Department of Child Development, Literacy and Special Education

Dr. Aftynne E. Cheek is an Associate Professor of Special Education and serves as the Interim Assistant Department Chair for the Department of Child Development, Literacy, and Special Education at Appalachian State University. Her research focuses on students with extensive support needs, specifically literacy instruction, teacher preparation, eCoaching, and teacher mentoring. Her years of experience as a special education teacher for children with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, multiple disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, mental illness, and emotional and behavioral disorders provide the foundation for her commitment to special education teacher development. She teaches introductory and methods courses in special education at the undergraduate and graduate levels that emphasize instruction, curriculum design, and individualized assessment for students with extensive support needs. Dr. Cheek earned her B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.S. at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; and Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Aftynne enjoys reading, CrossFit, Tang Soo Do Karate, and being outdoors with her husband, two kids, and two dogs.

Click here for Dr. Cheek's CV