In Memoriam: Dr. James M. Kauffman

It is with great sadness we note that the world of special education lost a tremendous advocate and voice with the passing of Dr. James M. Kauffman on September 25, 2024. Dr. Kauffman was a pioneer in supporting students with disabilities, including students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) and students with mental health needs. His research and dedication to the field of special education spans decades and covers a variety of topics, including barriers and issues related to students with disabilities such as those of disproportionality, policy, and practice. His seminal works include Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (Hallahan, & Kauffman, 1978) and Characteristics of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders of Children and Youth (Kauffman, 1997), which are foundational works that grace many special education teacher preparation programs. While many educators and researchers have known Dr. Kauffman for his research contributions, we at Intervention in School and Clinic recognize him for his dedication to translating research for practitioners.

Dr. Kauffman published practitioner-oriented manuscripts for many years. He first published “A Resource Program for Teachers and Their Problem Students” in Intervention under its previous name, Academic Therapy, in 1972. In that article, he and his co-authors outlined seven principles of low-intensity behavioral interventions that teachers could easily implement in their programs, and they are relevant recommendations for teachers today. He followed that up with a co-authored piece: “What Do Labels Really Mean to Classroom Teachers,” with Dr. Stanley Hughes and then editor of Academic Therapy, Dr. Gerald Wallace. Dr. Kauffman continued to publish poignant pieces with Intervention over the years, educating practitioners about screening students with learning disabilities (LDs) and integrating students with EBD into general education environments. In 2012, Intervention published an interview with Dr. Kauffman, “Understanding and Teaching Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders: A Conversation with James Kauffman,” highlighting his career path and his thoughts about the future of the field of special education (Kaff et al., 2012).

Dr. Kauffman believed in special education and he believed in teachers. He also knew there was a wide misunderstanding around special education and evidence-based practices. His books Toward a Science of Education: The Battle Between Rogue and Real Science (Kauffman, 2011), Special Education: What It Is and Why We Need It (Kauffman & Hallahan, 2004), and The Scandalous Neglect of Children’s Mental Health: What Schools Can Do (Kauffman & Badar, 2018) highlight his efforts to educate teachers, school staff, and people outside of education about issues and answers to how best to support students with disabilities in schools.

Although many of us began our special education careers after Dr. Kauffman retired from the University of Virginia, it is an understatement to say that his work shaped the course of our careers. We will forever ever be indebted to him and his soft but no-nonsense approach to advocating for students with disabilities and the field of education. Dr. Kauffman relished the opportunity to talk with new faculty members and doctoral students, which was most evident in his annual panel discussions at the Teacher Educators for Children with Behavior Disorders (TECBD) conference. He was supportive of new and innovative special education researchers and teachers and was happy to give his feedback and support them in their research, which is a hallmark aspect of the Badar–Kauffman Conference, a conference he co-sponsored with his wife Jeanmarie Badar.

If you are not familiar with Dr. Kauffman’s work or would relish a walk down memory lane once more with him, we encourage you to read his interview with Intervention and explore his many texts and articles referenced here. His work is as relevant today as when it was first published and his words will continue to reverberate in the field of special education for decades to come.