From a young age, Dr. Reesha Adamson knew she wanted to improve the lives of young people – those of elementary school age, especially – who have behavioral disorders such as oppositional behaviors, depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that manifest themselves in learning environments.

However, the answer doesn’t lie in addressing behavioral concerns with the students alone.

Focus on adjusting the behavior of the teachers from an entertainment angle, she said, and better engagement will follow.

Now, Adamson is working with local public schools to help a small section of students who struggle with following through on classroom engagement and aren’t learning at the same rate as their peers.

With her research, she hopes to better equip current and future teachers for designing educational plans that meet the needs of all children.

Read more about Adamson’s research in Mind’s Eye.