Crystal Ratican

Dr. Crystal Ratican is an Associate Professor at Youngstown State University (YSU), serving as Program Coordinator for Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS). She holds a Ph.D. in Education (Walden University, 2011), an M.Ed. (Walden University, 2006), and a B.S. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education (2002). With over a decade of experience as a public classroom teacher (kindergarten to second grade), she now focuses on advancing digital teaching strategies and literacy instruction in higher education.

Her teaching emphasizes integrating technology into literacy education, particularly for K-12 students, and addressing diverse learning needs through assessments. She coordinates the M.S.Ed. Teacher Education program’s Digital Teaching & Learning specialization and teaches courses like Literacy for Digital Learning and Reading Assessment.

Dr. Ratican advocates for continuous learning, stating, 'Education opens more doors; never be afraid to learn something new.' Her research interests include digital literacy, phonics pedagogy, and adaptive instructional practices for early childhood educators.