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For more information about Sharon Doubet's work, review her profile.

Sharon Doubet: Passionate about special education in early childhood

By Matt Kurnick

"When I came to ISU as a new faculty member, I received wonderful and encouraging support. I also saw how students were welcomed. This told me that ISU is a place I want to be." — Sharon Doubet, assistant professor of Special Education in Illinois State University's College of Education

(January 6, 2010) Every special education teacher strives to improve the lives of their students. Sharon Doubet starts from birth.

Doubet, a first-year assistant professor in Special Education at Illinois State University specializes in early childhood social and emotional development and competencies. An area of study she has been attracted to for decades.

"My focus in early-childhood began in 1974 when I attended Illinois Central College and studied child development," Doubet recalled. "I have continued in the early childhood field in my professional life, my continuing education, and now my research and teaching in higher education."

Doubet primarily focuses on children ranging in age from birth to five years-old. The children whom Doubet's research focuses on often need help with social and emotional skills like sharing, taking turns, getting their needs met in healthy ways, and friendship skills. If not addressed, these underdeveloped social/emotional skills can resurface later in life in more destructive ways.

"My first job in the public school system was a teaching assistant in a classroom for seventh and eighth graders who were expelled from their home schools," said Doubet, who started at ISU in August '08 after earning her PhD from the University of Illinois.

"Those students taught me many reasons to go return to teaching in early childhood. Those older students were very frustrated, they had low self-esteem, many had not learned how to successfully read and write, and it affected them as they grew into young adults. Some of their challenges might have been lessened if they could have attended a high quality early childhood classroom to support their early development. That experience with middle school students shoved me back to early childhood to stay. Being able to positively influence a young child's life is very rewarding."

It's not just the children in those early developmental stages that Doubet seeks to support. It's also the parents and other adults that the children depend on, such as their teachers and parents. Within the age groups Doubet works, the children develop at a rate that is unparalleled throughout the rest of their lives.

Parents and other caregivers play important roles in that developmental process. Doubet has not only recognized that connection, she's experienced working with children and their parents; work that has driven her passion.

"When you think about the rate of growth and skill development of a newborn baby, a toddler and a preschool-age child, you recognize the great importance that we need to place on this time in a child's life," Doubet said. "I'm very passionate about the opportunity to support adults who are working with young children during these important developmental years."

"One of the most important objectives of a teacher is to help the greatest possible number of students understand, progress, and succeed," Doubet said. Striving to accomplish these objectives is something Doubet now attempts to inspire her students to do. The importance of those goals is also something she continually reinforces with her research.

Her experience and qualifications aren't the only things that landed Doubet at Illinois State. In ISU, Doubet saw a place with a stellar reputation and history, and a well-respected Department of Special Education. Doubet also saw a place with a parallel philosophy for teaching and learning which has helped her transition into her new position.

"I believe that every student and fundamentally every person can learn. If we start with that philosophy, then we have more of an open mind about the opportunities and possibilities for everyone," said Doubet.

"This is my first faculty position, so I was a little unsure coming into it. When I came to ISU as a new faculty member, I received wonderful and encouraging support. I also saw how students were welcomed. This told me that ISU is a place I want to be."

If Doubet's beliefs about strong support helping young children develop into more competent adults are true, then based on the support she provides her students, young children with special needs and their families will be better off in years to come.