Bethany Vivian

Professor Bethany Vivian started her career with Buffalo Public Schools in 2007 as a third-grade teacher. During her 15-year tenure with Buffalo Public Schools, she has worked as a Special Education Teacher, a Mentor Teacher, and a Behavioral Specialist. Professor Vivian's time in the classroom was dedicated to developing positive student relationships and creating curricula that was both engaging and accessible. In 2016, Professor Vivian moved from the role of classroom teacher to mentor, where she facilitated professional development and supported teachers who were new to the district. Most recently, Professor Vivian shifted her focus to behavioral interventions, working with preschool teachers to ensure the use of developmentally-appropriate practices in all areas of the classroom.

An alumna of Canisius University, Professor Vivian returned to her alma mater in 2018 as an adjunct professor, where she has taught SPE 644 and EDCH 540. Additionally, she is a coach for the Western New York Teacher Residency Program, supporting teacher education candidates as they start their careers in local classrooms. 

Professor Vivian's professional interests are varied, ranging from classroom management to targeted academic programs, such as Orton Gillingham. Throughout her time as a classroom teacher at Makowski IB World School, Professor Vivian served on the PBIS Committee, the JUSTICE Project Advisory Board, and the School Leadership Team, among others. She has facilitated many district-level trainings, including Trauma Informed Care, Explicit Direct Instruction, and Robust Vocabulary Instruction. This wide range of knowledge and experience has put Professor Vivian in a position to support teachers in every point in their careers, from students at Canisius University to veteran teachers from Buffalo Public Schools.