Loretta Ayers

Dr. Loretta Ayers serves as an Assistant Professor in the Early Childhood Education program at Baldwin Wallace University, leveraging over twenty years of K-12 classroom experience as a teacher and leader across kindergarten through fifth grade in Northeast Ohio and other states to mentor future educators.

Education:

• Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of South Carolina (2020)

Research Expertise:

Her scholarship centers on evidence-based literacy instruction for English language learners, the interplay between social-emotional development and academic outcomes in elementary students, and cross-curricular literacy integration. She actively develops culturally responsive pedagogical frameworks and examines preservice teacher preparation strategies to bridge educational theory with classroom practice in diverse settings.

Professional Mentorship:

Dr. Ayers guides preservice teachers through immersive clinical experiences, drawing on her background as a curriculum developer and school leader to prepare educators for complex classroom dynamics and multicultural student populations.