Biography
Growing up as a struggling student with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and a learning disability, Gary E. Schaffer, PhD, has dedicated his professional life to helping all learners succeed. After earning his bachelor’s degree in special education and English, Gary went on to obtain a PhD in school psychology and become both a school psychologist and a clinical mental health counselor. Before obtaining his PhD, Gary practiced as a school psychologist in school, hospital, and state agency settings for over a decade, primarily working with diverse learners and individuals with developmental disabilities.
Currently, Gary is a full-time Assistant Professor at Niagara University, where he teaches graduate students in school psychology and counseling. He is also employed as a school psychologist at Gateway-Longview, an alternative school for children with social-emotional differences. He has authored numerous scholarly articles, books, book chapters, and programs on topics such as MTSS, autism, disability advocacy, and school psychology leadership, and he has consulted and presented nationally on these subjects. His two most recent books, published by SAGE and Routledge, are Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: A Practical Guide to Preventive Practice and Implementing Universal Social-Emotional Programs: A Step-by-Step Guide for Schools. His upcoming text is entitled MTSS for all: Building truly inclusive systems for students with disabilities. Routledge. Nationally, he offers consultation and presentations on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and provides insight into best practices in prevention under three-tiered frameworks, such as RTI and SWPBS.
Current Research
- Implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and preventative equity-based interventions
- Understanding disability identity in relation to systemic barriers and compensatory strategies that promote academic, social, and workplace success
- Examining the evolving roles, workforce experiences, and retention of school psychologists, in school and non-school settings
Select publications
Books and Book Chapters:
- Schaffer, G. E. (2023). Multi-tiered systems of support: A practical guide to preventative practice. SAGE Publishing.
- Schaffer, G. E. & Bender, S. L. (2023). Implementing universal social-emotional programs: A step-by-step guide for schools. Routledge.
- Schaffer, G. E. (2021). School Psychology Leadership in Multi-tiered Systems of Support. In L. Kilanowski & K. Augustyniak (Eds.), Principles of Leadership in School Psychology (pp. 37 – 56). Springer.
Scholarly articles:
- Schaffer, G. E. (manuscript accepted). Factors Associated with School Psychologists’ Disability Disclosure in the Workplace. Department of School Psychology, Niagara University.
- Schaffer, G. E., & Dart, E. H. (manuscript accepted). Factors that increase and decrease academic motivation in high school and college students with and without autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.
- Schaffer, G. E., & Boone, B. (2024). MTSS implementation in residential and day habilitation settings: A scoping review. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 0(0), 1 – 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295241312058
- Schaffer, G. E., Faber, A. J., Shafaie, S. M., & Stageberg, D. (2024). Perceptions of autistic and nonautistic high school students regarding factors that impact their motivation to be academically successful. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 40(4) 288 – 316. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377903.2024.2353922
- Schaffer, G. E., Power, E. M., Fiske, A., Trolian, T. L., & Castillo, J. M. (2023). Evaluating and understanding the roles of school psychologists in non-school settings. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 40(2), 106 – 131. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377903.2023.2263388
Educational Background
University of South Florida
APA-accredited, NASP-accredited School Psychology Program
School Psychology
Niagara University
Certificate of Advanced Study
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Niagara University
Master of Science/Certificate of Advanced Study
School Psychology
Niagara University
Bachelor of Arts
Adolescence Education and Special Education & English Grades 7 – 12