About the author

Mrs. Jennifer M. Schmidt, M.Ed., is an Intervention Specialist (Special Educator) at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio. Jennifer has 27 years of teaching experience in both general and special education settings. She began working closely with students with autism while teaching in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was trained in the TEACCH method. At BHS, Jennifer and her now retired Speech & Language Pathologist colleague piloted their Communication Class in the fall of 2007, and the class continues to this day and utilizes the PEERspective Learning Approach; since then, neighboring school districts have adopted the same model with similar success. Mrs. Schmidt is a passionate educator who enjoys presenting at local, state, and international conferences about Communication Class, autism, and training general education teachers to work with students with autism (mild-moderate). She was recognized as Beavercreek City Schools Teacher of the Year in 2012, and in 2014 was awarded the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year recognition as a result of her innovative Communication Class. Mrs. Schmidt stays active teaching at workshops, through her role as a lead teacher on the Autism Coalition Team, at Beavercreek High School, and at local colleges. She is passionate about helping other schools find success in teaching pragmatic language to students on the spectrum through the PEERspective Learning Approach and her books.

Click to view Jen’s Curriculum Vitae