Susan Cvek

Susan Cvek serves as an Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. After a 37-year career teaching elementary school in Osseo Area Schools (Palmer Lake, Edinbrook, and Fernbrook), she retired from K-12 education last year and now works as a substitute teacher in high-need schools while contributing to higher education.

Her academic credentials include:

• Master of Arts, University of St. Thomas
• Bachelor of Science, University of Northwestern – St. Paul

Susan specializes in literacy education with a focus on closing achievement gaps for struggling readers. Her professional work encompasses designing remedial and enrichment curricula for children, particularly in summer school programs. Her teaching philosophy prioritizes classroom relationships and community-building, balanced with structured routines, flexibility, creativity, and student choice to maximize engagement. She advocates for collaborative teaching approaches involving multiple adults.

Outside academia, Susan enjoys quilting, baking, reading, traveling, and music (piano and handbells). She is married with two daughters and two sons-in-law.