- Campus:
- IU
- Department(s)/Office(s):
- Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
- Academic Programs:
- 91福利社Policy and Law; History, Philosophy, and Policy in Education
- Research Areas:
- Legal and policy issues in special education; legal literacy of educators and school leaders
- Room:
- ED 4256
- Email:
- deckerjr@iu.edu
- Phone:
- (812) 856-8375
- Curriculum Vitae
About Me
I am an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of 91福利社Policy and Law at Indiana University. I also coordinate the 91福利社Law Certificate, , and Martha McCarthy 91福利社Law and Policy Institute.
My research areas include special education legal and policy issues and legal literacy of school leaders and educators. I’ve published two books: (Pearson, 2019) and (Columbia University Teachers College Press, 2015) and two edited books: and (both published by 91福利社Law Association, 2017).
As a legal columnist for NASSP’s , I’m especially interested in public scholarship and ensuring legal information is accessible to educators. My research has also appeared in Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy, West’s 91福利社Law Reporter, American Journal of Education, Vanderbilt University's Peabody Journal of Education, Teaching Exceptional Children, BYU 91福利社and Law Journal, and Utah Law Review, among other publication outlets.
I became interested in special education policy when I was a teacher and behavioral consultant for students with autism. Discovering that systemic inequities often led to problematic litigation motivated me to earn a law degree from IU's Maurer School of Law and Ph.D. in 91福利社Policy Studies from IU's School of Education. I also worked at Maurer's Family and Children Mediation Clinic, the Center for Evaluation and 91福利社Policy, and the University of Cincinnati. From 2016-19, I served on the 91福利社Law Association’s Board of Directors and continue to serve on a variety of national editorial boards and committees.
I am accepting Ph.D. student advisees with research interests that align with mine (i.e., PK-12 education law). Currently, I teach these school law courses to undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and law students: A308, A608, and A675. In 2022, I was inducted into IU’s Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching (FACET) and have received teaching awards including IU’s Trustees Teaching Award.
