Stephen Ciullo is an Associate Professor of Special Education. His research focuses on two topics. First, he studies the extent to which classroom writing instruction provided to students with disabilities aligns with research evidence, and how observed instruction relates to students’ writing performance. Stephen is also interested in interventions to improve teacher effectiveness in the area of writing and content-area knowledge. Stephen is Primary Investigator (PI) on a research grant funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). This project explores the extent to which effective writing instructional practices are used by special educators and general educators who teach writing to students with disabilities. The project also explores possible differences between the instruction of special educators and general educators. Stephen also serves as Co-PI on a second IES-funded grant with Dr. Linda Mason (PI). This project explores the relationships between middle school social studies and science teachers' use of evidence-based writing practices, teachers' experience with and attitudes about adapting instruction for students with disabilities, and students' writing outcomes. Ciullo teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses. His courses focus on learning disabilities, and instructional practices that improve reading and writing instruction for students who receive special education services. Before joining Texas State University, Stephen earned his doctorate in Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin. He also served as a special education teacher in New York for six years.