Derek Daskalakes

Assistant Professor

Email: ddaskalakes@uttyler.edu
Building:   BEP 212D
Department: Education

Derek T. M. Daskalakes, Asst. Prof. of Special Education

I received my doctorate in 2023 in educational policy studies and evaluation from the University of Kentucky. I hold a bachelor’s degree in philosophy (Old Dominion), and master’s degrees in philosophy and special education (George Mason). I also hold teaching licenses in Kentucky and Virginia. I have previously served as a special educator in public school settings working with students with Autism, students with learning disabilities, and students with learning and behavioral disabilities across elementary and middle school settings. More recently, I have worked in higher education settings teaching courses on topics related to education history, theory, and practice, aspects of special education theory and practice, and communication theory, composition, and public speaking. I am formally trained in the use of qualitative and philosophical research methods, with an emphasis on themes related to disability, special education, education policy, and the philosophy of education. My dissertation research examined philosophical aspects of special education and disability policy that I showed to negatively affect the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities in public schools. My current research is spread across multiple projects that includes the efforts of public libraries to serve young children with disabilities and developmental delays, student disciplinary practices in public schools, and expanding access to inclusive educational settings and services for students with disabilities in public schools.