Laura Hurley

Laura Hurley serves as an Instructor in the Department of Elementary, Early and Special Education at Southeast Missouri State University, teaching courses across the Sikeston and Kennett Regional Campuses in Missouri. Her role focuses on foundational education practices for early childhood and special education contexts.

Her academic credentials include:

• M.S.E. in Reading from Missouri State University
• B.S.E. in Early Childhood Education from Missouri State University

Hurley's research centers on innovative literacy environments that transcend traditional textbooks, emphasizing multimodal resources for diverse learners. Her expertise spans classroom management organization, assistive technology integration, and differentiated instruction strategies for struggling readers. She actively develops curriculum frameworks for early childhood math, science, and social studies education while prioritizing data-driven assessment methodologies.

Her 2009 publication in The Missouri Reader examines non-conventional literacy materials in educational settings, reflecting broader trends in experiential learning and inclusive pedagogy within early childhood education research.

Professional certifications include:

• Early Childhood Education (birth-third grade) from Missouri DESE
• Elementary Education (first-sixth grade) from Missouri DESE

Hurley teaches comprehensive courses including Language Acquisition of Young Children, Classroom Management, Methods of Teaching STEM subjects, Assistive Technology applications, and Advanced Field Experiences in differentiated instruction settings.