Katie Bernstein

Katie Bernstein is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. As an applied linguist and former early childhood teacher, her work focuses on language and literacy learning among linguistically diverse students across multiple scales of analysis.

Her research examines young children's social interactions as contexts for learning, teacher and principal beliefs about language education, and broader language policy formation and implementation. Dr. Bernstein employs qualitative, ethnographic, and discourse analytic methods in her research.

Her research interests include applied linguistics, language policy, bilingual education, early childhood education, second language acquisition, discourse analysis, and educational equity. Her work particularly examines how young children's peer interactions contribute to language learning, teacher beliefs about linguistic diversity, and how language policies are created and implemented at various levels.

Dr. Bernstein's publications reveal consistent focus on language policy implementation, bilingual education, and equity issues, with recent work examining Arizona's language policy reforms, school choice impacts on dual language programs, and teacher beliefs about multilingual learners. Her research shows strong interdisciplinary connections between education, linguistics, and policy studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Nominated for James E. Alatis Prize for Research in Language Policy and Planning in Educational Contexts (2021)
• 2024 Research Article Award from the American Association of Applied Linguistics

Dr. Bernstein currently serves as Principal Investigator for a Spencer Research-Practice Partnership Grant with Childsplay Theatre Co. and Phoenix Elementary School District #1 Early Childhood Program, investigating how drama supports learning opportunities during story time for culturally and linguistically diverse students with exceptionalities. She teaches courses including DCI 792 (Research), DCI 790 (Reading and Conference), DCI 799 (Dissertation), and ECD 321 (Foundations of Language, Literacy, and Culture in Early Childhood).

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Education (Language, Literacy and Culture) from the University of California-Berkeley and a B.A. in Linguistics from Duke University.