Sacha Cartagena
MTSS Trainer
Sacha Cartagena, Ph.D., is a Researcher in the Learning Supports program at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). In this role, Dr. Cartagena supports state and district projects related to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and High-Leverage Practices for inclusive settings (HLPs). Her primary responsibilities include supporting and leading professional development, coaching, micro-credential development, and research. Dr. Cartagena earned her Ph.D. in Special Education at the University of Central Florida, where her dissertation work focused on implementing the Universal Design for Learning framework to enhance an asynchronous online module on functional behavior assessment. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Cartagena served as a special education teacher for students with significant cognitive disabilities in Title 1 schools. She holds certifications and endorsements in Special Education (K-12), Elementary Education (K-6), Reading (K-12), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (K-12).