Jody M. Miller, EdD, a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), is a celebrated educational administrator excelling as the director of Coral Reef Academy, where “diversity is celebrated, community is valued, and students are thriving” in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Parallel to this role, Dr. Miller offers her expertise as an educational consultant at her company, Miller Consulting. She takes pride in having spent most of her vast experience in special education working to support students in reaching their goals and making marked progress in their lives.
In another personally meaningful and notable professional feat, Dr. Miller opened residential special education schools in the continental United States. She launched schools in Tennessee and California, establishing multiple locations, for students who needed specialized help and assistance, including children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. Dr. Miller credits her success thus far to being self-motivated and to the incredible teams of colleagues she has been fortunate to work with throughout her career. She looks forward to opening another school in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which will be her second in that location, to teach students with developmental disabilities. Dr. Miller’s aim is to support vulnerable populations, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work in an underserved region of the world where special education support services are direly needed.
Dr. Miller has maintained close involvement in her professional community throughout her career. She serves as a member of the Children’s Health Council, participating on the Agency Oversight Committee, the LGBTQAI+ Task Force, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Team. Moreover, Dr. Miller is affiliated with the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, the Association for Behavior Analysis International, and the California Association for Behavior Analysis. She also has contributed to her field through her creative works, which include multiple episodes of the “Voices of Compassion” podcast with the Children’s Health Council. Further, Dr. Miller authored the article “How We Brought the Most Vulnerable Students Back to School” for the U.S. Department of Education in 2020 and has contributed to numerous other podcasts as well as journal articles, papers, and presentations. Foundationally, she earned a Doctor of Education in leadership and professional practice at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2001; a Master of Education in educational administration and supervision from Middle Tennessee State University in 2006; and a Bachelor of Science in health and human performance from The University of Tennessee at Martin in 2002.
Away from work, Dr. Miller enjoys time with her family, camping, hiking, going to the beach, traveling, and watching basketball. To aspiring professionals in her field, especially women, she advises them to believe in themselves and be confident in their work.