Danielle A. Waterfield

Danielle A. Waterfield, Ph.D., is a research scientist in the Supporting Teachers Through Coaching, Observations, and Multimedia to Educate Students with Disabilities (STORMED) Lab at the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development. Her research focuses on the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in special education, evidence-based instruction, and the preparation and professional development of special educators. She is particularly interested in how AI can support teachers’ instructional decision-making, reduce workload, and improve access to high-quality learning opportunities for students with disabilities.

Waterfield’s research examines the quality, usability, and educational implications of AI-generated materials, including Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, progress-monitoring resources, and multimedia vocabulary instruction. Her work includes randomized controlled trials of AI-generated and researcher-created instructional materials and investigations of educators’ and students’ perspectives on AI. As part of federally funded research projects, including Project MOSAIC and Project AI-BOOST, she helps develop and evaluate AI-supported tools for creating evidence-based vocabulary materials and provides professional development to educators. She also serves as a co-investigator on Project IMPACT-PD, which examines professional development for special education teachers.

Before joining UVA as a research scientist, Waterfield taught special education in elementary and middle school classrooms in Virginia and New Orleans, Louisiana, across inclusive, resource, and self-contained settings. She later served on the leadership team of a K–8 public charter school in New Orleans, where she led work related to multi-tiered systems of support, special education processes, and student services. She completed the Special Education Leadership Fellowship in New Orleans.

Waterfield is committed to bridging research and practice and advancing equitable, inclusive educational opportunities. She contributes to the field through teaching, scholarly publication, professional learning, and service, including leadership roles with the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children and the Higher Education Consortium for Special Education.

Ph.D., University of Virginia, 2026
M.T., University of Virginia, 2015
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), 2014
B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), 2014

• Responsible artificial intelligence integration in special education

• AI-generated instructional materials, IEP development, and progress monitoring

• Evidence-based multimedia vocabulary instruction and content-area learning

• Special education teacher preparation, professional development, and coaching

• Inclusive education and equitable opportunities for students with disabilities

• Educational technology, instructional decision-making, and teacher workload