Yolanda Perkins, EdS, is an implementation specialist at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). She has more than 20 years of experience working in the field of special education in a variety of capacities including district administrator, teacher, coach, college instructor, and research educational consultant. Perkins has extensive experience in providing training, coaching, and technical assistance to state, district, and school-based educators on the application of implementation science practices to improve the outcomes for individuals with marginalized identities. She has also worked on several autism research projects at FPG, co-developing professional development materials and providing training and coaching to K-12 educators on the use of the evidence-based practices identified by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC).

As part of the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN), Perkins serves as the co-principal investigator on the NY Math Network project, facilitating and supporting a cadre of New York state school districts to address the systemic implementation vision of high-quality math instruction. She also works with the UNC-based Work Together NC team on the state of North Carolina's Inclusion Works project aimed at improving competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.