Faculty and staff in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education possess
a broad range of expertise in research and curriculum development, including, but
not limited to:
Preparing teachers for culturally and linguistically diverse learning environments
Differentiating instruction
Promoting literacy across the content areas
Developing students’ critical thinking skills
STEM education
Social justice education
Appreciating human diversity
Our faculty also have expertise in online learning and course development.
Through the use of a continuous improvement process, faculty and staff strive to enhance
the quality of our undergraduate and graduate programs through the redesign of course
requirements and field experiences that address the rigor of the standards provided
by national content organizations, as well as the ever-changing demands of the 21st
century.
EECE Interim Chair
Name
Position
Jennifer DailInterim Chair of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education and Professor of English Education
Interim Chair of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education and Professor of English Education
I primarily teach courses on social studies methods and classroom communities. I am
interested in the teaching and learning of economics, discourses about work in schools,
and using poststructural theories to understand our socio-economic contexts.
Theresa AlviarProfessor of Curriculum & Instruction
I am a Professor of Social Studies Education. My teaching and research center on anti-racist social studies, critical war studies, and Asian American studies. I have contributed to Smithsonian and PBS curriculum projects regarding teaching Asian American history and have my research cited in several media outlets, including CNN, Time, New York Times, Reuters, Vox, and USA Today. I am a former high school social studies teacher in South Korea.
Anna AriasAssociate Professor of Elementary Science Education
Associate Professor of Elementary Science Education
My research and teaching focus on supporting learning to teach elementary science. I consider the roles of curriculum materials, professional development, and teacher education in facilitating learning to engage students in science practices (e.g., investigation, argumentation) to make sense of science ideas and concepts.
Douglas BellProfessor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
My research and teaching focus on best practices working with young children. I have
a strong emphasis on early care administration, infant/toddler quality, young dual
language learners, early literacy, challenging behaviors, and supporting social emotional
development in the classroom.
Debra CoffeyAssociate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Associate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Dr. Debra Coffey is an associate professor who enjoys teaching graduate and undergraduate
courses in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Kennesaw
State University. Her chapters, articles, manuals, and seven textbooks resulted from
extensive professional collaboration, and they highlight innovations with digital
literacy, multicultural literature, and research-based strategies for literacy development.
She provided professional development for teachers in Belize, Costa Rica, and Ecuador
and shared her experiences in teaching students from preschool to the university level.
Dr. Coffey, recipient of the 2018 ALER A.B. Herr Award honoring outstanding contributions
to literacy education, has established national collaborative networks as Chair of
the Clinical Division, Chair of the College and Adult Literacy Division, and Co-Chair
of the Historian Committee of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers.
She has orchestrated local, national, and international literacy projects as the KSU
Phi Kappa Phi President, the State Field Council Representative for the Literacy Research
Association, Regional Initiatives Director and Board of Trustees member for the International
Alliance for Invitational Education, and advisor of the KSU chapter of Kappa Delta
Pi. Dr. Debra Coffey serves the profession internationally as President of the CARE
Special Interest Group of the International Literacy Association.
Susan CollinsSenior Lecturer of Elementary Education
Roberta Price Gardner is an assistant professor of reading and literacy education. Her research explores Black childhood literacies, African American childrens literature, social-cultural contexts of literacy, particularly emotion and racialized trauma, and the policy implications of race, place, gender, and social class on literacy and literature. She serves on the Executive Committee of the National Council Teachers of English, and Co-Director of NCTEs Professional Dyads and Culturally Relevant Teaching program. Her work has appeared in journals such as Urban Education, Childrenâ s Literature in Education, The Journal of Childrens Literature, Research in The Teaching of English, and Language Arts.
Linda GrantSenior Lecturer of Birth through Kindergarten
I have been a teacher educator for over 20 years, and currently teach child development
and early childhood curriculum courses. I also have specialized training in infant
and toddler development and curriculum, dual language learners, and professional learning
communities. My research interests are feminist/womanist perspectives on early childhood
education, pedagogical approaches of African American early childhood educators and
the child's role in teacher education.
I am a lecturer of Mathematics Education in the Department of Elementary and Early
Childhood Education. I learn alongside our students as an instructor in our math methods
and math content courses for undergraduate elementary education majors. My teaching
and research focus on issues of equity in mathematics teaching and learning.
Amy HillenAssociate Professor of Mathematics Education
I work with prospective elementary school teachers, teaching specialized mathematics content courses for KSUâ s undergraduate elementary education majors. My research interests are in how mathematical tasks support teacher and student learning, particularly in the contexts of whole numbers, rational numbers, and algebraic thinking. I also do research in helping teachers make connections between mathematics and other content areas including literacy and art.
Lateefah Id-DeenAssociate Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education
Associate Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education
I teach mathematics methods courses with an emphasis on culturally relevant pedagogies
for undergraduate elementary education majors and introductory education courses.
My research examines vulnerable students mathematics identities and sense of belonging
to enhance student-teacher relationships in mathematics classrooms. I also explore
Black students perspectives on their experiences in mathematics classrooms, and ways
to support educators in hearing and developing practice in relation to students expressed
interests.
Virginie JacksonAssistant Professor of Reading and Literacy Education
Assistant Professor of Reading and Literacy Education
I teach undergraduate reading methods, reading assessments, and pre-school curriculum
courses. My research focuses on early literacy and critical literacy development of
young learners through digital literacy and the integration of the arts.
Raynice Jean-SigurInterim ESS Director and Professor of Early Childhood Education
Interim ESS Director and Professor of Early Childhood Education
I, along with my colleagues, launched the Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) undergraduate
degree program and served as program coordinator for several years. My research interests
include diversity in Early Childhood Education, families and children with medical/special
needs and teacher preparation /leadership for early care and learning providers.
Monique JohnsonSenior Lecturer of Early Childhood Education
My research and teaching focus on challenging the taken-for-granted teaching practices
embedded in curriculum and analysis of discourses that teachers have toward marginalized
children.
Yanghee KimAssociate Professor of Early Childhood Education
Currently I teach Creative Curriculum; Family, School, and Community Collaboration;
International Approaches to ECE; and Approaches to Early Learning. My main research
interest focuses on the creation of school environment that maximizes the engagement
of families, especially minority families. I have published my research with Childhood
Education, Early Child Development and Care, Early Years, Educational Research Review,
Health Care for Woman International, Journal of Educational Research, and Teaching
and Teacher Education.
Ethel King-McKenzieAssociate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Associate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Dr. Soon Lee holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Science Education from the Ohio State University.
Dr. Lee has dedicated his research endeavors to areas such as AI-powered science classroom
discourse analysis, distance-based instructional coaching methodologies, and the strategic
application of educational technologies for enriching science instruction. Dr. Lee
has successfully led as the principal investigator on several PD projects, specifically
tailored to augment the pedagogical techniques of elementary teachers in the realm
of science instruction. Notably, his work has been showcased in the Journal of Science
Teacher Education, International Journal of STEM Education, Innovations in Science
Teacher Education, and the Journal of College Science Teaching, to name a few.
Rasheda LikelyAssociate Professor of Science Education
Rasheda Likely is a native of Pensacola, FL. She earned both her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Biology from the University of North Florida. Prior to her doctoral studies at Drexel University, she worked as a medical scientist for the Florida Department of Health where she performed testing during the Zika virus outbreak. While attending Drexel, she has been pivotal in the development and implementation of seven different science curricula across the Greater Philadelphia Area. Over 400 elementary and middle school students and teachers have participated in these science programs, two of which were grant funded by the US Department of Education.Beyond learning alongside future science educators, Dr. Likely's research passions include developing and implementing decolonized science curricula and culturally sustaining assessments. Her dissertation research titled "Lotions and Potions: Exploring Black Girls' Engagement in and Perceptions of Science Practices through Hair Care" led to the development of a 70 page science workbook that culminates with a DIY video as an assessment tool. Dr. Rasheda Likely takes great delight in imagining and creating learning experiences that support the brilliance of minoritized students.
Monisola McGloneLimited Term Assistant Professor of Math Education
Limited Term Assistant Professor of Math Education
I am an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education specializing in Elementary and
Early Childhood Education. With over 15 years of experience in academia, I am dedicated
to advancing the field of mathematics education. My research interests in early childhood
education focus on mathematical development, effective pedagogical practices, the
integration of technology, and assessment and evaluation in mathematics. I am committed
to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where early childhood educators
can explore and implement innovative approaches to teaching mathematics.
Marrielle MyersDirector of Faculty Success, Engagement & Wellness and Professor of Mathematics Education
Director of Faculty Success, Engagement & Wellness and Professor of Mathematics Education
Dr. Marrielle Myers (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She teaches math methods and content courses to prospective elementary teachers. She also teaches educational equity and diversity courses for practicing teachers. Dr. Myers engages in scholarship in three areas a) preparing and supporting teachers' development of political knowledge and critical consciousness, b) supporting Black teachersâ understanding of teaching for justice and engagement in creative insubordination at PWIs, and c) supporting teachers and teacher educators to navigate educational censorship.
Dr. Myers currently serves as the Director of Belonging for the Bagwell College of
Education, Director of the early career BIPOC mentoring program for The Association
of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE), the Program Chair for the National Council
of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Research Committee, a board member for the Teachers
Development Group (TDG), and a fellow for The Math Learning Center (MLC). Her commitment
to diversity, equity, and inclusion frames her service work with these professional
organizations.
Scott RitchieProfessor of Language and Literacy Education
Scott Ritchie, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Language and Literacy Education
in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education. A former grassroots
community organizer, P-5 classroom teacher/administrator, literacy coach, Dismantling
Racism trainer, and Professional Liaison for Diversity for the Bagwell College of
Education, Dr. Ritchie currently teaches courses in undergraduate and graduate literacy
education, educational equity and social justice, gender and women's studies, and
qualitative research methods.
Dr. Ritchie's research interests include critical literacies, critical content analysis
of children's picture books, gender and masculinity studies, and teacher education
for social justice. His work has been published in the Journal of Teacher Education,
Journal of Language and Literacy Education, Teachers College Record, and Current Issues
in Comparative Education, and he serves on editorial boards including Language Arts
journal and the Journal of Children's Literature. Dr. Ritchie serves on the Elementary
Section Steering Committee of the National Council of Teachers of English and the
board of the Center for Expansion of Language and Thinking.
Education Graduate Certificate, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Georgia State University,
2015 Ph.D., Language and Literacy Education, University of Georgia, 2010 M.Ed., Antioch University New England, 2000 A.B., Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1994
Sanjuana RodriguezProfessor of Reading and Literacy Education
Dr. Stephenson Reaves teaches science courses for elementary education students and has experience teaching K12 science education methods courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her research interests are focused on science curriculum development and professional development for K12 teachers in environmental sciences and learning and teaching for sustainability and climate resilience. She holds a BS in Environmental Science with minors in Chemistry and Aquatic Resources from Virginia Tech, a MA in Science Education from the University of Virginia, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education, from Virginia Tech. Dr. Stephenson Reaves has taught K12 Environmental Science in both public and private schools in the US, and abroad in Germany and the UAE, before joining the faculty at KSU.
Camille Sutton-Brown-FoxAssociate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Associate Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
I am an assistant professor of Educational Research. My expertise lies in qualitative
inquiry, participatory action research, visual methods, transnational feminism, international
development, and photovoice methodology. I have conducted research in several community-based
development settings, including a multi-site photovoice study on women's empowerment
in the context of microfinance in the West African nation of Mali. My current research
agenda focuses on integrating democratic research processes to explore topics related
to social justice.
Preethi TituAssociate Professor of Science Education
Preethi Titu is an Assistant professor of Science Education in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She has a background in teaching at higher education settings as well as K-12 schools and her work focuses on both pre-service and in-service teachers to meaningfully integrate STEM pedagogy into classroom practice. She earned her PhD in STEM Education from the University of Minnesota. Her doctoral dissertation focused on "Understanding Teacher Professional Identity Development", where she explored Secondary Science Teacher beliefs and practices through reflective practice. Her research interests have focused broadly on issues of understanding (i) how teachers' beliefs impact their classroom practice, (ii) teachers' conception of STEM and (iii) teachers' attitudes toward culturally diverse students. She is also passionate about working on preparing culturally responsive science and math educators. She is currently involved in an IES grant project aimed at supporting reform based instruction of AP Chemistry teachers.
Shannon ToveyAssociate Professor of Reading and Literacy Education
Associate Professor of Reading and Literacy Education
I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy methods and coordinate the
graduate reading endorsement program. My research interests are in how children's
literature impacts both teacher educators and children, particularly in terms of intercultural
understandings and resilience skills, respectively. I also do research in helping
to teachers to use technology for reading more effectively.
Ike UkejeProfessor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Professor of Elementary Childhood Education, Former, Assistant to the Vice President
of Research, Former Chair, Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Jennifer WardAssociate Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education
Associate Professor of Elementary Mathematics Education
I am an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Elementary
and Early Childhood Education. My research focuses on teaching mathematics to young
children (Birth through Grade 3) through a social justice lens. I also focus on working
with pre-service and in-service teachers to teach mathematics in early childhood settings.
Mark WarnerProfessor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Dr. Mark Warner has taught social studies, curriculum and assessment, research methodology,
and technology integration courses at the university level for 25 years. His primary
research interest is integrating problem based learning and technology into the 21st
century classroom. Prior to his work in higher education, Dr. Warner was a school
principal and taught grades 5-8 math, social studies, and language arts for 15 years.
