Taylor Raney

Taylor Raney is a Full Professor and holds dual roles as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Director of Teacher Education & Clinical at the University of Idaho. He is affiliated with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. His career spans teaching, school administration, and state-level education policy roles.

Education: Taylor Raney earned his Ph.D. in Education from Northwest Nazarene University (2015), alongside multiple advanced degrees, including an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (2013), an Ed.S. in Educational Administration (2012), and a prior M.Ed. in Educational Administration (2006). He also holds a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of Idaho (2002).

Research Interests: His work focuses on improving educator preparation programs, early childhood literacy, and supporting novice teachers. He emphasizes professional learning opportunities for educators and equitable access to quality teaching. Key areas include:

• Enhancing early literacy interventions for kindergarten students
• Addressing ethical challenges for educators in digital environments
• Comparative analysis of state teacher licensure policies

Publications: His recent work explores literacy interventions in early education, ethics in the digital age, and state-level teacher certification systems. These publications highlight trends in supporting underperforming students and aligning policy with effective teaching practices.

• Impact on reading fluency of double-dosed tier-one instruction for struggling kindergarten students (2015)
• Educator ethics in a digital world (2015)
• Tiered teacher licensure: Other states’ requirements and outcomes (2014)

Awards: He received the Idaho Business Review’s Accomplished Under 40 Award in 2014, recognizing his contributions to education and leadership.

Advising and Grants: While specific grant details or student advisees are not listed here, Taylor’s roles involve program development and stakeholder engagement to ensure equitable educator training. His prior experience includes:

• Principal of Wilson Elementary School (Caldwell, Idaho)
• Director of Teacher Certification at the Idaho State Department of Education

Labs/Teams: He is actively involved in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, collaborating on initiatives like the Continuum of Professional Learning (in progress) and outreach projects such as the Professional Evaluation Review Committee and the Idaho Institutions of Higher Education Coalition.