A former teacher in the New York City School System, Spencer J. Salend is a professor at SUNY-New Paltz, where he teaches courses on educational assessment and serves as the coordinator of the Special Education Program. He is the author of the best-selling, easy-to-read, and practical book, Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Effective and Reflective Practices. Widely known for his work in translating research into practice, he has published and presented on such topics as educational assessment, inclusive educational practices, and teaching students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In recognition of the significance of his research and its benefits to others, he was selected as a recipient of the State University of New York's Faculty Scholar Award and the Chancellor's Research Recognition Award. He has also served as a project director and program evaluator for numerous federal and state projects and has shared his work by engaging in a variety of professional development and activities.