Featured Experts

Dr. Isabel Beck is a professor in the School of Education and a senior scientist at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Beck’s research has focused on beginning reading, acquisition of decoding skills, vocabulary, learning from text, and teacher development. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to reading research, the National Reading Conference honored her with the Oscar S. Causey Award in 1988. For her contributions to the field of literacy, Dr. Beck was elected to the International Reading Association’s Reading Hall of Fame. In 2000, she received an award from the American Federation of Teachers for “bridging the gap between research and practice.” Dr. Beck’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6.

Dr. Maria Blanton is senior executive research associate at the James J. Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in Mathematics Education, and associate professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Her work focuses on understanding issues of teacher and student learning associated with algebraic thinking in the elementary grades. Dr. Blanton’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Algebra for Elementary Students, K–5.

Dr. Diane Briars is senior program officer for mathematics and science education for the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) public school system and co-director of the Pittsburgh NSF Urban Systemic Program, PRIME-PLUS (Pittsburgh Reform in Mathematics Education and in Programs for Learning and Understanding Science). Dr. Briars is a former director of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Problem Solving and Number & Operations for Middle Level Students, 6–8.

Dr. Kay Burke currently conducts workshops for teachers and administrators across the country. Her main focus is standards-aligned curriculum and assessments. She is the author or co-author of many books, notably: How to Assess Authentic Learning (4th ed.); Designing Professional Portfolios for Change; The Portfolio Connection: Student Work Linked to Standards (2nd ed.); and From Standards to Rubrics in Six Steps: Tools for Assessing Student Learning, K–8. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Effective Assessment, K–12; and Classroom Assessment for Today’s Teacher, K–12.

Dr. Marvin Cohen is director of Instructional Technology at Bank Street College in New York City, where he is a senior faculty member in the Mathematics Leadership Program. Dr. Cohen’s interests include the various uses of technology to better prepare mathematics teachers to work in diverse and inclusive settings. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Problem Solving and Number & Operations for Elementary Students, K–5; Problem Solving and Number & Operations for Middle Level Students, 6–8; and Fundamentals of Mathematics: Teaching for Conceptual Understanding, 2–6.

Dr. Harvey “Smokey” Daniels has been a city and suburban classroom teacher and now serves as professor of reading, language, secondary education, and interdisciplinary studies at National-Louis University in Chicago. In language arts, Dr. Daniels is best known for his work on student book clubs, as recounted in his book Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups, and his latest title, Minilessons for Literature Circles. Through the Center for City Schools, Dr. Daniels works with a network of 15 improving elementary schools in Chicago, and in 1996, he co-founded the city’s first new high school in 30 years. The growth of the school—along with an explicit template for any high school’s growth—is offered in Daniels’s book Rethinking High School: Best Practice in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership. The book, along with its companion video, is used around the country by district and school teams working on major long-term change strategies. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Teacher as Hero, K–12.

Dr. Ceri Dean is vice president of Field Services at Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) in Aurora, Colorado. In addition to leading McREL’s work in instruction and school improvement, Dr. Dean leads the Field Services team for the Regional Educational Laboratory Program, working directly with schools about such topics as instruction, data-driven decision making, professional learning communities, standards and assessment, and leadership. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Research-Based Instructional Strategies to Improve Student Achievement, K–12.

Dr. Jane Doty is a principal consultant at McREL in Aurora, Colorado. She has nearly 20 years of experience as an educator in New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Research-Based Instructional Strategies to Improve Student Achievement, K–12.

Dr. Nell Duke is an associate professor of teacher education and educational psychology and associate director of the Literacy Achievement Research Center (LARC) at Michigan State University. Dr. Duke received her bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and her master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard University. Her work focuses on early literacy development, particularly among children living in poverty, and her specific areas of expertise include development of informational literacy in young children, comprehension development and instruction in early schooling, and issues of equity in literacy education. Dr. Duke teaches pre-service, in-service, and doctoral courses in literacy education at Michigan State University, speaks and consults widely on literacy education, and is an active member of several literacy-related organizations. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6; and Reading in the Content Areas, K–6.

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Dr. Paul Eggen is a professor of education and a founding faculty member at the University of North Florida. He is the author of seven books, and his Educational Psychology text, which he co-authored with Dr. Donald Kauchak, is in its seventh edition. Dr. Eggen’s research interests are cognitive learning and teacher development. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Understanding Teaching and Learning, K–12.

Dr. Susan B. Empson is assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Texas at Austin. The focus of her research is teacher-student interactions in elementary mathematics in low-performing urban schools with a high percentage of African American and Latino students. Dr. Empson earned her Ph.D. in mathematics education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before attending graduate school, she was a high school mathematics teacher in Harlem in New York City. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Problem Solving and Number & Operations for Middle Level Students, 6–8.

Dr. Connie Juel is a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and director of the Jeanne Chall Reading Lab. Her longitudinal research, which demonstrated that children who have trouble learning to read in first grade often have trouble throughout their academic careers, has had a major impact on the literacy field. Dr. Juel’s research also has shown how classroom teachers can intervene to help students who are falling behind in their literacy development. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6.

Dr. James Kaput was chancellor professor of mathematics at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, until his untimely death in 2005. Dr. Kaput was a leading mathematics educator and researcher whose innovative thinking and leadership inspired many in the field of mathematics education. A mathematician by training, he developed influential NSF-funded work that focused on using technology to democratize access to the mathematics of change and variation. Dr. Kaput’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Algebra for Elementary Students, K–5; and Algebra for Middle Level Students, 6–8.

Dr. Donald Kauchak is a professor of education at the University of Utah. He has taught and worked in schools in nine states and served as a faculty member and/or administrator in higher education for 35 years. Dr. Kauchak has co-authored eight texts in education, as well as numerous articles in research journals. His current research interests include instructional theory and teacher education and development. Dr. Kauchak’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Understanding Teaching and Learning, K–12.

Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings is the Kellner Family Chair in Urban Education and professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her areas of interest include educational anthropology, cultural studies, and critical race theory applications to education. Dr. Ladson has authored several books, most notably The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children. She is currently conducting a research project on the lives of African American educators. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Teacher as Hero, K–12.

Dr. Ann Lieberman is a senior scholar at The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and a visiting professor at Stanford University. She is also professor emerita at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Lieberman received her B.A. and Ed.D. at UCLA, and her master’s degree at California State University, Northridge. Dr. Lieberman was also president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in 1992. She is widely known for her work in the areas of teacher leadership, collaborative research, school-university partnerships, and understanding educational change. Dr. Lieberman’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Teacher as Leader, K–12.

Tom Malarkey is a school coach and coordinator of the Inquiry for Equity Network at the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BayCES) in Oakland, California. He has worked with BayCES since 1996 and specializes in supporting equity-centered inquiry practice with teachers, teams, and whole schools. For the last 20 years, he has focused his work on urban schools, teachers, and students. He is a former English teacher (first grade and high school), and a former director of the Summerbridge Program in San Francisco, an academic empowerment program for middle school students. Malarkey holds a master’s degree in international development education from Stanford University and is currently finishing his Ph.D. in education at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on the dynamics of collaborative teacher inquiry and its relationship to equity and urban school change. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Teacher as Leader, K–12.

Jay McTighe is a veteran educator with expertise in assessment, curricular design, and staff development. He is a regular speaker at national conferences and a featured presenter on many Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) videotape programs. He is the co-author of Assessing Learning in the Classroom, Assessing Student Outcomes: Performance Assessment Using the Dimensions of Learning Model, and Evaluation Tools to Improve as Well as Evaluate Student Performance. McTighe’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Instructional Design, K–12; and Effective Assessment, K–12.

Dr. Louisa Cook Moats specializes in reading development, reading disorders, spelling, and written language. She has written and lectured widely throughout the United States and abroad. Dr. Moats received her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College, her master’s degree from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, and her doctorate in education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Prior to her doctoral training, she worked as a teacher, neuropsychology technician, and specialist in learning disorders. Dr. Moats was also a licensed psychologist in private practice for 15 years in Vermont. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6.

Dr. Jeanne Ormrod is professor emerita of educational psychology at the University of Northern Colorado and affiliate professor of education at the University of New Hampshire, where she occasionally teaches educational psychology courses. Dr. Ormrod’s areas of specialization are learning and cognition, study strategies, and pedagogy. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Understanding Teaching and Learning, K–12.

Dr. Michael Pressley, who passed away in 2006, was a professor at Michigan State University’s Department of Teacher Education, where he received funding to establish the Literacy Achievement Research Center (LARC) and directed the doctoral program in Teacher Education. During his career, Dr. Pressley published more than 350 articles and book chapters, and authored or edited over 25 books that have had a powerful influence on the field of literacy, psychology, and education. Dr. Pressley was renowned for his senior authorship of the K–6 basal literacy program Open Court, now McGraw-Hill/SRA Open Court, a series that has had a direct impact on millions of children. His career was devoted to research on children’s learning and balanced literacy instruction, and he was regarded as an expert in comprehension processing. Dr. Pressley’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6.

Dr. Timothy Rasinski is a professor of education in the Reading and Writing Center at Kent State University. Dr. Rasinski’s primary areas of interest include working with struggling readers in elementary and middle school, and reading fluency instruction. He also has a special interest in teacher development in literacy education and has been working to interpret research findings for educators. Dr. Rasinski is a past editor of The Reading Teacher. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6; and Assessment and Intervention for Struggling Readers, K–6.

Dr. Richard J. Schaar, an executive advisor at Texas Instruments (TI) for math and science education policy, recently retired from his post as a senior vice president of TI, where he served as president of the Education and Productivity Solutions business. Dr. Schaar served on the National Science Foundation’s Advisory Committee of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, and chaired the Subcommittee on the Instructional Workforce. Dr. Schaar holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Purdue University, an MBA from the University of Illinois, and a Doctor of Philosophy in applied mathematics from the University of Chicago. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Problem Solving and Number & Operations for Middle Level Students, 6–8; Measurement and Geometry for Middle Level Students, 6–8; Data Analysis and Probability for Middle Level Students, 6–8; and Algebra for Middle Level Students, 6–8.

Laurel Schmidt is currently director of Pupil Services for the Santa Monica-Malibu School District, and adjunct professor at Antioch University. She has worked for 30 years in the field of education and spent 23 years in the classroom before becoming a principal. Ms. Schmidt writes extensively about multiple intelligences theory, effective teaching practices, and the challenges of school leadership. She conducts staff development for teachers based on her book Classroom Confidential: The 12 Secrets of Great Teachers. Ms. Schmidt also works with school districts, county offices of education, and administrative associations to enhance the skills of principals and school leaders through her Gardening in the Minefield seminars. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Teacher as Hero, K–12.

Dr. Judah L. Schwartz is currently visiting professor of education and research and a professor of physics and astronomy at Tufts University, where he directs a large NSF-supported project on science education for middle school and elementary school teachers. He is also emeritus professor of engineering science and education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and emeritus professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Dr. Schwartz, who was trained in mathematics and theoretical physics, has developed computer graphics techniques and software to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Algebra for Elementary Students, K–5.

Dr. Tony Smith is currently the superintendent of the Emeryville Unified School District in California. He received his doctorate in education from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Smith went to Emeryville, a struggling school district outside San Francisco, with a background in school reform that included having served as the program director of the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BayCES) in Oakland. Teacher leadership is a central part of Dr. Smith’s vision of achieving equity and excellence in the Emeryville schools. While he was at BayCES, Smith helped craft the City of Emeryville/Emery Unified School District Education and Youth Services Plan. The plan called for a joint city/school acquisition of a central youth-oriented community center in Emeryville, as well as a restructuring of the city’s schools through the Math, Science Technology Initiative. Dr. Smith’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Teacher as Leader, K–12.

Dr. Catherine Snow is the Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is an expert on language and literacy development and her research interests include children’s language development. Dr. Snow chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee that prepared the report Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6.

Dr. Deborah Stipek is currently dean of Stanford University’s School of Education, where she is also a professor. Dr. Stipek’s career includes serving for five years as a member of the Board on Children, Youth, and Families at the National Research Council; chairing the National Research Council Committee for Increasing High School Students’ Engagement and Motivation to Learn; and directing the MacArthur Foundation Network on Teaching and Learning. While a professor at UCLA, Dr. Stipek served as director of the Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School and the Urban Education Studies Center. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Student-Directed Learning to Foster Motivation and Engagement, K–12.

Dr. Dorothy Strickland is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Chair in Education at Rutgers University. She is a former classroom teacher, reading consultant, and learning disabilities specialist. She was the l998 recipient of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Award as Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts and the 1994 NCTE Rewey Belle Inglis Award as Outstanding Woman in the Teaching of English. Dr. Strickland served on the National Academy of Sciences committee that prepared the report Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children and on the Primary Literacy Standards Panel. She is the State of New Jersey Professor of Reading at Rutgers University and a past president of the International Reading Association. Dr. Strickland’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Foundations of Reading and Literacy, K–6.

Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson is associate professor of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy at The Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. She is co-director of the University of Virginia’s Summer Institute on Academic Diversity and secretary of the Executive Board of the National Association for Gifted Children. Dr. Tomlinson was a public school teacher for 21 years, working at the preschool, middle school, and high school levels. In 1974, she received Virginia’s Teacher of the Year award. Her expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Meeting the Needs of All Students, K–12.

Dr. Joseph A. Torgesen is a distinguished research professor of psychology and education at Florida State University and is nationally known for research on both the prevention and remediation of reading difficulties in young children. He is the director of the Florida Center for Reading Research and the author of numerous articles, books, and tests related to reading and learning disabilities. For the past 15 years, he has been part of the effort supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to learn more about the nature of reading disabilities and ways to prevent and remediate reading problems in children. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Assessment and Intervention for Struggling Readers, K–12.

Dr. John Van de Walle, who passed away in 2007, was professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where he taught graduate courses for prospective teachers. Dr. Van de Walle authored the textbook Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally and was a co-author of Scott Foresman - Addison Wesley Mathematics, a K–6 textbook series. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Measurement and Geometry for Elementary Students, K–5; and Proportional Reasoning in the Middle Grades, 6–8.

Grant Wiggins is president of Authentic Education in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. He consults with schools, districts, and state education departments, organizes conferences, and develops resources on curricular change. He is the author of Educative Assessment and Assessing Student Performance. Wiggins’s expert commentary is included in the Teachscape courses Instructional Design, K–12; and Effective Assessment, K–12.

Dr. Ken Williams is an associate professor of mathematics at Marygrove College. He is also the mathematics coordinator and Curriculum Committee chairperson. In addition to his involvement with the MAT program at Marygrove, Dr. Williams is the mathematics supervisor for the “Teaching as a Second Career” program. His expert commentary is included in the Teachscape course Data Analysis and Probability for Elementary Students, K–5.

Dr. Pat Wolfe is a former teacher of kindergarten through 12th grade, county office administrator, and adjunct university professor. Her major area of expertise is the effective application of brain research to educational practice. Over the past 20 years, as an educational consultant, Dr. Wolfe has conducted workshops for thousands of administrators, teachers, boards of education, and parents in schools and districts throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries internationally. Dr. Wolf has appeared on numerous videotape series, satellite broadcasts, radio shows, and television programs. Her published works include Brain Matters: Translating Research into Classroom Practice; The Instructional Skills Training Manual; Implementation of the Hunter Instructional Model: A Staff Development Study; Mind, Memory, and Learning: Implications for the Classroom (co-author); and numerous articles on brain research, teaching, supervision, staff development, and peer coaching. Dr. Wolf’s expert commentary appears in the Teachscape course The Thinking-Learning Brain.