2026 CASE Conference

Elizabeth Zagata
Special Education Systems Improvement Specialist
WestEd - National Center for Systemic Improvement


Dr. Elizabeth Zagata is a Special Education Systems Improvement Specialist at WestEd, where she co-leads the Effective Instruction Priority Area for the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI). She provides technical assistance to state and local education agencies working to strengthen instructional systems and improve outcomes for students with disabilities, with a focus on evidence-based instruction, comprehensive systems review, and professional learning design. Dr. Zagata brings more than 20 years of experience in education, including 15 years as a classroom teacher in special education settings across New York and Connecticut, and additional experience as a special education evaluator. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut and serves as adjunct faculty at UConn and Sacred Heart University. She has authored or co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed and practitioner publications and presented at more than 30 national and international conferences. She maintains multiple teaching certifications in both Connecticut and New York, as well as certification as a dyslexia practitioner.

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