Brittany Garling

Dr. Brittany Garling is the Dean of the School of Education and an Associate Professor of Education, with deep involvement in TESL and foreign language education. She serves as chair of the TESL Department, overseeing programs across Storm Lake, online, and graduate formats. Her roles include accreditation coordination, faculty leadership, and course assignment management. She also acts as the Faculty Athletic Representative for NCAA Division III, supporting student-athlete academic eligibility.

Education:

• B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education, Wartburg College
• M.A. in Foreign Language Education and ESL, University of Iowa
• Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education and ESL, University of Iowa

Dr. Garling's research focuses on improving teacher preparation for ESL and foreign language educators. Key areas include co-teaching models in higher education, cross-collaboration between pre-service teachers and international ELL students, technology integration in K–12 language classrooms, and systemic barriers faced by ESL students entering schools. She also studies teacher perceptions and pedagogical responses to ELLs, addressing growing demands for ESL services in Iowa. Her work bridges policy, practice, and teacher development.

While no publications are listed, her engagement in curriculum design, assessment tools (e.g., ELPA 21), and professional conferences suggests strong scholarly activity in language education and teacher training.

Professional Recognition:

• Selected for ELPA 21 Advisory Committee, reviewing ELL assessment in Iowa

Dr. Garling actively mentors pre-service TESL educators and leads field experiences and graduate-level courses. She plays a key role in shaping teacher candidates through methods courses and program leadership. Though no grants are explicitly mentioned, her administrative and curriculum development responsibilities imply involvement in programmatic funding and institutional initiatives. She is a key liaison between faculty, accreditation bodies, and athletic programs.

She is actively involved in labs or teams through her leadership of the TESL Department and collaboration with the Iowa Culture and Language Conference, where she co-presents with students. Her work fosters interdisciplinary teams focused on language, culture, and education reform.