Leslie W. Schmidt

Leslie W. Schmidt serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Ph.D. READ Coordinator in the Reading and Elementary Education Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) from East Carolina University
• Master's Degree in Elementary Education (K-6) from East Carolina University
• Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Her research centers on advancing equitable literacy practices through culturally responsive teaching methodologies, with specific focus on preparing preservice educators for linguistically, culturally, and racially diverse elementary classrooms. She investigates the integration of equity frameworks within established pedagogical models like the gradual release of responsibility.

Dr. Schmidt teaches comprehensive elementary literacy courses covering phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, assessment-based methodology, vocabulary development, fluency, and reading comprehension. Her 11 years of prior classroom experience as a first grade, third grade, and reading resource teacher across Southeastern schools directly informs her academic instruction and research perspective.