Breadcrumb
Colin McInnis
Colin McInnis
Hello! My name is Prof. Colin M McInnis, and I am the current Director of Field Experiences with Benerd’s Teacher Education Department. I also support accreditation and assessment, oversee the edTPA performance assessment, and our integrated credentialing systems.
I am a native Stocktonian, and grew up near Downtown Stockton. I love the strength and resiliency of my local community, and strive to empower future teachers to build on their roots and identities to meaningfully engage their own students.
I currently live out in the Lodi countryside and have been dabbling in homesteading. I have four dogs, five chickens, four goats, and three cats. I have a cherry and walnut orchard, and hope to dive into beekeeping in the coming years! My family and community continually inspire me, and my go-to stress reliever is enjoying nature with my spouse and five year old daughter.
I also am open and empowered by my diagnosis of ADHD: Combined Presentation and a sports injury that has limited my physical mobility, and am open to partnering with students to discuss services for students with disabilities and accommodating students of all levels of support needs.
I attended Pacific myself for my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and my Doctorate. My Bachelor’s was in Speech Language Pathology, my Master’s in Education, Special Education Extensive Support Needs, and my Doctorate in Education within the Transformative Action in Education program.
I consider myself a lifelong Pacifican, as I grew up around the campus. I learned to ride my bike on the path outside Benerd and the Bio building, and climbed the redwood trees on the south lawn playing hide and seek with my friends.
I loved the supportive and encouraging environment I received as a student, and endeavor to ensure my own students in turn receive the quality and engaging curriculum and support that inspired me to teach.
I frequently teach courses on:
- Teaching English Language Learners
- Positive Behavioral Supports
- Evidence Based Practices in Autism
- Critical Issues in Special Education
- Directed Teaching and Professional Practice
My goal during instruction is that Benerd students receive insight and evidence based practices for current, modern teaching concerns and needs, and be able to support your students to their fullest potentials while also progressing through your own programs and credentialing requirements.
My personal research interests are:
- Understanding what factors currently are most relevant to new teacher support
- How the needs of at-risk and marginalized students are changing
- Best supports for English language learners, including Tier 2-3 academic support needs
- Collaborative practices between Education Specialists, General Education, and all specialists and School Psychologists
- Evolving best-practices for Special and General Education
- Advocacy for IDEA and FAPE
