Kelly Estrada

Kelly Estrada is a Professor at Sonoma State University, where she also serves as Director of Assessment & Accreditation and Multiple Subject Credential Advisor for Prospective Students. She is affiliated with the School of Education, Department of Teacher Education, and has over 20 years of experience preparing future elementary and secondary teachers.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Administration, Curriculum & Teaching Studies, UCLA
• Master’s Degree in Linguistic Anthropology, UCLA
• Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, UCSD

Her research focuses on language acquisition, literacy development, and the educational experiences of multilingual and multicultural students, particularly English language learners. She emphasizes critical pedagogy, content area reading, and the social foundations of education. Her work is deeply committed to equity and increasing the representation of Latinx educators in K-12 schools.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend in integrating literacy strategies into science and content-area instruction, with a focus on supporting preservice teachers in developing reflective practices and effective pedagogical approaches for diverse learners.

Scientific Awards and Grants:

• Co-PI/Project Director, Preparing Underrepresented Educators to Realize their Teaching Ambitions (PUERTA), U.S. Department of Education DHSI Grant

Dr. Estrada has led significant grant-funded initiatives, including the PUERTA Project, which supports Hispanic and Latino students pursuing teaching careers. She provides professional development for teachers in diverse urban settings such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City. As an advisor and project leader, she plays a key role in shaping teacher education policy and practice.

She is actively involved in assessment, accreditation, and teacher credentialing processes, contributing to institutional improvement and educational quality assurance.