Ph.D., Vanderbilt University

M.S.Ed., Vanderbilt University

B.A., Centre College

Sarah R. Powell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education. Powell was a National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow from 2014 to 2016, and she is currently a Faculty Fellow with the Greater Texas Foundation. Powell is Principal Investigator of an Institute of Education Sciences efficacy grant related to word problems and equation solving for third-grade students with mathematics difficulties. Powell's research interests include developing and testing interventions for students with mathematics difficulties, with a special emphasis on peer tutoring, word-problem solving, mathematics writing, and the symbols and vocabulary within mathematics.

Editorial Review Board, Journal of Learning Disabilities(2014)

Editorial Review Board, Teaching Exceptional Children(2014)

Associate Editor, Assessment for Effective Intervention(2013 - 2016)

Editorial Review Board, Learning Disabilities Research and Practice(2013)

Editorial Review Board, Learning Disability Quarterly(2013)

Stevens, E. A. & Powell, S. R. (2016). Unpacking word problems for diverse learners: A guide to using schemas. Childhood Education, 92, 86–91. doi:10.1080/00094056.2016.1134253.

Hughes, E. M., Powell, S. R., Lembke, E. S. & Riley-Tillman, T. C. (2016). Taking the guesswork out of locating evidence-based practices for diverse learners. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 31, 130–141. doi:10.1111/ldrp.12103.

Hebert, M. A. & Powell, S. R. (2016). Examining fourth-grade mathematics writing: Features of organization, mathematics vocabulary, and mathematical representations. Reading and Writing, 29, 1511–1537. doi:10.1007/s11145-016-9649-5.

Powell, S. R. & Nurnberger-Haag, J. (2015). Everybody counts, but usually just to 10! A systematic analysis of number representations in children's books. Early Education and Development, 26, 377–398. doi:10.1080/10409289.2015.994466.

Powell, S. R. & Driver, M. K. (2015). The influence of mathematics vocabulary instruction embedded within addition tutoring for first-grade students with mathematics difficulty. Learning Disability Quarterly, 38, 221–233. doi:10.1177/0731948714564574.

Powell, S. R. (2015). The influence of symbols and equations on understanding mathematical equivalence. Intervention in School and Clinic, 50, 266–272. doi:10.1177/0731948714564574.

Powell, S. R. (2015). Connecting evidence-based practice with implementation opportunities in special education mathematics preparation. Intervention in School and Clinic, 51, 90–96. doi:10.1177/1053451215579269.

Powell, S. R., Driver, M. K. & Julian, T. E. (2015). The effect of tutoring with nonstandard equations on the mathematics performance of second-grade students with mathematics difficulty. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48, 523–534. doi:10.1177/0022219413512613.

Powell, S. R., Fuchs, L. S., Cirino, P. T., Fuchs, D., Compton, D. L. & Changas, P. C.. (2015). Effects of a multi-tier support system on calculation, word-problem, and pre-algebraic learning among at-risk learners. Exceptional Children, 81, 443–470. doi:10.1177/0014402914563702.

Powell, S. R. & Fuchs, L. S. (2015). Intensive intervention in mathematics. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 30, 182–192. doi:10.1111/ldrp.12087.

Lemons, C. J., Powell, S. R., King, S. A. & Davidson, K. (2015). Mathematics interventions for children and adolescents with Down syndrome: A research synthesis. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 59, 767–783. doi:10.1111/jir.12188.

Cirino, P. T.., Fuchs, L. S.., Elias, J.., Powell, S. R.. & Schumacher, R. F.. (2015). Cognitive and mathematical profiles for different forms of learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 48, 156–175. doi:10.1177/0022219413494239.

Powell, S. R. & Stecker, P. M. (2014). Using data-based individualization to intensify mathematics intervention for students with disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children, 46(4), 31–37. doi:10.1177/0040059914523735.

Powell, S. R., Fuchs, L. S. & Fuchs, D. (2013). Reaching the mountaintop: Addressing the Common Core Standards in mathematics for students with mathematics difficulties. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 28, 38–48. doi:10.1111/ldrp.12001.

Powell, S. R. (2012). Equations and the equal sign in elementary mathematics textbooks. The Elementary School Journal, 112, 627–648. doi:10.1086/665009.

Powell, S. R. (2012). High-stakes testing for students with mathematics difficulty: Response format effects in mathematics problem solving. Learning Disabilities Quarterly, 35, 3–9. doi:10.1177/0731948711428773.

Powell, S. (2011). Solving word problems using schemas: A review of the literature. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 26, 94–108.

Powell, S. R. & Fuchs, L. S. (2010). Contribution of equal-sign instruction beyond word-problem tutoring for third-grade students with mathematics difficulty. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102, 381–394. doi:10.1037/a0018447.

Powell, S. R., Fuchs, L. S. & Fuchs, D. (2010). Embedding number combinations practice within word-problem tutoring. Intervention in School and Clinic, 46, 22–30. doi:10.1177/1053451210369516.

Institute of Education Sciences, Goal 3 Efficacy Grant
Institute of Education Sciences, Goal 3 Developing connections between word problems and mathematical equations to promote word-problem performance among students with mathematics difficulty.

National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship
Understanding the influence of math symbols and vocabulary on math performance.

Greater Texas Foundation Faculty Fellowship
Investigating the effects of algebra and rational numbers performance on post-secondary preparation, access, and persistence for students with and without mathematics difficulty.

Samuel A. Kirk Award, Best Practitioner Article, Division for Learning Disabilities, Council for Exceptional Children (2016)

Early Career Publication Award, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Research (2011)

Dissertation Award, Council for Exception Children, Division for Learning Disabilities (2010)

Outstanding Researcher Award, Council for Learning Disabilities (2009)

Robert Gaylord-Ross Award for Excellence in Scholarly Writing, Vanderbilt University, Department of Special Education (2009)

Dick Shores Teacher Education Award, Vanderbilt University, Department of Special Education (2009)