Joanna Newton

Joanna Newton is an Assistant Professor at Notre Dame of Maryland University's School of Education, teaching undergraduate and graduate literacy courses. She has 19 years of experience in public schools as a classroom teacher, reading coach, intervention specialist, and curriculum developer.

• PhD in Education: Literacy (George Mason University, 2018)
• Literacy Specialist Endorsement (George Mason University, 2010)
• M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (George Mason University, 2004)
• B.A. in Sociology (The George Washington University, 1997)

Her research focuses on academic vocabulary instruction, morphology's impact on literacy, and professional development models for teachers. Recent work examines vocabulary instructional barriers, bilingual teaching strategies, and systemic school improvement frameworks.

Notable publications include analyses of morphology-based teaching (2018), Latin/Greek root instruction (2012), and collaborative professional development (2024). Her work spans school-university partnerships, literacy recovery programs, and teacher training initiatives.

• Outstanding Leader School Recipient Award (2019)
• Outstanding Dissertation Nominee (2018)
• Outstanding Achievement in Multicultural Education (2004)

Newton has presented at major conferences including Literacy Research Association, International Literacy Association, and National Association of School University Partnerships. Her expertise includes elementary literacy curriculum development and English learner support systems.