Joseph Gagnon, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor
College of Education
Special Education
Boca Raton Campus | ED-412
Joseph Calvin Gagnon
Joseph Calvin Gagnon (Brojomohun-Gagnon), Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Special Education at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Gagnon holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Special Education from the University of Maryland at College Park and the University of Colorado at Denver, respectively, and a B.S. in Education from the University of Vermont. Prior to his position at FAU, Gagnon was a professor of special pedagogy at the University of Helsinki and a tenured faculty member in the Department of Special Education at the University of Florida. Additionally, he was a Fulbright Scholar in the Republic of South Africa.
Dr. Gagnon has published extensively in the area of special education and has worked and advocated for the needs and rights of people with exceptionalities. His research focuses on ensuring youth at the greatest risk for educational, behavioral, and social failure are provided the supports necessary for long-term success in school and society. He addresses the needs of youth with emotional disturbance and learning disabilities within inclusive settings, as well as those who are incarcerated or in day treatment/residential education and treatment settings. Topical areas of his research include: (a) school-level policies (e.g., curriculum, assessment, and accountability); (b) mathematics and reading instruction; and (c) mental health and behavioral supports. To date, Dr. Gagnon has received over 2.5 million US dollars in funding to support his research.
Dr. Gagnon also has a variety of teaching experiences, including serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco and over a decade of teaching in inclusive settings, day treatment and residential psychiatric schools, and in a charter school for students identified as gifted and talented.
Dr. Gagnon also provides service to the field and works as an advocate for vulnerable youth. He has served as Court Monitor and/or Special Education expert on 28 lawsuits, including seven for the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Civil Rights. He has also lectured and conducted training sessions across the U.S. and in 15 countries including Thailand, Egypt, Finland, China, Venezuela, South Africa, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.
Key Words: Special Education, Behavioral Disorders, Evidence-Based Instruction, Classroom Management, Juvenile Corrections
Selected Appointments
- 2024-Present
- Affiliate Faculty, Center for Peace, Justice, & Human Rights, Florida Atlantic University
- 2022-2027
- Special Member of the Graduate Faculty, College of Education, University of Maryland. College Park, MD
- 2022-2024
- Senior Education Expert, Rule of Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki. Helsinki, Finland
- 2010-2018
- Affiliate Faculty, Center on Children and Families, Levin College of Law, University of Florida. Gainesville, Florida
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Dr. Gagnon's Publishing Collaborators
Courses and Syllabi
Current Research Projects
Journal Articles in Progress
Gagnon, J. C., Barber, B. R., Gurel, S., Houchins, D. E., Lane, H., McCray, E., & Lambert, R. G. (in progress). A lag sequential analysis of instructional grouping and teacher supervision, and student engagement during reading instruction in a juvenile correctional facility.
Gagnon, J. C. (in progress). Finnish lower secondary special education teacher approaches to mathematics instruction.
Gagnon, J. C. (in progress). Leveraging the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to end the solitary confinement of youth with disabilities.
Gagnon, J. C., Howard, D. S., & Stewart, D. (in progress). National Disability Rights Network position statement on the provision of education and special education services in Federal Bureau of Prison facilities.
Gagnon, J. C., & Park, A. (in progress). Tier II/III behavioral and cognitive interventions in Finnish lower secondary school.
Book in Progress
Gagnon, J. C. (in progress). Practical Approaches to Providing Compliant Education and Special Education in Juvenile Corrections: A Guide for Administrators, Teachers, & Advocates
Selected Grant Activities
- 2023
- Recipient, Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL) Travel Grant. Teacher Education for Equality and Equity in the Post-Pandemic Era: Examples from China and Finland. Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China. Funded 3,044 €
- 2019
- Principal Investigator, A Fraction Intervention with Virtual Manipulatives for Students with LD in Math. Digital Development Grant. University of Helsinki, Faculty of Educational Sciences. Funded 10,000 € (with Aunio, P., Co-PI)
- 2013-2014
- Fulbright Scholar, Education in South African Juvenile Corrections. Fulbright Scholars Program, The Council for International Exchange of Scholars, the Scholar Division of the Institute of International Education (IIE). Funded $42,440
- 2013-2014
- Co-Principal Investigator, An Examination of Mental Health Policies and Procedures within Juvenile Correctional Facilities. College Research Incentive Fund Awards. University of Florida, College of Education. Funded $39,931 (with Swank, J., PI)
- 2009-2013
- Co-Principal Investigator (Principal Investigator of subcontract), Project LIBERATE: Literacy Based on Evidence through Research for Adjudicated Teens to Excel. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Funded $2,956,349.00 (Total of University of Florida subcontract: $1,957,277) (with Houchins, D. PI; Lane, H. Co-PI)
- 2008-2012
- Co-Principal Investigator, Project COMPUTE: Creating Opportunities for Mathematics Progress Utilizing Teacher Education. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Funded $788,291 (with Griffin, C. C., PI; Pape, S., Co-PI)
- 2003-2006
- Principal Investigator, Alternative settings: Curriculum assessment, and accountability policies and practices for students with learning and behavioral disorders, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Field Initiated Research Project. Funded, $540,000 (with Maccini, P., Co-PI; & Malmgren, K., Co-PI)
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Selected Honors & Awards
- 2017-2018
- Recipient, University of Florida Term Professorship Award, University of Florida
- 2013-2014
- Recipient, J. William Fulbright Scholar, Republic of South Africa
- 2011
- Recipient, Excellence Award for Assistant Professors, Office of the Provost, University of Florida
- 2010
- Recipient, Scholarship of Engagement Award, School of Special Education, School Psychology, & Early Childhood Studies, College of Education, University of Florida
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Selected Lectures and Trainings
Gagnon, J. C. (2024, May). The Finnish approach to identifying and supporting students with learning disabilities. Learning Disability Congress with International Participation. Istanbul, Türkiye (Keynote address)
Gagnon, J. C. (2024, May). Learning disabilities in Türkiye and Finland: Issues about diagnosis and intervention. Boğaziçi University, Faculty of Education. Istanbul, Türkiye
Gagnon, J. C. (2023, December). Promoting the inclusion of students with disabilities: The Finnish approach to teacher education. International Conference on Research in Education. Lahore, Pakistan (Keynote address)
Gagnon, J. C. (2023, September). Inclusion and sustainable education practices: Merging explicit instruction and problem-based learning. Education, Sustainability, and National Policies: Strategies, Bandwagons and Administrative Models Conference. New Delhi, India
Gagnon, J. C. (2023, August). Inclusion in Finland and Indonesia: Approaches to supporting students with behavioral difficulties. International Conference on Education Innovation. Surabaya, Indonesia (Keynote address)
Gagnon, J. C. (2023, July). Promoting inclusion via evidence-based and high-leverage practices. International Conference on Future Education. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Keynote address)
Gagnon, J. C. (2023, June). Supporting the emotional and behavioral health of children and youth in China Post-COVID: School-based approaches. Teacher Education for Equality and Equity in the Post-Pandemic Era: Examples from China and Finland. Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China
Gagnon, J. C. (2022, June). Evidence-based and empowering practices to support the inclusion of students with learning and behavioural difficulties. Inclusion in Education Summit, Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Special Education and Guidance Services. Ankara, Türkiye (Keynote address)
Gagnon, J. C. (2022, January). Tier II/III behavioral and cognitive interventions in Finnish lower secondary school. International Conference for Exceptional Children. Orlando, FL
Gagnon, J. C. , & Ross Benedick, A. (2022, January). Inclusion of youth with emotional and behavioral disorders in American and Finnish schools. International Conference for Exceptional Children. Orlando, FL
Gagnon, J. C. (2019, December). Inclusion in American and Finnish schools: The neglect of youth with emotional and behavioral difficulties. 6th World Inclusive Education Conference. Beijing, People’s Republic of China (Keynote address)
Gagnon, J. C. (2018, October). Evidence-based vs. best available evidence: Approaching instruction for youth with learning disabilities. Eskisehir Osmangazi University 8th National Conference on Special Education. Eskisehir, Türkiye (Keynote address)
Information for Potential Ph.D. Students
Dr. Gagnon has experience and is willing to guide students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Special Education. While he is interested in working with students with a variety of interests, he has particular expertise in educating youth with emotional disturbance and learning disabilities in inclusionary school settings and exclusionary settings (e.g., juvenile correctional facilities). Specific topical areas of his research include: (a) school-level policies (e.g., curriculum, assessment, and accountability); (b) mathematics and reading instruction; and (c) mental health and behavioral supports. Please contact Dr. Gagnon to discuss your interests further at josephgagnon@fau.edu
Selected Publications
Gagnon, J. C. , Gurel, S., Barber, B. R., Houchins, D. E., Lane, H., McCray, E., & Lambert, R. G. (2024). Teacher instructional approaches and student engagement and behavioral responses during literacy instruction in a juvenile correctional facility. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Online. https://doi.org/10.1177/10634266241231976
LaBelle, B., Gagnon, J. C. , Joyce-Beaulieu, D., Lane, J., Gage, N., Kranzler, J., Houchins, D., Lane, H., McCray, E., Lambert, R., & Ball, S. (2024). Evaluating the utility of the MAYSI-2 among African-American male juvenile offenders. Behavioral Disorders, 49, 222-235. https://doi.org/10.1177/01987429241229045
Gagnon, J. C. , McCray, E. D., & Mullen, D. (2024). From the inside out: A life story narrative of one young man’s experience post-apartheid, post-prison. The Humanistic Psychologist, 52, 83-101. https://doi.org/10.1037/hum0000306
Gagnon, J. C. , Honkasilta, J., & Jahnukainen, M. (2023). Teacher education in Finland: Progress on preparing teachers for inclusion of students with learning and behavioral difficulties. In R. de Oliveira Brito, R. & A. Anselmo Guilherme (Eds.), Formação de Professores ao redor do mundo: Desafios e oportunidades (Teacher education around the world: Challenges and opportunities) (pp. 197-222). UNESCO. ISBN: 978-65-87522-13-5.
Gagnon, J. C. , Kern, L., & Mathur, S. R. (2022). The Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Emotional and Behavioral Health’s position statement on solitary confinement. Behavioral Disorders, 47, 282-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/01987429211063625
Gagnon, J. C. , Ross Benedick, A. & Mason-William, L. (2022). Mental health interventions for youth who are incarcerated: A systematic review of literature. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 92, 391-404. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000587
Gagnon, J. C. , Ruiz, E., Mathur, S. R., & Mason-Williams, L. (2022). Interventions addressing incarcerated youth behavior: A review of literature. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 92, 405-417. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000621
Gagnon, J. C. , Mason-Williams, L., Griller-Clark, H., LaBelle, B., Mathur, S., & Leone, P. E. (2022). Providing high-quality education in juvenile corrections: Next steps. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 92, 429-441. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000612
Gagnon, J. C. (2022). Inclusion in American and Finnish schools: The neglect of youth with emotional and behavioral disorders. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 37, 603-616. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2021.1929235
Gagnon, J. C. , & Ross Benedick, A. (2021). Provision of a free and appropriate public education in an adult jail during COVID-19: The case of Charles H. et al. v. District of Columbia et al., Education Sciences, 11(12), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11120767
Gagnon, J. C. , & Swank, J. (2021). A national survey on mental health professional development in juvenile justice facilities: Implications for youth reentry. Behavioral Disorders, 46, 149–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742920911183
Selected Service
Dr. Gagnon participates in a number of service activities, including serving on editorial boards and serving as a consultant. For example, Dr. Gagnon is Associate Editor for Behavioral Disorders and Consulting Editor for Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Remedial & Special Education.
The following are recent examples of his work as a consultant:
- 2024-Present
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, P.A. v. Voitier. Southern Poverty Law Center and Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic & Center for Social Justice at Loyola University.
- 2023-Present
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. v. Adult Prison Education Resources Workgroup, et al. (Civil Action No. 24-cv-00615). Terris, Pravlik & Millian.
- 2023-Present
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, Alex A., et al. v. Edwards, et al. (Case No. 3:22-cv-00573-SDD-RLB). ACLU National Prison Project and Southern Poverty Law Center.
- 2021-Present
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, Derrick et al. v. Glen Mills Schools et al. (Civil Action No. 19-1541). Juvenile Law Center and Education Law Center.
- 2021-Present
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, Charles H. et al. v. District of Columbia Public Schools, et al. (Civil Action No. 1:21-cv-00997). Terris, Pravlik & Millian, the School Justice Project, and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee.
- 2022-2024
- Senior Education Expert, Introducing Education to Rule of Law Teaching Modules in the Mozambican Educational System. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and University of Helsinki Rule of Law Centre. Maputo, Mozambique
- 2023
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, M. B. v. District of Columbia Public Schools and Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The School Justice Project, Washington Lawyers' Committee, and Nixon Peabody.
- 2023
- Education/Special Education Expert Consultant, D. M. v. District of Columbia Public Schools and Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The School Justice Project, Washington Lawyers' Committee, and Nixon Peabody.
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Research Interests
I address the needs of youth with emotional disturbance and learning disabilities within regular classroom settings, as well as those who are incarcerated or in day treatment/residential psychiatric schools. Topical areas of his research include: (a) school-level policies (e.g., curriculum, assessment, and accountability); (b) mathematics and reading instruction; and (c) mental health and behavioral supports.
Research Interest Keywords
Special Edcation; Youth Behavior, Youth Mental Health, Mathematics, Reading; School-Level Policies, Juvenile Corrections, Day Treatment/Residential Psychiatric Schools
Research Methods Keywords
Quantitative Methods: Surveys, Group Design Research Case Studies
Software Used in Your Research
SPSS
