Kristen Rolf

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling

Assistant Professor


Kristen Rolf

Contact Information

Office Location: EDUC 320
Phone: 435-797-1584
Email: kristen.rolf@usu.edu

Educational Background

PhD, Disability Disciplines, (Special Education), Utah State University, 2022
Investigating the Effectiveness of Explicit, Systematic Mathematics Vocabulary Instruction for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities in a Specialized Setting
Med, Education, (Special Education), University of Washington Tacoma, 2009
BA, English, (Literature), Pacific Lutheran University, 2003

Licensures & Certifications

K-8 Elementary Education/P-12 Special Education Teaching Certificate, State of Washington, 2007

Biography

Dr. Kristen R. Rolf is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation Counseling. She also serves as Director of the department's Online Practical Teacher Training (OPTT) program. Prior to coming to USU as a doctoral student, she was an instructional coach who supported pre- and in-service teachers with their implementation of Direct Instruction programs. Dr. Rolf started her career in education as a K-5 Resource Room teacher.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Rolf currently teaches Foundations in Special Education, Eligibility Assessment, and Foundations in Assessment for OPTT. Her teaching experience includes literacy and mathematics methods courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Research Interests

Dr. Rolf's research focuses on the effective implementation of Explicit Instruction programs in real-world settings (classrooms). She is currently investigating the implementation, effectiveness, and acceptability of an explicit, systematic mathematics vocabulary intervention she co-authored. She also researches the process by which schools and districts select and implement instructional materials. She is an editorial board member of Behavior Analysis in Practice.

Awards

Distinguished Scholar, 2021

Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies

Doctoral Student Researcher of the Year, 2019

Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation Counseling, Utah State University

Graduate Student Teacher of the Year, 2018

Department of Special Education & Rehabilitation Counseling, Utah State University

School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award, 2017

University of Washington Tacoma


Publications | Books

  • Rolf, K.R, (2018). Direct Instruction Mathematics. Pearson *

    Publications | Book Chapters

  • Rolf, K.R, (2023). Flexible Grouping: High Leverage Practices for Intensive Interventions. Routledge
  • Rolf, K.R, (2023). Use Explicit Instruction: High Leverage Practices for Intensive Interventions. Routledge
  • Pinkelman, S.E, Bundock, K., Rolf, K.R, McClain, M., Shahidullah, J., Mezher, K., (2020). Supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in schools through multi-tiered system of supports. Springer
  • Rolf, K.R, (2017). Redesigning Special Education Teacher Preparation: Challenges and Solutions. Routledge/Taylor and Francis

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Curriculum

  • Rolf, K.R, (2021). Mathematics Vocabulary for Fourth Grade. Author. *
  • Rolf, K.R, (2018). Instructor’s Manual for Direct Instruction Mathematics – 5th Edition. Pearson *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • Bundock, K., Rolf, K., Hornberger, A., Holiday, C., (2023). Improving access to general education via co-teaching in secondary mathematics classrooms: An evaluation of Utah’s professional development initiative. . Rural Special Education Quarterly, 42:2, doi: 10.1177/87568705231167340
  • Pinkelman, S.E, Rolf, K.R, Landon, T.J, Detrich, R., McLaughlin, C., Peterson, A.K, Lizotte, M., (2022). Curriculum adoption in U.S. schools: An exploratory, qualitative analysis. Global Implementation Research and Applications, 2:1, doi: 10.1007/s43477-022-00039-2
  • Bundock, K., Callan, G., Longhurst, D., Rolf, K.R, Benney, C., Brunson McClain, M., (2021). Mathematics intervention for college students with learning disabilities: A pilot study targeting rate of change. Insights into Learning Disabilities, 18:1, 1-28.
  • Rolf, K.R, Pinkelman, S.E, Bundock, K., (2021). Reviewing tools for evaluating K-12 instructional materials through an implementation lens. Global Implementation Research and Applications, 1:1, doi: 10.1007/s43477-020-00005-w
  • Rhine, S., Driskoll, S.S, Rolf, K.R, Bundock, K., Hurdle, Z., (2021). The mathematics digital curriculum boom: How are programs selected?. Curriculum and Teaching Dialogue, 23:2, 213-228.
  • Slocum, T.A, Rolf, K.R, (2021). Features of Direct Instruction: Content analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14:3, doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00617-0
  • Rolf, K.R, Slocum, T.A, (2021). Features of Direct Instruction: Interactive lessons. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14:3, doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00613-4

Professional Journal

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Technical Reports

    Research Reports

    • Rolf, K.R, (2020). The adoption of curricula in K-12 schools: An exploratory qualitative analysis. *
    • Rolf, K.R, (2019). State department of education support for implementation issues faced by school districts during the curriculum adoption process. *

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Other

    Other

    • Rolf, K.R, (2022). Investigating the Effectiveness of Explicit, Systematic Mathematics Vocabulary Instruction for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities in a Specialized Setting.

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Teaching

    SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment, Spring 2024
    SPED 5014 - Foundations in Assessment, Spring 2024
    SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment, Fall 2023
    SPED 5011 - Foundations in Special Education: Instructional Strategies, Behavior Management, and IEPs, Fall 2023
    SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment, Summer 2023
    SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment, Spring 2023
    SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment, Spring 2023
    SPED 5014 - Foundations in Assessment, Spring 2023
    SPED 5014 - Foundations in Assessment, Spring 2023
    SPED 5011 - Foundations in Special Education: Instructional Strategies, Behavior Management, and IEPs, Spring 2023
    SPED 5011 - Foundations in Special Education: Instructional Strategies, Behavior Management, and IEPs, Spring 2023
    SPED 5018 - Eligibility Assessment, Fall 2022
    SPED 5011 - Foundations in Special Education: Instructional Strategies, Behavior Management, and IEPs, Fall 2022
    SPED 5310 - Teaching Reading and Language Arts to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Fall 2018

    Graduate Students Mentored

    Janelle Olt, Special Education & Rehab, September 2023
    Julie Talbot, Special Education & Rehab, September 2023
    Ana Holcomb, Special Education & Rehab, March 2023
    Misty Benson, Special Education & Rehab, March 2023