Gretchen Schmidt Mertes is an Educational Specialist in Autism and Social Communication and is a well-known presenter and consultant throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has over 25 years of experience teaching both general and special education students, and currently works as a Social Emotional Learning Specialist for students' preschool through high school, developing and implementing social thinking concepts school wide. As a consultant, she works with school districts to assess and develop programming for individual students and provides staff training on a variety of topics related to autism, Social Thinking, and other topics in Special Education. She graduated from Concordia College in Elementary Education in 1988 and received her M.Ed. in Special Education, summa cum laude, in 1995.
Gretchen's greatest passion is teaching teachers and other educators how to use Social Thinking within their own classrooms and schools. She has worked with many schools to develop school-wide implementation of Social Thinking in differentiated, multi-tiered system of supports, MTSS, model for all students. Her experience as a general and special education teacher, Autism Specialist, and most recently as a Social Emotional Learning Specialist, have given her credibility in understanding and helping educators implement Social Thinking in a variety of settings and levels. She works with students, teachers, administrators, and parents to identify social cognitive needs and develop programming to meet those needs.
Gretchen served as the Autism Specialist for the Bethel School District (estimated enrollment 18,000) in Washington State, where she developed and coordinated district wide programming for students with autism and Social Thinking deficits in both special and general education. In this capacity, she designed and supported seven Social Thinking classrooms as well as supporting students with Social Thinking deficits in resource programs, and general and gifted education classrooms throughout the district, preschool through transition.
Other Experience
Regional Autism Facilitator/Trainer for the Autism Outreach Project, a Special Needs Project through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State. As a statewide trainer, Gretchen provided numerous trainings on issues related to Autism, such as supporting and programming for those with Asperger’s/High Functioning Autism and Social Thinking, structured learning, sensory needs, behavior, academics, and IEP development for both educators and families.
Private practice, as part of Puget Sound Autism Asperger’s Associates, providing technical support, training, and consultation for districts, schools, and families of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other Social Thinking challenges throughout the state.
Intensive Collaborative Training with Social Thinking, Michelle Garcia Winner and Pam Crook, 2011 to present
Executive Functioning Training with Sarah Ward, Cognitive Connections, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018
Mentorship with Michelle Garcia Winner, Social Thinking Clinic San Jose, CA 2007
Internship, University of Washington Autism Center, 2000-2001
Professional Development in Autism Intensive, University of Kansas 2005
Workshops attended include: Tony Attwood, Kari Dunn Buron, Dena Gassner, Temple Grandin, Carol Gray, Cathy Pratt, Ilene Schwartz, Stephen Shore, Brenda Smith Myles, Ross Green, Robert Brooks, Peter Vermeulen, Jed Baker, Bonnie Signer, Mark Katz and many more.
Speaking Experience
- Social Thinking® Training and Speakers Collaborative, speaking engagements throughout the United States and Canada based on the work of Michelle Garcia Winner 2011-Present
- Wading through the Mud: Advocating for a Deeper Look at Social Competencies in Special Education Assessments, Social Thinking Global Provider’s Conference and the Washington State Association of School Psychologists, 2018
- Summer Institute and quarterly staff development for the Bethel School District in Autism, Asperger’s, Social Thinking and Special Education issues such as IEP development and compliance, 1999- 2018
- Autism Outreach Project, Washington State, 2000-2015, multiple trainings annually on Asperger’s and Social Thinking; Structuring Learning; Sensory Needs; and other topics
- Combined Summer Institute (Autism, Multiple Disabilities, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Visual Impairments, and Traumatic Brain Injury) for Washington State - presentations on Autism, Asperger’s and Social Thinking, annually 2000-2010, 2012-Present
- Changes in the DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorders and Social Communication Disorders Implications and Qualification, Washington State Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference, 2013
- Autism and Educational Issues Current and Pending, Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law, 2012 (Also presented for the LEA Directors at Puget Sound ESD 121 and various school districts)
- Social Thinking Meets RTI and PBS, Social Thinking Providers Conference, San Francisco, 2010 and 2011
- An Introduction to Social Thinking for Parents; Social Thinking Across the School Day; and Social Thinking Meets RTI and PBS, Kent School District, WA 2011 and Friday Harbor School District 2012
- An Introduction to Social Thinking, Logan River Academy Residential Treatment Center, Logan River, UT 2011
- Various Courses in Autism, Social Thinking and Special Education, Adjunct Instructor for Seattle Pacific University, 1999-2011
- Social Thinking Across the School Day, Snohomish School District, Snohomish, WA, 2009
- Panel Presentation: Social Thinking in Schools, 1st Annual Social Thinking Provider’s Conference, San Jose 2008
- An Introduction to Social Thinking, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Northwest Teacher’s Conference, 2008
- Washington Autism Society, Annual Conferences 2001-2004
- Summer Institute on Significant Disabilities, Washington State - presentation on BLASST, (Building Language and Social Skills Together), a “school within a school” designed to meet the needs of students with Social Thinking Deficits and Autism, 1999
Click here to download Gretchen's CV
Personal
Gretchen lives in Puyallup, Washington with her husband, dog, two cats, and the variety of ducks, geese, birds, squirrels, and other critters that call their back yard pond home. She and her husband love to spend time with friends and family and travel both near and far. If not at home spending time with friends, they are often on the road or at sea looking for adventure and local cuisine. Interests and hobbies include reading, sailing, theater and dance, cooking and gardening. Gretchen is also actively involved in her church where she serves as the Faith Formation Chairperson. She is an alumni of Up With People and Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma and continues to stay actively engaged and involved in both organizations.
Financial Disclosure
Financial: Speaker for Think Social Publishing, Inc., and receives speaking fees.
Non-financial: No relevant non-financial relationships exist.
