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Michele Trujillo

Chair and Professor of Special Education

School of Education

Bio

Dr. Michele Terese Trujillo has worked as a professional educator for 24 years and is an Associate Professor in the Special Education Department in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is a co-founder and volunteer co-director of The Justice & Heritage Academy under the non profit organization Conejos Clean Water, which she also co- founded and was a former Chairperson. Michele is concerned with educational, social, environmental and food justice issues of the rural and urban communities in Colorado and how these inequities impact the education of students; this is her primary research focus. Michele presents nationally and internationally on educational topics. Her research focuses on the educational implications for culturally and linguistically diverse students with exceptionalities. Michele earned a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction (emphasis in multicultural and bilingual special education) in 2011 from Northern Arizona University, a school principal license in 2017 from the Principal Institute, an MA degree in special education in 1999 from the University of Northern Colorado and a BA in music, with an emphasis in music therapy, in 1994 from Colorado State University. Michele is actively involved in her LatinX community by serving on various committees; Michele is a recent recipient of the Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award by the Denver Public Library which recognizes her contributions and dedication to the Latino community within Colorado.

Degree

Other in Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Arizona University

MA in Special Education

University of Northern Colorado

BA in Music

Colorado State University

Published Works

  • Prestridge, T. P., Carter, S. I., Trujillo, T. M., Herring, J. T., Pleis, M. L. . A Collaborative Self-Study to Explore Assessment and Feedback in Online/Hybrid Courses. Journal of Excellence in College Teaching, 1 Pages. https://celt.miamioh.edu/index.php/JECT.
  • Benavides, V., de Leon, R., Abeyta, A. A., Trujillo, T. M. . Language Preservation in a Justice and Heritage Micro School: Teaching Youth with Bilingualism in their Bones. . Research Journal: The Rural Educator.
  • Trujillo, T. M. . The Road to Liberation Education, The Justice and Heritage Academy. . [Manuscript submitted for publication]. The Journal of International Critical Pedagogy. University of North Carolina, Greensboro..
  • Anderson, P., Herring, T., . (2022). Case Study of Valencia and Laura. In P.L. Anderson, & T. J. Herring (Authors), Case studies for inclusive schools (4th ed.), (pp. 44-47). Pro-Ed Publishing. . Pro Ed. Publishing.

Research Interests

Michele presents nationally and internationally on special education and educational Justice topics and has publications that focus on the educational implications for culturally and linguistically diverse students in public schools.

Teaching Interests

Undergraduate Level Course Teaching Experience,
Special Education Courses:
Exceptional Learner, Identification and Teaching the Special Education Student, Special Education Assessment, Current Trends and Issues in Special Education, Special Education For Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students, Behavior Management and Instruction, Student Teaching in Special Education.

Graduate Level Course Teaching Experience,
Special Education Courses:
Special Education Assessment,
SPED internship and Behavior Management
Multicultural and Bilingual Special Education
PLCs: Collaboration and Collective Responsibility

Other Graduate Courses:
Culture and Community
Teaching the Diverse Learner

Office Hours

Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.