Welcome to the 2025-2026

Implementation Science Academy!

During the 2023-2024 school year, VDOE and VTSS-RIC partnered with national technical assistance partners to develop the country’s first state led Implementation Science Academy (ISA). During the 2024-2025 school year, we partnered with five new school divisions to participate in ISA.

During 2025-2026, we have partnered with 8 divisions! Your divisions will select high leverage practices in the areas of Assessment and Social/Emotional/Behavioral based on the data-driven needs of your divisions. VDOE staff and VTSS coaches will work with your teams to support with selection of contextually appropriate, evidence-based practices which will be the anchor for their work within ISA.

There will be 2 cohorts participating in ISA for 2025-2026.

25-26 Cohort 1:

Charlottesville
Greensville
Southampton
VDOE Early Childhood
Partnership for People with Disabilities
TTAC Directors

25-26 Cohort 2:

Mathews
Dinwiddie
Rappahannock
Charles City

ISA allows us to address MTSS implementation and supporting integration of HLPs/EBPs into division practice while also building coaching skills and capacity at the state and division levels.

Navigating the course

On the left side of this page, you'll find your navigation options for this course. A brief explanation of each is below:

Home. The Home navigation link will bring you back to the introduction page of this course (where you are now).
Modules. This is the most important link in your course! The Modules page is where you'll spend the vast majority of your time in this course. Each session of Implementation Science Academy will be set up as its own Module. They will be published the morning of each session.
Announcements. Regular course news and announcements will be posted to this page. The most recent announcements will also appear on the course home page.

If you need help

Contact your facilitator when:

Contact VCU Support when:

You run into an issue while in Canvas. Begin by selecting the "Help" button, located on the left-side Global Navigation menu. Then, select from one of the support resource items within the menu. You can also contact the VCU Help Desk by visiting ts.vcu.edu and clicking IT Support Center.

Note: If you are using the Canvas Student app, please review the following Canvas Student Guides for additional support:
- How do I get help with the Student app on my iOS device?
- How do I get help with the Canvas Student app on my Android device?

Finished reading the Home Page?

Click Modules in the course navigation.

Meet Your Facilitators

Dr. Erin Sturgis, PMP , PMI-ACP

MTSS Special Education Specialist

Virginia Department of Education

erin.sturgis@doe.virginia.gov

Dr. Jodie Soracco, BCBA, LBA

Director, VTSS-RIC

soraccoja@vcu.edu

Dr. Charlome Pierce

VTSS State Coach

crpierce@vcu.edu

Dr. Roberta Thayer-Smith

VTSS State Coach

rathayersmith@vcu.edu

Rhonda Jackson-Smith

VTSS State Coach

rjackson-smit@vcu.edu

Matthew Tayman

VTSS State Coach

taymanmr@vcu.edu