Scott Filkins

Scott Filkins is a Lecturer in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's College of Education. Since January 2024, he has served as program coordinator for all four teacher preparation programs: early childhood, elementary, middle grades, and secondary education.

Education:

• B.A. Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1998)
• Ed.M. Curriculum & Instruction, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2010)
• Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2017)

Research Focus: Filkins specializes in literacy education with particular emphasis on disciplinary literacy practices. His work centers on preparing future teachers to effectively integrate reading and writing instruction across content areas. He focuses on inquiry-based approaches to literacy that support linguistically diverse students and emerging bilinguals in educational settings.

Teaching: As an instructor, Filkins teaches CI 473: Disciplinary Literacy, which provides teacher candidates with essential principles and practices for effective reading and writing instruction in their specific content areas. The course emphasizes methods to support diverse learners and includes differentiated credit hours based on content specialization.

Current Role: Beyond teaching, Filkins coordinates comprehensive teacher preparation programs across multiple educational levels, ensuring alignment between coursework and practical teaching experiences for future educators.