Dr. Tom Buggey
Siskin Children's Institute and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced the appointment of Dr. Tom Buggey as the Siskin Children's Institute Chair of
Excellence at UTC.
The endowed chair was established in 2003 with a $1 million investment from Siskin Children’s Institute to strengthen the field of special education within the Chattanooga community and region. UTC matched the gift with an additional $1 million from the Lupton Renaissance Fund at UTC. The endowments support the Siskin Children’s Institute Chair of Excellence and Circle of Scholars scholarship program.
UTC Chancellor Roger Brown said, "This is another wonderful example of the partnerships that have made Chattanooga famous. By UTC and Siskin working together, we can make progress in research that can have national and international implications. Dr. Buggey's has spent his career creating opportunities and solutions for individuals, and I believe he will be an asset to our students, our University and our community."
Dr. Buggey will begin his position in January 2007. As the Siskin Children’s Institute Chair of Excellence, he will serve as a faculty member in the UTC College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. He will teach graduate and undergraduate courses at the university, conduct research at Siskin Children's Institute, and help the Institute stay on the cutting edge of educational programming for children with disabilities.
“We are tremendously excited about having Dr. Buggey intimately involved in Siskin Children’s Institute” said Jerry Jensen, president of the Institute. “He has a history of conducting outstanding research and we expect his efforts here will further expand the knowledge of how young children are effectively educated.”
Dr. Buggey currently serves as professor of special education in the Department of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership at the University of Memphis. Among his many accomplishments has been the procurement of dozens of technical assistance grants that have targeted diverse issues such as family services in early intervention, high school transition, inclusion, positive behavior supports, literacy, and activity-based instruction. His research interests are primarily focused on the applications of video self-modeling, especially with students with autism. Other interests include the civil rights of persons with disabilities, parent empowerment, assistive technology, curriculum-based measurement and reading methods. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education and earned his Ph.D. in Early Intervention from Penn State in 1993.
The Siskin Circle of Scholars is a scholarship program that will allow UTC students in early childhood special education to receive monetary support to help defer tuition and book expenses.
Located in downtown Chattanooga, Siskin Children’s Institute is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with special needs and their families. The Institute achieves its mission through Siskin School and the Siskin Training and Resource Center.
Siskin School provides a quality education to young children of all abilities. The school serves children with special needs such as developmental delays, cerebral palsy and autism spectrum conditions, as well as typically developing children in a nurturing environment that celebrates the accomplishments of each child. A team of special educators, therapists and other professionals work together to help all children reach their full potential.
The Siskin Training and Resource Center supports families and shares disability resources through an array of outreach programs, including a lending library, community workshops, and training and consultation services for professionals in education, health care and related fields.
“UTC is an outstanding partner for Siskin Children’s Institute. This university sets a wonderful example of how urban institutions can become engaged with the community they serve,” Mr. Jensen said. “UTC’s partnership with Siskin Children’s Institute helps ensure that quality educational services are provided to young children in Chattanooga, especially those having disabilities.”