CASE Conf 2025

Dena D Slanda
Intensive TA Lead - Lead IDEA Center
Lead IDEA Center at the American Institutes for Research


Dena D. Slanda, Ph.D., is a Senior Technical Assistance Consultant at American Institutes for Research (AIR). Dr. Slanda has experience leading large-scale projects to deliver tools, training, and a diverse range of services to state agencies, districts, schools, and other education organizations. As the intensive technical assistance lead at the Lead IDEA Center, she guides the development of a menu of TA services to build the capacity of leaders to improve systems serving children with disabilities. Dr. Slanda serves as a TA Liaison for the CLSD National Literacy Center, leveraging her expertise in personnel preparation, supporting students with high-intensity needs including dyslexia and multi-lingual learners, project implementation, and continuous improvement to guide grantees to implement state literacy initiatives and assist non-grantees to develop comprehensive state literacy plans. In her work with the West Comprehensive Center, Dr. Slanda advances state literacy initiatives designed to improve outcomes for all children from birth to post-school. Additionally, she is a thought partner for the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders, connecting with a national network of experts and colleagues on technical assistance and research related to the recruitment and retention of a strong, capable, and committed educator workforce through affordable, cost-effective, and responsive pathways.

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