About me
Deanna Parish, Ph.D. has been serving students with disabilities for over 25 years. As a classroom teacher, she worked with students with intellectual disabilities, specializing in students with extensive support needs. Dr. Parish has also served as a lead teacher, working with other teachers of students with low incidence disabilities. Her passion for teacher training was ignited through serving as a cooperating teacher for pre-service teacher candidates and as a coach for in-service special education teachers. Dr. Parish has moved on to work in special education administration, spending time as both a coordinator and as a director of special services. In her current role as program director of the Academic Alliance of South Carolina, Dr. Parish works in collaboration with other state technical assistance agencies to promote the implementation of evidence-based practices in SC. These experiences have led to opportunities to increase outcomes for students with disabilities and their families through the development of teacher leaders and support for quality instruction within special education programs. Dr. Parish has worked with state-level leaders on alternate assessment development and instructional support, is an Adjunct Professor for the University of South Carolina, and has served as an Educator in Residence for the PROGRESS Center.
