Alison Boardman

Dr. Alison Boardman is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on equity, bilingualism, biliteracy, and the implementation of evidence-based instructional strategies such as Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR) in inclusive classrooms. She collaborates closely with teachers and school leaders to innovate reading instruction methods that support emergent bilingual learners and students with disabilities.

Dr. Boardman’s work emphasizes teacher professional development, particularly through co-design frameworks and video self-reflection techniques to enhance instructional practices. She leads a design-based implementation research study developing a PBL course for high school language arts classrooms, investigating its sustainability and adaptations for students with disabilities.

Her research also explores the integration of CSR strategies to promote student-led discussions and improve engagement among diverse learners. Dr. Boardman has a background as a special education teacher and advocates for high expectations and inclusive practices in education.

As a principal investigator, she has contributed to studies on scaling PBL initiatives, teacher leadership roles, and addressing systemic inequities in teacher preparation programs. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges special education, literacy, and curriculum design to foster accessible and effective learning environments.