Literacy Experts

Iowa Reading Research Center

Dr. Deborah Reed

Deborah K. Reed spent the first 10 years of her career as an English language arts and reading teacher as well as a reading specialist, working primarily with students exhibiting serious reading difficulties. Since 2003, she has been a researcher and technical assistance provider in numerous states. In 2015, Dr. Reed became the director of the Iowa Reading Research Center and joined the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Education. She has published extensively and continues to research methods for improving reading instruction and assessment, particularly for vulnerable populations.

California State University, Northridge

Dr. Vanessa A. Goodwin

Vanessa Goodwin has spent much of her career working with adolescent struggling readers both as a special education teacher and program specialist. Dr. Goodwin serves as Co-Director of the Special Education Literacy Clinic in the Teaching, Learning and Counseling Consortium (TLCC) at CSUN. Dr. Goodwin also conducts research on evidence-based reading intervention in secondary settings and has presented at conferences and schools across the nation. Dr. Goodwin has authored several publications about K-12 reading pedagogy, teacher dispositions, and the use of technology with struggling readers. Dr. Goodwin teaches beginning and intermediate courses at CSUN for the Preliminary Education Specialist program and the Induction Program.

California State University, Northridge

Dr. Sue Sears

Sue Sears has taught and supervised the teaching of students with learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, and developmental differences. Dr. Sears has co-directed federally funded personnel preparation grants and a state-funded project supporting an alternative certification program. Dr. Sears served on the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) Task Force, and continues involvement with this program as a member of the ITEP/Liberal Studies Interdisciplinary Program Committee. Dr. Sears is a Director in the Teaching, Learning, Counseling Consortium, a multi-disciplinary group of college faculty, and in this role oversees on-campus literacy tutoring activities. Dr. Sears's research and writing focus on the areas of teacher education and literacy and she has presented extensively on the benefits and challenges of alternative certification programs.

California State University, Northridge

Lindsay Young

Lindsay Young is a National Board Certified teacher for LAUSD and provides intensive reading intervention to students who receive special education services. Lindsay is a national presenter and the author of several teacher activity books and articles including Help Your Students Meet and Exceed Your State Standards for Reading (Grades 6-12) and Directed Reading and Thinking Activities. Young has been featured on The Teaching Channel, and in 2015 the California League of High Schools named her an Educator of the Year. She is a part-time faculty member at California State University, Northridge, and a doctoral student at University of Florida.