Education and Professional Experiences

Education

• Ed.D. Indiana University, Bloomington, 1981
  Reading, Department of Reading/Literacy Evaluation/Assessment Minor
• M.A. Indiana University, Bloomington, 1976
  Reading, Department of Reading/Literacy
• B.A. University of Evansville, IN, 1972
  Elementary Education

Professional Experience

• Director, Teacher Education Assessment, Northwestern University, 2003–2004.
  • Responsible for on-going development of a comprehensive, unit-wide assessment plan leading to new performance-based assessments, collection and analysis of data, and program improvement;  leadership roles in assessment committee, digital portfolio committee, and unit-wide committee.
  • Courses in graduate level reading and writing processes and instruction using sociocultural approaches, critical literacy, and miscue analysis.
  • Self-study research in reading courses focused on critical reflection.
  • Longitudinal inquiry into pre-service teacher professional identity development using a community of practice framework.
• Director, Graduate Programs, Benedictine University, October 1999-August 2002.
• Director of three field-based graduate programs.
  • Leadership & Administration
  • Curriculum & Technology-Integrated Instruction
  • Reading/Literacy

Responsibilities included identification and hiring of faculty, faculty development, development of new programs, revision of existing programs to include enhanced components of teaching excellence, technology, and quality assessments.
Successful completion of Illinois Board of Higher Education proposals to expand programs into regions beyond the immediate scope of the university.  All programs emphasized sociocultural theories, research scholarship, performance assessment, diversity, technology, and standards.
Development of Reading/Literacy Program leading to a Reading Specialist certificate.  Social constructivist theories as well as current research in reading as a social process used as the dominant framework.  Courses developed include:  Literacy, Arts, and Technology, Reading Research, Authentic Learning Environments, Miscue & Retrospective Miscue Analysis, Emergent Literacy, Reading Process K-6 and 6-12, Reading in the Content Area, Assessment of Reading/Literacy, and Leadership in Literacy Contexts.

• Program Co-Designer of NCTE Reading Initiative, National Council of Teachers of English, 1997-1999.
  • Instrumental in conceptualizing, constructing, and implementing a long-term professional development process, with Dr. Karen Smith, that engages educators in study of the theory, knowledge bases, and best practice of the teaching and learning of reading. The work is accomplished through inquiry/dialogue groups that meet on a regular basis to conduct systematic inquiry into questions of practical significance.  The goal is deep understanding of reading/literacy, assessment and sociocultural perspectives on teaching/learning and transformation of self and knowledge. Key to success and long-term growth is ongoing reflection through continuous examination of beliefs in relation to practice. The program is now available in over 400 sites around the country; the entire state of South Carolina has adopted the Initiative.
• Lecturer, Graduate School of Education & Social Policy, Northwestern University, 1991-2003.
• Taught “Foundations of Language and Reading Process” and developed “Writing Process and Instruction.”  Emphasis on holistic/constructivist theories, critical literacy, arts and literacy, a knowledge base in reading and writing, miscue analysis, dialogue, portfolios and other authentic assessments, and multicultural literature.
• Center Director, Center for Learning and Literacy, 1990-1993.
  • Development and implementation of 1-3 day theory/practice workshops on whole language theory/practice for teachers, administrators, and teacher educators. Content included reading/writing processes, miscue analysis, comprehension, role of the teacher, creating strategic readers, reading/writing across the curriculum, authentic assessment, multiple ways of knowing.
• Professor, Department of Reading, Northeastern Illinois University,  1981-1991.

Courses Taught and Developed

• Language Acquisition & Literacy Development
• Miscue Analysis
• Seminar in Writing Process
• Socio-Psycholinguistics & Reading
• Teacher as Learner/Researcher
• Comprehension Development and Instruction
• Inquiry and Integration
• Research in Reading
• Chair of NCATE Task Force
• Chair of Academic Affairs Committee
• Director of Alternative Assessment Policy Council
• Extended work with Chicago Teacher Center focused on Arts & Literacy Integration
• Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 1976-1981.
• NIE funded early literacy research with Dr. Jerome Harste, Dr. Carolyn Burke, and Dr. Virginia Woodward
• Practicum in Reading and Language Arts Methods. 
• Reading Specialist, Southwestern School District, Hanover IN, 1975-1976.
• FirstGrade Teacher, Southwestern Elementary School, Hanover, IN, 1973-1975.
• SixthGrade Teacher, Austin Jr. High School, Austin, IN, 1972-1973.