-service special educators to co-teach financial literacy. Pennsylvania Educational Leadership Journal. https://pennsylvaniaascd.wildapricot.org/PEL-Journal-Archives/.

Burchard, M.S. (2022). Perspectives and practical strategies for disability-related behavior challenges in ministries to children and youth. The Journal of the Christian Institute on Disability,10(1), 39-54.  https://journal.joniandfriends.org/index.php/jcid/issue/view/31. 

Burchard, M.S. (2021). Culturally Responsive Special Education Experiences and Efficacy Scale. https://mosaic.messiah.edu.

Burchard, M. S. (2021). Finding Belonging through Children’s Books Rating Scale.https://mosaic.messiah.edu.

Burchard, M. and Vargas, K.H. (2020). Interactions of IEP quality and intervention self-efficacy for pre-service teachers. Pennsylvania Teacher Educator.

Burchard, M.S. and Myers, S. (2019). Early information literacy experience matters to self-efficacy and performance outcomes in teacher education. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 49(2). doi: 10.1080/10790195.2019.1582372

Selected Presentations:

International

Burchard, M.S. (February 1, 2022). Interactions of cultural responsiveness in pre-service special educators. Annual Convention and Expo of the Council for Exceptional Children. Orlando, Florida.

Burchard, M.S., Hagar, K., and Amels, A. (March 9, 2021). Preparing pre-service special educators to teach financial literacy. Learning Interactive Virtual Event: The Annual International Convention of the Council for Exceptional Children.Virtual. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxa4fAtO1fM  

Burchard, M.S., and Hipple, K. (February 7, 2020). A pilot study of IEP quality in a teacher preparation program. All Educators. Every Child. No Limits:2020 Council for Exceptional Children International Convention, Portland, Oregon. 

Burchard, M.S., Clark, A.M., and Rossi, O. (February 5, 2020). Ambitious defensible IEP goals for students with greatest needs. All Educators. Every Child. No Limits:2020 Council for Exceptional Children International Convention, Portland, Oregon. 

Burchard, M.S., Hegman, R., Kasper, L., and Rossi, O. (February 1, 2019). Writing IEPs that guide intervention practice. Every Child No Limits. 2019 Council for Exceptional Children International Convention, Indianapolis, Indiana. 

Burchard, M.S. (January 31, 2019). Implementing the VISION strategy:   Endrew F Supreme Court case translated into practice. Every Child No Limits. 2019 Council for Exceptional Children International Convention, poster session. Indianapolis, Indiana. 

National

Burchard, M.S., Cass, A., and Chen, J. (June 25, 2022). Teaching special educators to critically evaluate children’s books for cultural responsiveness. American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. Washington, D.C. 

Myers, S.K., and Burchard, M.S. (July 22, 2019). Formative assessment: Identifying and supporting student success in information literacy processes. American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. Washington, D.C.  

State

Burchard, M.S. (October 27, 2022). Interactions and gains in cultural responsiveness in pre-service educators. Harrisburg: Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators.  

Burchard, M.S. (October 2, 2021). Preparing pre-service special educators to co-teach personal finance. Thinking About Things Differently, Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Education. Blue Bell, PA. 

Burchard, M.S., and Brezan, T. (October 2, 2021). Pre-apprenticeship program design: Integrating transition planning with future readiness experiences. Thinking About Things Differently, Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Education. Blue Bell, PA. 

Burchard, M.S., and Vargas, K.H. (October 28 2020). Interactions of IEP quality and intervention self-efficacy for pre-service teachers. 2020 Teacher Education Assembly, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Conference. Virtual. 

Hogan, S., and Burchard, M.S. (October 9, 2020). AAC for Special Olympics. Promoting Resilience for All Learners: 61st Annual Convention of the Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children. Virtual.

Burchard, M.S., Hazen, D. (October 23, 2019). Leading as models for learning of content and pedagogy. Listening, Learning and Leading: 2019 Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators Conference. Harrisburg, PA.