My professional work focuses on literacy education, in particular as it relates to the often neglected affective domain. Interest, attitude, motivation, and engagement are critical factors in student learning, and I both "preach and teach" from that vantage point.

My role at Pacific in Benerd College as Assistant Dean of Educator Preparation is to provide leadership and oversight of the credentialing programs: teacher education and school counseling and psychology.    

PHILOSOPHY
The core of my belief about literacy education is grounded in the work of seminal theorist Louise Rosenblatt whose Transactional Theory of the Literary Work places tremendous emphasis on "what the reader brings to the table." Expanding her theories and combining them with Piaget's Schema Theory, I would say that I have a deep interest in what all learners bring to the table and that knowing and respecting a student's background and culture is a key ingredient to establishing a successful learning environment. Developing and maintaining rapport is key to moving the educational paradigm forward.   

RESEARCH INTERESTS
 My research and consulting focuses on four areas:

•  The Affective Domain as it relates to Literacy Instruction
•  The Literary Canon and Young Adult Literature: Placement and Relevance
•  Oracy Instruction in Schools
•  Children's Literature

For a complete list of my publications and presentations, please see my CV on this webpage.

• EDUC 10 Dean's Seminar
  
  

AWARDS

• 2011 Outstanding Alumnus in Literacy Award, Northern Illinois University
• 2011 Lights of Literacy Award, Judson University, Dept. of Literacy Education
• 2010 Hall of Fame Award, Illinois Reading Council              
• 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award, Judson University Alumni Council
• 2001 Milken $25,000.00 National Educator Award, Milken Family Foundation
• 2001 All-USA Teaching Team, USA TODAY National Newspaper
• 2001 Edwin A. Hoey Award for Outstanding US Middle School Teacher, NCTE
• 2000 ICARE for Reading Award Winner, Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education
• 1999 Junior High Reading Educator of the Year, Illinois Reading Council
• 1997 Winn Research Award, Illinois Association of Supervision and Curriculum Dev.
• 1997 Outstanding Research Award, Alumni Cncil./College of Ed., Northern Illinois Univ.
• 1996 Literacy Award Winner, Alpha Delta Chapter of AUA - Honor Society of the ILA     
  
  

WRITING HONORS

• Learning Magazine's Teachers' Choice Award for T is for Teachers: A School Alphabet.
  
• Texas Lone Star List of Top 20 Books for Teens for This Side of Paradise.           
• ILA Young Adult Choices Award for This Side of Paradise.
  
• ILA Children's Choices Award for My Brother Dan's Delicious.
• ILA Children's Choices Award for The Teachers' Night Before Christmas.
  
• Indiana Library Fed. Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss for This Side of Paradise
  
• Missouri Library Association Best of the Best for Young Adults for This Side of Paradise
• Hal Clement Award for This Side of Paradise.
  
• Bestseller Status for Life's Literacy Lessons: Poems for Teachers.
• Bestseller Status for The Teachers' Night Before Christmas.
  
• Bestseller Status for Love the Baby.
  
• Bestseller Status for My Brother Dan's Delicious.
• Bestseller Status for This Side of Paradise.
  
• Bestseller Status for P is for Princess: A Royal Alphabet  

OTHER

• 2014-2015  Brand Ambassador Committee, International Literacy Association
• 2013-2018 Member, Editorial Review Board, Literacy Research & Instruction
• 2011-2014  Member, Board of Directors, International Literacy Association
• 2010-2014 Member, Editorial Review Brd, Illinois Rdg. Council Jrnl.
  
• 2009-2011 Chair, Poetry/Prose Award Comm., International Literacy Association
• 2006-2008 Member, Poetry/Prose Award Comm., International Literacy Assn.
• 2005-2006 President, Illinois Reading Council 
• 2004-2005 President-Elect, Illinois Council
• 2003-2004 Vice President, Illinois Reading Council
• 2001-2004 Evaluator, Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award          
• 2000-2002 Member, Brd. of Dir., Literacy Vol. of America, Fox Valley Affiliate
• 2000-present Member of IRC Reading Educator of the Year Committee
• 1999-00 Co-President of Northern Illinois Reading Council
• 1998-00 Member of IRC Publications Committee
• 1998-99 Volunteer for Literacy Project F.I.R.S.T. at Elgin Crisis Shelter
• 1997-1998 President, Alpha Delta Chapter, AUA Honorary Society of ILA
• 1996-1997 Vice President, Alpha Delta Chapter, AUA Honorary Society of ILA