Originally from northern Indiana, I began my teaching
career in Macon, Georgia, where I was a fifth and second
grade classroom teacher. Second grade has always been
my favorite grade. After obtaining my Master’s from
Georgia College, I returned to Ball State University in
Indiana to complete my Ph.D. During this time I taught
in a Language Experience Laboratory for Toddlers and did
extensive literacy assessment in the Reading Clinic. My
first college teaching experience was at the University
of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM). I was there for four
years and had the opportunity to not only work with undergraduate
and graduate students, but also gain experience providing
reading and writing workshops for elementary, junior high,
and high school students. I also developed and directed
the College Reading Program at UAM. So I have experience
with learners of all ages. In 1985, I accepted a position
at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Since then, I met
and married my husband and we have made Oshkosh our home.
My love of reading and traveling do much to inform and
enrich my teaching and my love of my dogs does much to
enrich my life. I teach both graduate students in the
Master’s in Reading program and undergraduates in
the Professional Education Program. In all, I have taught
over 20 different literacy education courses. From 1994-2003,
I was the Reading Education department chair and graduate
program coordinator.
I have had 21 manuscripts, both juried and invited, published
in a variety of forums such as the Journal of Reading,
Journal of Educational Research and Wisconsin
State Reading Association Journal. I have completed
8 research projects, 7 of them funded through UW Oshkosh.
Topics of my research, to list a few, have included children's
writing, multicultural trade books, mentoring programs,
and college remedial reading programs. I have had 21 grants
funded at the local, university or state level. I have
done well over 70 professional presentations at all levels
from local to international and presented numerous in
service programs. Currently I am active in the Scholarship
of Teaching and Learning Program. I am also a Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction Professional Development
Plan verifier. Currently my focus has been on helping
teachers in the field expand their professional development.
I have recently planned and implemented week long Raising
Literacy Standards Institutes to meet the professional
development needs of school districts.