Lonna Summers Rocha

Lonna Summers Rocha is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching at the University of Kansas (KU). She joined the university in 2016 and holds a BA in English and Spanish from Southwestern College (Kansas), an MA, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas. Her professional background includes roles as a bilingual paraeducator for preK-12 students and teaching English to college and adult learners in the U.S. and Mexico.

Her teaching focuses on TESOL Assessment, TESOL Practicum Methods, and Second Language Acquisition. She designs courses for in-service and pre-service teachers and conducts professional development workshops for educators, community members, and migrant family advocates.

Research interests include in-service teachers, critical pedagogy, bilingual paraeducators, and qualitative research methodologies. Her work emphasizes reflexivity in educational practices and the role of TESOL programs in fostering inclusive learning environments.