Lisa Altemueller

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Lisa Altemueller

Professor of Special Education

Special Education, Early Childhood, and Culturally/Linguistically Diverse Education

Bio

I began my career in education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I majored in elementary education with an emphasis in Spanish. This foundation gave me a unique perspective on the diverse needs of my students. After earning my degree, I pursued a Master’s in Special Education from Appalachian State University, which further fueled my passion for advocacy within educational settings.
Most of my K-12 teaching experience took place in an elementary school characterized by a high percentage of native Spanish-speaking students. This environment led me to grapple with critical questions regarding the differentiation between disabilities and language differences, as well as the level of parental involvement in the special education process. These inquiries motivated me to advance my studies further.
I obtained my Ed.D. in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado, where I also minored in statistics. My tenure at MSU Denver allowed me to focus on essential areas such as assessment in special education, differentiation of instruction and collaboration, instructional planning, reading disabilities, and the foundational aspects of elementary education.
I served as the Department Chair of Elementary Education and Literacy for eight year. My dedication to the field of special education never waned, and I returned to full-time teaching in the fall of 2016. By the fall of 2019, I took on the role of Associate Dean for the School of Education, serving in that capacity for five years. Although these leadership positions were rewarding, I am genuinely thrilled to be back in the classroom full-time as of fall 2024, engaging with students and fostering their learning experiences.

Educational Biography
Doctor of Education: Special Education with statistics minor, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO (2001)
Master of Arts: Special Education, Appalachian State University, Boone NC (1996)
Bachelor of Arts: Elementary Education with Spanish concentration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (1993)

Degree

Other in Special Education

University of Northern Colorado

MA in Special Education Learning Disabilities

Appalachian State University

BA in Elementary Education

University of North Carolina

Published Works

  • Canges, L. R., Altemueller, L., Halley, F. K. (2021). Making it Work! Increasing Collaboration between our Special Education and General Education Licensure Programs at MSU Denver. Journal of Educational Research and Innovation , 9(1). https://digscholarship.unco.edu/jeri/vol9/iss1/7.
  • Canges, R., Altemueller, M. L., Halley, K. (2021). Making it Work! Increasing Collaboration between our Special Education and General Education Licensure Programs at MSU Denver. Journal of Educational Research and Innovation, https://digscholarship.unco.edu/jeri/vol9/iss1/7/
  • Altemueller, M. L., Lindquist, L. C. (2017). Flipped Classroom Instruction for Inclusive Learning. British Journal of Special Education, https://doi.org/doi:10.1111/1467-8578.1217
  • Lindquist, L. C., Altemueller, M. L. (2014). Flipped Classroom Instruction for Inclusive Learning. Proceedings of Braga 2014 Embracing Inclusinve Approaches for Children and Youth with Special Education Needs Conference, webs.ie.uminho.pt/e-book/
  • Carroll, D., Fulmer, C., Garrison-Wade, D., Aragon, L., Altemueller (Coval), L. (2011). School Culture for Students with Significant Support Needs: Belonging is not enough. , http://www.internationaljournalofspecialeducation.com/articles.cfm?y=2011&v=26&n=2
  • Brewer, D. R., Lindquist, C., Altemueller, M. L. (2011). The Dispositions Improvement Process. International Journal of Instruction, http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED522684.pdf
  • Altemueller, M. L., Reid , M., Brewer , K. (2007). Bellies, Backs, Cleavage & Cracks: The Dispositions Improvement Plan . Colorado Consortium of Special Education Teacher Educators Proceedings ,

Research Interests

My research interests include teacher candidate professional behaviors, hybrid and flipped classroom instruction, and parent involvement in education. I co-wrote two grants targeting literacy for incarcerated youth and co-wrote and received a grant designed to pay the tuition of students during their student teaching semester. Currently, I am collaborating with colleagues on articles related to blended course offerings, parents' experiences in the Individualized Education Process, and preparing general education teachers to work with students with special needs.

Office Hours

TBD