Danielle Rylak

Danielle Rylak is an Assistant Professor of Reading/Literacy Education at the University of Oklahoma’s Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, joining in August 2023. Her research focuses on early childhood and elementary literacy, pedagogical identity, and agency-driven learning environments. She holds a Ph.D. in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies from Arizona State University and an M.A. in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Previously, Dr. Rylak worked as an elementary teacher, literacy coach, and reading specialist in New Jersey and Arizona public schools. Her academic work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing equitable pedagogies and structural racism intervention in education. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on literacy education, integrating multimodal and qualitative approaches.

Her recent publications explore agency in writing workshops, anti-racist pedagogy for white educators, and multimodal literacy assessment strategies. Research trends in her articles highlight a focus on student-centered learning, critical literacy, and the intersection of visual/verbal texts in education. Her work also examines how narrative picturebooks represent museums and cultural institutions, linking to broader discussions on educational media.

Rylak’s advising and grant activities are not detailed here, though her CV (available as a PDF) likely contains additional professional contributions. She is affiliated with the College of Education’s Literacy/Reading Education program and contributes to initiatives like the K20 Center and OU’s Transformative Tutoring Initiative.