Amber Ray

Amber B. Ray, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she develops strategy and self-regulation approaches to literacy instruction for students with disabilities and diverse learning needs. Her work emphasizes professional development for educators in writing and reading instruction.

• Education: Ph.D. in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies with specialization in Special Education from Arizona State University

Research Focus: Dr. Ray’s work centers on Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) for improving writing outcomes across educational levels (elementary to adult learners). She investigates technology integration, professional development models like Practice-Based Professional Development (PBPD), and equity in teacher preparation programs, particularly for racially/ethnically diverse candidates.

Publication Trends: Recent studies (2023-2025) highlight SRSD applications for argumentative/informative writing in K-12 settings, PBPD for teacher training, and addressing systemic barriers like Praxis Core: Writing exam requirements through evidence-based instruction.

Instructional Leadership: Dr. Ray teaches advanced courses SPED 440: Instructional Strategies I and SPED 441: Instructional Strategies II, focusing on inclusive pedagogy, legal compliance, and data-driven instructional design.