Rosa Milagros Santos Gilbertz

Activities & Honors

• Inclusive Illinois’ Campus Women Leaders, Provost’s Gender Equity Council, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Inclusive Illinois, 2011- present
• Editor, Young Exceptional Children, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood, 2011-2016
• National Advisory Board Member, Beach Center on Disability, University of Kansas, 2010- present
• Teaching Academy Faculty Fellow, Programs on Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost, 2009-2012
• 2010 Conference Co-Chair, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood, 2009-2010
• 2010 CEC Conference Program Chair - Early Chidlhood, Council for Exceptional Children, 2009-2010
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, Center for Teaching Excellence, 2009-
• Executive Board Member, Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood, 2008-2012
• Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Office of the Provost, 2008-2009
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, Center for Teaching Excellence, 2008-
• Editorial Board Member, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 2007- present
• Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award for Faculty, College of Education, 2007-2008
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign, 2007-
• Associate Editor, Young Exceptional Children, 2006-2011
• Committee Chair, Sharing A Vision Conference, 2006-2007
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign, 2006-
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign, 2004-
• Editorial Board Member, Editorial Review Board, Early Childhood Research & Practice, 2003- present
• Editorial Board Member, Exceptional Children Journal, 2003-2010
• Editorial Board Member, Young Children, 2003-2005
• Spitze-Mather Award for Excellence, College of Education, 2003-2004
• Past President, Illinois Division for Early Childhood, 2003-2004
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana -Champaign, 2003-
• Member, Birth to 6 Panel, United Way, 2003-
• Editorial Board Member, Editorial Review Board, Journal of Early Intervention, 2002-2014
• Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002-
• Editorial Board Member, Editorial Review Board, Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 1999-2008
• Editorial Board Member, Editorial Review Board, Young Exceptional Children, 1998-2006

Research Statement

Dr. Rosa Milagros Santos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at UIUC. Dr. Santos earned her Ph.D. degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education from Utah State University in 1997. She has worked as a preschool teacher, early intervention provider, and special educator both in the Philippines and in the United States.

Dr. Santos’s research focuses on young children with disabilities and their families within the context of early intervention and early childhood special education services (EI/ECSE). Specifically, she is interested in developing an understanding of the ecologic influence of families and culture on parents and professionals in facilitating young children’s development and learning.  To this end, she has engaged in research activities in three interrelated areas designed to advance the current knowledge base in the field of EI/ECSE. Her first research area is building empirical knowledge on how parents and other family members facilitate children’s learning and development. Her second research area is focused on developing a foundational understanding of the role that culture and language play in young children’s development. Her third research area focuses on translating research to practice for professionals in early childhood settings. Through these research activities, she aims to make a positive impact on the lives of children with disabilities and their families by enhancing the practices of professionals who work directly with these children and families.

Since 1995, Dr. Santos has worked on several grant projects in various capacities. She is currently co-Principal investigator for an IES-funded project investigating the effects of father involvement on outcomes for children with disabilities, a Head Start-funded training and technical assistance project (National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning), a leadership grant focused on preparing EI/ECSE leaders and researchers, a personnel preparation grant focusing on training EI/ECSE personnel.

Dr. Santos is currently the Editor for Young Exceptional Children and serves on the editorial board for various research journals including Journal of Early Intervention and Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. Dr. Santos has authored numerous publications related to working with families of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities.  Dr. Santos is an active member of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children serving in various leadership roles for the Illinois subdivision and national DEC, most recently as president of DEC.

Grants

• Co-Principal Investigator, Men's Parenting Behaviors in Famlies of Children with Disabilities: Findings from the ECLS-B, Institute of Education Sciences, 2012-2014
• Co-Principal Investigator, Project Blend, U.S. Department of Education, 2011-2016
• Principal Investigator, Head Start Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, Health & Human Services (University of Washington), 2010-2013
• Co-Principal Investigator, Preparing Relationship-based Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Personnel (PREP), U.S. Department of Education, 2009-2013
• Senior Personnel, DELL-D Developing Early Language and Literacy in Danville, U.S. Department of Education, 2007-2011
• Principal Investigator, Preparing Relationship-Based Early Intervention Personnel (PREP), U.S. Department of Education, 2004-2010
• Principal Investigator, Perceptions of Immigrant Filipino Mothers' Interactions with Their Infants and Toddlers, Campus Research Board, 2004-2004
• Co-Principal Investigator, Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers' Resource Family Experience, The Kay Meginnis Endowment for the Enhancement of Special Education Programs, 2003-2004
• Senior Personnel, Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001-2006
• Senior Personnel, Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior, U.S. Department of Education, 2001-2006

Publications

• Santos, R. M., Shaffer, L. & Fettig, A. (2012). Helping families connect early literacy with social-emotional development. Young Children, 67 (2), 88-93.
• Santos, R. M., Cheatham, G., & Duran, L. (Co-Editors) (2012). Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series No. 14 on Supporting Young Dual Language Learners with Special Needs. Missoula, MT: Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
• Little-Romero, E., Duran, L. & Santos, R. M. (2012). Supporting the maintenance and revitalization of indigenous language and cultures through early childhood practice. In R. M. Santos, G. A. Cheatham, and L. Duran (Co-Editors), Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series No. 14 on Supporting Young Dual Language Learners with Special Needs (pp. 148-163). Missoula, MT: Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
• Cheatham, G. A., Santos, R. M., & Kerkutluoglu, A. (in press). Review of comparison studies investigating bilingualism and bilingual instruction for students with disabilities. Focus on Exceptional Children.
• Jeans, L. M., Santos, R. M., Laxman, D. J., McBride, B. A., & Dyer, W. J. (in press). Examining ECLS-B: Maternal stress and depressive symptoms when raising children with ASD. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education.
• Duran, L. & Santos, R. M. (2012). Screening guidelines for young children who are dual language learners. Champaign, IL: National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
• Duran L. & Santos, R. M. (2012). Inventory of practices: Evidence-based strategies to support communication and language development of young children who are dual language learners. Champaign, IL: National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
• Santos, R. M. & Chan, S. (2011). Families with Filipino roots. In E. W. Lynch & M. J. Hanson (Eds.), Developing cross-cultural competence: A guide for working with young children and their families (4th ed) (pp. 319-364). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
• Cheatham, G. A., & Santos, R. M. (2011). Collaborating with families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds: Considering time and communication orientations. Young Children, 66(5), 76-84.
• Santos, R. M., Ruppar, A. L., & Jeans, L. M. (2011). Immersing Students in the Culture of Disability through Service Learning. Teacher Education in Special Education, 1 (35), 49-63.
• Duran, L., Cheatham, G. A., & Santos, R. M. (2011). Assessing Dual Language Learners: Recommendations for Practice. In M. McLean & P. Snyder (Eds.), Young Exceptional Children Monograph on Gathering Information to Make Informed Decisions: Contemporary Perspectives about Assessment in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (pp. 133-156). Missoula, MT: Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.
• Santos, R. M., Ostrosky, M. M., Yates, T. J., Fettig, A., Cheatham, G. A., & Shaffer, L. (2011). Practices in assessing young children's social-emotional competence: It's more than just completing a checklist. In M. McLean & P. Snyder (Eds.), Young Exceptional Children Monograph on Gathering Information to Make Informed Decisions: Contemporary Perspectives about Assessment in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (pp. 111-132). Missoula, MT: Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.

• Peterson, C., Fox, L., & Santos, R. M. (Eds.). (2009). Young exceptional children [Monograph, Serial No. 11]. Quality Inclusive Services in a Diverse Society.

• Cheatham, G. A., & Santos, R. M. (2009). “Why won’t they just cooperate?” Understanding how cultural values impact how we team with families [Monograph].Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series 11, Quality Inclusive Services in a Diverse Society, pp. 107-121.
• Dyer, W. J., McBride, B., Santos, R. M., & Jeans, L. (2009). A longitudinal examination of father involvement with children with developmental delays: Does timing of diagnosis matter? Journal of Early Intervention, 31, 265-281.
• Cheatham, G., Santos, R. M., & Armstrong, J. (2009). Y’all listenin’? Accessing children’s dialects in preschool. Young Exceptional Children, 12, 2-14
• Hemmeter, M. L., Santos, R. M., & Ostrosky, M. M. (2008). Preparing early childhood educators to address young children's social-emotional development and challenging behavior: A survey of higher education programs in nine states. Journal of Early Intervention, 30 (4), 321-340.
• Cheatham, G., Santos, R. M., & Ro, Y. S. (2007). Home language acquisition and retention for young exceptional children. Young Exceptional Children, 11(1), 27-39.
• Santos, R. M., & McCollum, J. (2007). Perspectives of parent-child interaction in Filipino mothers of very young children with and without disabilities. Journal of Early Intervention, 29(3), 243-261.
• Santos, R. M., Corso, R. M., & Maude, S. (2006).  Increasing meaningful participation of diverse constituents: Lessons learned from the CLAS experience. Multiple Voices, 9, 34-49.
• Santos, R. M., Cheatham, G., & Ostrosky, M. M. (2006). Enseñe me: Practical strategies for supporting the social and emotional development of young English language learners. Language Learner, 1(3), 5-9, 24.
• Cheatham, G., & Santos, R. M. (2005). A-B-C's of bridging home and school expectations for children and families of diverse backgrounds. Young Exceptional Children, 8(3), 3-11.
• Sandall, S., McLean, M., Santos, R. M., & Smith, B. J. (2005). DEC’s recommended practices: The context for change. In S. Sandall, M. L. Hemmeter, B. J. Smith, & M. E. McLean (Eds.), DEC recommended practices: A comprehensive guide for practical application in early intervention/early childhood special education (pp. 19-39). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Hemmeter, M. L., Santos, R. M., Snyder, P., Hyson, M., Harris-Solomon, A., Bailey, D., et al. (2005). Young children with, or at-risk for, developmental disabilities. In K. C. Lakin & A. P. Turnbull (Eds.), National goals and research for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (pp. 15-37). Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation.
• Ohtake, Y., Santos, R. M., & Fowler, S. A. (2005). It’s a three way conversation: Families, service providers and interpreters working together. Young Exceptional Children Monograph Series No. 6 on Interdisciplinary Teaming, 33-43.
• Santos, R. M., Corso, R. M., & Rothenberg, D. (2005). Information training and technical assistance: A case study of the CLAS Institute Web site. In D. Edyburn, K. Higgins, & R. Boone (Eds.), The handbook of special education technology research and practice (pp. 161-175). Whitefish Bay, WI: Knowledge by Design.
• Santos, R. M. (2004). Ensuring culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment of young children. Young Children, 59(1), 48-50.
• Santos, R. M. (2004). Ensuring culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment of young children. Spotlight on young children and assessment (pp.38-39). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
• Fowler, S. A., Santos, R. M., & Corso, R. M. (Eds.). (2004). CLAS collection #1: Getting started: Culturally and linguistically appropriate screening, assessment and family information gathering. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Corso, R. M., Fowler, S. A., & Santos, R. M. (Eds.). (2004). CLAS collection #2: Building healthy relationships with families to support service utilization. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Santos, R. M., Corso, R. M., & Fowler, S. A. (Eds.). (2005). CLAS collection #3: Language and communication: Working with linguistically diverse families. Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Ohtake, Y., Fowler, S. A., & Santos, R. M. (2005). Working with interpreters to plan early childhood services with bilingual and multilingual families. In R. M. Santos, R. M. Corso, & S. A. Fowler (Eds.), CLAS collection #3: Language and communication: Working with linguistically diverse families (pp.5-38). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Santos, R. M. & Zhang, C. (2005). An individualized perspective of family support services: A review of the literature. In R. M. Corso, S. A. Fowler & R. M. Santos (Eds.), CLAS collection #2: Building healthy relationships with families to support service utilization (pp. 37-48). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Santos, R. M., & Chan, S. (2004). Families with Pilipino roots. In E. W. Lynch & M. J. Hanson (Eds.), Developing cross-cultural competence: A guide for working with young children and their families (3rd ed, pp. 299-344). Baltimore: Brookes.
• Ostrosky, M. M., & Santos, R. M. (2003). Understanding the impact of language differences on classroom behavior. The Utah Special Educator Special Monograph on English Learners: Literacy and Achievement, 23(5), 20-21.
• Santos, R. M. (2004). Ensuring culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment of young children. Young Children, 1 (59), 48-50.
• Banks, R., Roof, V., & Santos, R. M. (2003). Discovering family concerns, priorities and resources: Sensitive family information gathering. Young Exceptional Children, 6(2), 11-19.
• Corso, R. M., Santos, R. M., & Roof, V. (2002). Adapting and evaluating early childhood education and early childhood special education materials at the community level. Teaching Exceptional Children, 34(3), 30-36.
• Santos, R. M., & Ostrosky, M (2002). Understanding the impact of language differences on classroom behavior (What Works Briefs # 2). Champaign, IL: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning.
• Santos, R. (2002). DEC position statement on responsiveness to family cultures, values and languages. Arlington, VA: The Council for Exceptional Children, Division for Early Childhood.
• Santos, R. M., Lee, S., Valdivia, R., & Zhang, C. (2001). Translating translations: Selecting and using translated early childhood materials. Teaching Exceptional Children, 34(2), 26-31.
• Santos, R. M. (2001). Using what children know to teach them something new: Applying high-probability procedures at home and in the preschool classroom. Young Exceptional Children Monograph on Teaching Strategies (Serial No. 3).
• Sandall, S., McLean, M., Santos, R. M., & Smith, B. J. (2000). DEC’s new recommended practices: The context for change. In S. Sandall, M. E. McLean, & B. J. Smith (Eds.), DEC recommended practices in early intervention/early childhood special education (pp. 5-13). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
• Santos, R. M. & Lignugaris/Kraft, B. (1999). The effects of direct questions on preschool children’s responses to indirect requests. Journal of Behavioral Education 9 (3/4), 193-210.

Links

• National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning
• Division for Early Childhood

In The News

College announces outstanding and distinguished faculty/staff awards for 2013 Apr. 2, 2013 The College of Education is pleased to announce the faculty, staff, and students who are recipients of the College's 2013 Faculty and Staff Awards. Recipients will be recognized at the spring faculty meeting, which will be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 2 in room 22 in the Education Building. Read more...

Professor Rosa Milagros Santos receives three awards for achievement, research, service in Special Education Mar. 4, 2013 To say 2012-13 has been a banner year for Rosa Milagros Santos might just be an understatement. Read more...

Special Education Professor Rosa Milagros Santos to receive Outstanding Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Leadership Award Dec. 13, 2012 Rosa Milagros Santos, associate professor in Special Education, has been notified that she'll receive the Outstanding CEC Leadership award, an award that honors a Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) member who has made significant contributions to the council’s programs not only at the local and state/provincial level, but also on the national and international level, over an extended period of time. Award winners will be honored at CEC's annual convention that will be held next April in San Antonio, Texas. Read more...