Stephanie Al Otaiba Simmons

Stephanie Al Otaiba Simmons is a Professor in the Department of Teaching & Learning and holds the Patsy and Ray Caldwell Centennial Chair at Southern Methodist University's Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education & Human Development (joined 2012). She previously served as Associate Professor at Florida State University (FSU) and remains a faculty affiliate at the Florida Center for Reading Research. Her research focuses on school-based literacy interventions, response to intervention (RTI), learning disabilities, diverse learners, and teacher training, supported by federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education, IES, OSEP, and NICHD. She has published over 150 articles and book chapters, developed reading curricula, and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Learning Disabilities. Her accolades include the AERA Fellow (2020), Jeannette E. Fleischner Career Leadership Award (2021), and multiple institutional honors.

• Education: Ph.D. in Human Development (2000) from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.
• Leadership Roles: Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Learning Disabilities, Associate Editor of Education Researcher and Elementary School Journal, Executive Board member of the International Dyslexia Association, and leadership roles in CEC’s Division for Learning Disabilities.
• Research Themes:
  • Literacy interventions for students with disabilities (Down syndrome, speech/language impairments, dyslexia).
  • Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and intervention intensification.
  • Teacher training for inclusive education.
  • Mindset and psychosocial factors in reading outcomes.
  • Assessment tools (e.g., CBM for math, spelling, oral language).
• Scientific Awards:
  • Outstanding Dissertation Award (2001, IRA).
  • Distinguished Early Career Research Award (2010, CEC Division for Research).
  • Distinguished Career Award (2017, AERA SIG).
  • University Scholar/Teacher of the Year (2017, SMU).
  • Fellow, American Educational Research Association (2020).
  • Jeannette E. Fleischner Award (2021, CEC).
• Grants and Projects:
  • Project GROW (PI, IES, 2020-2024).
  • Federally funded work on intensive reading interventions and mindset measures.
  • Collaborative grants with researchers at FSU, FSU, and SMU.