Alison Pence-Ward, MSW, LSW, is a School Mental Health Consultant for the Center for Intervention Research in Schools (CIRS) at Ohio University. Alison holds a master’s degree in social work from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in education from Otterbein University.
During her 13 years of service in schools, she has designed and implemented evidence-based Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) programs in her roles as a social worker and math educator. She has trained faculty, built teacher-based teams and developed data tracking and reporting systems to measure and monitor outcomes for restorative practices, social emotional learning, and academic growth.
Alison has a passion for the social and academic success of every child and works to help schools improve their student services’ capacity for response to intervention (RTI). Her areas of expertise include social and emotional learning, the development and promotion of positive school culture, positive behavioral interventions and supports and restorative practices.
She brings her areas of expertise in education and mental health to the CIRS team as they develop and implement the Beacon Project.