Bridgeport High School Alumni & Friends Hall of Fame 2019 Profile: A Look at Roberta Atha Strosnider
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on October 21, 2019
Roberta Atha Strosnider, Ed.D., a 1963 graduate of BHS, earned degrees from “Fairmont State College,” WVU, and Virginia Tech. She began her teaching career in general education but soon found her passion—teaching special education—which ultimately led to preparing educators who teach students with disabilities.
She has made significant contributions to the field through research, publications, presentations, grants, and consultant work. For example, Roberta was awarded a fellowship from Hood College to study HIV Prevention Education, resulting in 1) the presentations of her findings in 
the United States and Canada; 2) a grant to produce HIV instructional materials for students with reading disabilities, and 3) an invitation from the Council for Exceptional Children to join a national group of trainers to provide “Co-teaching HIV Prevention Education” for teachers.
the United States and Canada; 2) a grant to produce HIV instructional materials for students with reading disabilities, and 3) an invitation from the Council for Exceptional Children to join a national group of trainers to provide “Co-teaching HIV Prevention Education” for teachers.
Roberta has continued her advocacy efforts the last twenty years for students with disabilities by serving on several boards, including the Council for Learning Disabilities (CLD) and a national committee, which meets in the DC area bi-annually to prepare policy papers and recommendations that are shared with decision makers.
Her expertise in executive function skill training has led to another chapter in her life. She and her husband Jim founded an institute to improve K-12 students’ executive functioning skills through strategy instruction in camps and after-school programs. The success of this model was presented at teacher conferences, leading to requests for trainings around the country including Hilo, Hawaii, twice in one school year. In response to requests for more information, Roberta and her colleague co-authored The Executive Function Guidebook, a college textbook and professional development resource for teachers. Hilo, Hawaii, for example, has embraced the model resulting in instruction in executive function skill strategies by trained teachers.
Roberta, daughter of the late Robert and Ruth Atha, has one brother, Larry, also a BHS graduate. Roberta met her husband Jim at BHS and both are proud 1963 graduates. They have been married 53 years and have two children, Kent and Kim and their spouses, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Please join the BHS Alumni & Friends Foundation in honoring Roberta as a Hall of Famer at this year’s dinner banquet to be held at the Bridgeport Conference Center on Saturday, October 26, 2019. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with a dinner program following at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling the school office or Pam Pinti at 304-629-9815.
