Clarissa has spent more than thirty years working in public schools, providing consultations to child development centers, and designing customized professional development workshops. She believes in the process of educating all children through exploration and discovery. Dr. Willis will design workshops, deliver keynote addresses, and provide customized professional development based on the needs of your group or organization. To download a complete vita click here.
Author
Her publications include the award winning books, Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, My Child has Autism, and Teaching Infants Toddlers and Twos with Special Needs, Inclusive Environments for Young Children-What to do on Monday Morning! and Inclusive Literacy Lessons to name a few. Her articles have also appeared in journals such as Young Children, Childcare Information Exchange, Dimensions of Early Childhood and Teaching Exceptional Children. To learn more about her books
Information
Philosophy
Meet Dr. Willis
Clarissa Willis is an author, consultant and professional development specialist living in Indiana. She provides workshops, keynote addresses, and customized professional development nationally and internationally. Formerly, the Associate Director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development at East Tennessee State University, she directed such projects as Tennessee's Early Intervention System Technical Assistance Project, The East Tennessee Autism Training Project, The Tennessee Preschool Literacy Project, and Expanding Horizons Early Intervention Project. Currently she is an associate professor at the University of Southern Indiana.
Background
Every child is unique, and I believe that nurturing environments encourage growth, confidence and success. As a special educator, I know that all children, including those with special needs, learn best in natural environments. By using a strengths-based approach children thrive and grow. A child should see the world around her as an exciting place, filled with wonderful things to explore and discover-- it is our job to make that experience a joyful one!