معرفی
Dot McElhone is a Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department at Portland State University's College of Education, where she serves as Program Coordinator of the Elementary Graduate Teacher Education Program, lead designer of the Licensure in Elementary Education Program (LEEP), and cohort leader for doctoral students in Educational Leadership. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice to advance educational equity through literacy instruction.
Education:
- PhD in Curriculum and Teacher Education from Stanford University
- BS in Elementary Education and English from Vanderbilt University
- Teaching credential from Vanderbilt University
Dr. McElhone's research centers on patterns of teacher-student talk around texts, examining how teachers press students to think further about interpretations, elaborate ideas, and support thinking with evidence. She investigates the use of video and discourse analysis for teacher professional development, with particular focus on literacy instruction across career stages. Her work addresses educational equity by generating knowledge to strengthen classroom literacy practices and inform statewide policy decisions, as evidenced by her advisory role with the Oregon Department of Education and Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on asset-based approaches to teacher education, historically responsive literacy practices, and the development of specialized teacher knowledge for reading comprehension instruction. Her work increasingly incorporates equity-centered frameworks and examines teacher preparation in contested educational spaces.
Scientific Awards:
- National Academy of Education/Carnegie Corporation Pre-Doctoral Literacy Fellow (2008)
- Steven Stahl Research Grant from International Reading Association ($1,000)
Dr. McElhone actively advises doctoral students and has secured significant grant funding including a Spencer Foundation award ($49,932) for examining teachers' specialized knowledge of reader-text interactions, Office of Academic Innovation funds ($190,978) for online course development, and Multnomah Clackamas Regional Educator Network funding ($33,768) for equity-focused summer seminars. She co-leads a project with Portland Public Schools recruiting caregiver volunteers to reinforce foundational literacy skills.
As lead designer of PSU's new undergraduate Elementary Education major (LEEP), she has created innovative programming that integrates community partnerships and equity-centered approaches to teacher preparation, working closely with school districts through initiatives like USPREP to strengthen data-driven improvements in teacher education.
