PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI)

Dr. Ketcheson serves as the PI for the PLANE 2.0 project at Wayne State University, where she is an associate professor in Health and Physical Education Teaching within the Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Studies department. Her passion for adapted physical activity emerged during her time as a teacher in the Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD), where she saw firsthand how high-quality instruction and individualized attention can enhance student health outcomes. Within PLANE 2.0, Dr. Ketcheson will provide direct mentorship and supervision to health coaches, while overseeing the overall project. She also collaborates closely with DPSCD administrators and teachers to ensure the project's work is effectively implemented within schools and the broader community.

LEAD INSTRUCTOR & PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Jordan been with the PLANE program for nearly four years, initially starting as a volunteer coach many years ago. With over five years of experience working with special populations and three years as an instructor, Jordan now works full-time for Wayne State University on the PLANE program. Her passion for PLANE was sparked during her time as a volunteer while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Jordan is dedicated to ensuring that families are served to the best of the program's ability. In her free time, she enjoys reading, attending concerts, hiking, and traveling, Jordan currently resides in Detroit, MI.

P.S. Jordan created the child & parent artifacts which you can find linked under the resource pages

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE & EVALUATION SUPPORT

Sam is a former adapted physical education teacher with a deep passion for training Special Olympics coaches. Sam has been part of the PLANE program for the past three years, working closely with coaches to improve athlete outcomes and providing evaluation support. In addition to the role with PLANE, Sam coaches part-time for the Wayne State track team. Sam enjoys spending free time with family, including a spouse and two children, in Trenton. Her dedication to both professional and personal life highlights a commitment to fostering growth in adapted sports.

LEAD BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONIST

Maddie is the lead behavioral interventionist for the PLANE program and has been volunteering with this program for the past three years. Her passion for health promotion in autistic children was sparked during her undergraduate involvement with PLANE, which inspired her to pursue a master's degree in health and physical education, with a focus on adapted physical education. She is currently working closely with the principal investigator, Dr. Ketcheson, to obtain her initial teaching certification. In the PLANE program, Maddie will work closely with the athletes, ensuring they have the necessary resources to thrive and achieve maximum outcomes. Maddie resides in Monroe, MI with her husband and their dog, and in her free time, she enjoys reading.

EXTERNAL EVALUATOR

Dr. Loetzner earned her PhD from Wayne State in 2024. She has been with PLANE since its first iteration in 2020. She has served on the project as a data manager, evaluator, interventionist, and lead instructor. Dr. Loetzner is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University working with Special Olympics Oregon and Special Olympics International. She just loves PLANE and the PLANE families so much she couldn't leave the project! Her primary role in PLANE 2.0 involves evaluation methodology, data analysis, and data management.

P.S. She also created this website!

EXTERNAL EVALUATOR

Dr. Pitchford is an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University. His research focuses on the physical activity, physical fitness, motor behavior, and health of individuals with developmental disabilities across the lifespan. He works to systematically examine health disparities and then identify, design and test targeted interventions for health promotion. He has been an external evaluator with PLANE since 2020.

IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE CONSULTANT

Dr. Eisman is an Associate Professor of Community Health at Wayne State University. She focuses on improving the implementation of evidence-based practices to benefit adolescent well-being, particularly within school settings. By combining implementation science with health economics, she empowers providers, leaders, and organizations to effectively implement programs addressing substance use and mental health as well as physical activity, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Eisman has played a critical role in the development of the PLANE 2.0 program.

FUNDING FOR PLANE 2.0

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund, or the Health Fund for short, was created through Public Act 4 of 2013, which authorized certain changes on how Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) operates. The law requires BCBSM to contribute up to $1.56 billion over 18 years to a health endowment fund that benefits Michigan residents, and specified that the fund should focus on children and seniors, with funding in eight areas: behavioral health, health services for foster and adopted children, access to healthy food, wellness and fitness, infant mortality, technology enhancements, health-related transportation, and foodborne illness prevention