Michelle Elia

Michelle Elia is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Marietta College, appointed in August 2023. She concurrently serves as an Ohio Literacy Lead for The Reading League under the Ohio Department of Education. Her expertise focuses on evidence-based literacy practices, special education, and systemic educational reforms.

Education: BA in Special Education from Youngstown State University (1999), MS in Education from Walsh University (2012). Professional roles include intervention specialist, special education consultant, Regional Early Literacy Specialist, and national LETRS trainer. She advises Youngstown State and Walsh Universities on literacy initiatives and holds board positions with the International Dyslexia Association Northern Ohio and Ohio’s What Matters Now Network.

Michelle specializes in coaching educators and administrators to implement science-of-reading aligned curricula and Ohio’s literacy policies. Her work emphasizes equity in literacy development for diverse learners and systemic changes in school-wide reading models.