Janet K. Outlaw

Janet K. Outlaw serves as Assistant Professor of Instruction in Literacy Studies at the University of South Florida's College of Education, where she coordinates both the Literacy Studies program and the Master of Arts in Reading Education. A three-time alumna of North Carolina State University, she holds a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Learning Sciences with a concentration in Literacy and Language Arts.

Her research centers on participatory teacher education approaches through communities of practice and practitioner inquiry, examining impacts on classroom dialogue, early literacy development, and language arts instruction. She actively investigates generative artificial intelligence integration in elementary writing pedagogy to innovate teacher education practices.

Dr. Outlaw has received significant recognition including:

• WLP Dr. Kathleen Moore Faculty Excellence Award (2025)
• Excellence in Undergraduate Education Award (2023/2024)

She mentors teacher candidates through reading practicum internships and secured a $5,000 research grant from USF's Women in Leadership & Philanthropy in 2025. Her work emphasizes collaborative school-university partnerships to enhance literacy instruction and teacher development in high-need educational settings.