She earned her doctorate in educational psychology with a concentration in special education from Texas A&M University, College Station. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Soares served as a classroom teacher and administrator for 18 years, as well as a consultant for public schools and parents. Her research focuses on applied and practical experiences in academic and behavior interventions for at-risk students, as well as examining the efficacy of those interventions in classroom settings where teachers have competing time demands. Dr. Soares received the School's scholar of the year award in 2016 and outstanding service award in 2018.