Her primary focus is training teacher candidates to be instructional strategists in educating students with disabilities. She teaches undergraduate and graduate methods courses on campus and through distance education. She advises graduate students seeking to be endorsed in mild to moderate disabilities and is faculty advisor to the Student Council for Exceptional Children. Her research interests are inclusive practices for students with disabilities, reading and writing instruction for struggling students, and using technology to facilitate learning. Leader-Janssen earned three degrees in special education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: a BS (1999), M. Ed. (2001) and Ph.D. (2006).