Dr. Marquette’s experiences have spanned over three decades as a special educator teacher, school transition administrator, author, qualitative researcher, conference speaker, an adjunct professor at Bellarmine University and an art business manager for her autistic son. 

In 2007, Jackie earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Human Resources, and Education Administration at University of Louisville. 

Based on Dr. Marquette’s teachings, she delivers training to professionals, counselors and teachers earning 6 CEU’s. Her program has been accredited by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, CRCC. 

Dr Marquette’s proprietary program the S.A.F.E.T.Y. Works© is engineered to be a catalyst in Educational School Leadership, with company leaders and managers on the behalf of the employment of youth with strengths, talents and challenges (i.e., Autism Spectrum). When leaders understand how Neurodiverse persons have much value to offer a business, they will get some of the best employees. Leaders must also understand their challenges and strengths and how important adaptive environments are to the employee’s on-the-job success. 

She writes curriculum and creates student digital and google app resources on this content: self-awareness, social awareness, self- advocacy, and careers. Her student educational resources serves students across the US and in 5 countries. 

Dr. Marquette acknowledges the importance of inviting youth to use tools to emotionally adapt in their own way to a world that will ask much from them. She believes when youth receive mentorship and opportunities to ready themselves to become emotionally adaptive, they will be prepared to thrive and contribute to the evolving and ever changing world. 

She walks her talk as she has an adult autistic son. With recognition of his strengths and interests in creating his art and with his social emotional challenges, she helped him create a life of a working artist since 2001. 

She conducted qualitative research with over 800 participants: youth with Autism Spectrum, their families, and their educators and counselor/ therapists. She learned about their lived experiences and dreams to build a meaningful life to employment, college, community assisted living, all while facing insurmountable obstacles. 

Dr. Marquette continued her research and over an additional 15 years and she created emotionally adaptation tools and used these tools in her practice with youth seeking employment. She delivered her services for 6 years through the KY Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The resources and curriculum she created are based upon her qualitative research findings, as well as her professional and lived experiences. 

She has been endorsed by highly recognized colleagues in the disability field for skills in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Training, and Research.