Valeisha Ellis, Ph.D.

Biography

Faculty Member Since 2016

Dr. Ellis is an assistant professor of early childhood education. She has experience in curriculum and instruction, reading, special education and teacher education.

Dr. Ellis’ research interests include integrating science and reading instruction, reading and science student achievement, effective models of establishing and maintaining P-12 school and community partnerships, transition and adult education of students with disabilities, effective pre-service field and clinical models for teacher education, and multidisciplinary education research.

“I believe that research and scholarship about "us", for "us", and by "us" is essential to changing the narrative around preparing teachers of color and illuminating the rich contributions of HBCU teacher preparation programs,” Dr. Ellis said.

In addition to her service to Spelman College, Dr. Ellis was elected Program Chair (2022-Present) American Association of Education Research Association (AERA) Research Focus on Black Education Special Interest Group (SIG), Treasurer (2023-Present), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Topical Action Group (TAG), The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and Treasurer (2016-Present) National Holmes Scholar Alumni Association (NAHSA).

Dr. Ellis is a Board Member (2020-Present) The National Center for Clinical Practice in Education Preparation (NCCPEP) and centers her research and scholarship around minority teacher preparation, clinical experiences/community partnerships, and highlight the rich legacy of HBCU teacher preparation programs.

Education

• Ph.D., Education, Florida State University
• M.S., Education, Florida State University
• B.A., Special Education, Florida State University

Honors & Awards

• Keynote Speaker at the Waco Independent School District New Teacher Launch, Leading from the Heart, Waco, Texas, 2023
• Department of Defense (DoD) Research Mentor, Center for Minority Women in STEM Research Program, 2023
• Recipient of the Early Childhood Education Overseas Professional Development Program in Finland Award, The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana 2023 Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative Affiliate, 2023
• Invited Faculty Researcher of the School of Rock Program on the JOIDES Resolution funded by the National Science Foundation and the International Ocean Discovery Program, 2023
• Present American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Clinical PartnershipCommission, 2016
• Partners in Excellence Award, Dougherty County Schools, Albany, GA, 2014-2015
• American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Holmes Scholar-Florida State University, 2004-2013
• Dean’s Student Advisory Committee, FSU College of Education, 2004-2002
• Florida Center for Reading Research Fellow-Florida State University, 2002-2004
• Florida State University Dean’s List, 1996-2005
• Who’s Who Among College Students, Florida State University, 1999-2000
• Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers’ Sorority House, Florida State University, 1996-2001

Courses Taught

• IBQC 100: Radical Self of the Black Professional Woman
• EDU 316: Exceptional Learners
• EDU 330: Science Methods
• EDU 331: Math Methods
• SLS 1510: College Success
• SPED 3231: Contemporary Perspectives of Exceptional Students
• SPED 3307: Nature and Characteristics of Students with Intellectual Disabilities
• SPED 3312: Curriculum, Methods, and Materials
• RED 4310: How Children Learn How to Read
• MAE 4326: How Children Learn Math
• ECEC 4420: Preschool Education
• ECEC 4423: Corrective Reading
• ECEC 4500: Remedial Reading: A Practicum
• RED 4510: Teaching Reading in Elementary Schools
• ELD 5140: Advanced Student Learning Disabilities (Co-taught with Dr. Patricia Mathes)
• ECEC 5500: Early Childhood Development
• SPED 5501: Exceptional Children
• SPED 5510: Characteristics & Instructional Strategies for Teaching the Mildly Disabled
• ECEC 5512: Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood Education
• SPED 5516: Nature & Characteristics of Gifted Students
• SPED 5529: Instructional Methods in Gifted Education
• SPED 5536: Curriculum for Gifted Education
• SPED 5545: Educational Assessment of Exceptional Children
• ECEC 5555: Creative Experiences for Young Children
• SPED 5570: Practicum in Interrelated Special Education
• SPED 5590: Teaching of Reading and Math to Exceptional Learners
• Early Childhood Block IV Intern Supervision

Research Interests

• Integrating Science and Reading Instruction
• Reading and Science Student Achievement
• Effective Models of Establishing and Maintaining P-12 School & Community Partnerships
• Transition & Adult Education of Students with Disabilities
• Effective Pre-service Field & Clinical Models for Teacher Education
• Multidisciplinary Education Research

Select Publications

Ellis, V., Jenkins, P., Pogue, T., & Stephenson, L. (In Review) In the Field: Moving Teacher Candidates from Theory to Practice. Collaborations: Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice.

Ellis, V. (2014). An exploration of the impact of reform-based science instruction on second graders' academic achievement. ProQuest.

Terrell Shockley, E. & Ellis, V. (2022). The perspectives and pedagogies of middle school social justice educators. The Middle School Journal.

Dickens, D., Ellis, V., & Hall, N. (2021) Changing the Face of STEM: Review of Literature on The Role of Mentors in the Success of Undergraduate Black Women in STEM Education. Journal of Research Initiatives.

Ellis, V., Jenkins, P., Pogue, T.D. (2020) An HBCU Initiative to Build Effective Partnerships for Pre-Service Teachers’ Field and Clinical Experiences. Georgia Educational Researcher.

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (2019). Special Education Tenets of Clinical Practice. Washington, D.C: AACTE Clinical Practice Commission: Special Education Task Force.

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (2018). A pivot toward clinical practice, its lexicon, and renewing the profession of teaching. Washington, D.C: AACTE Clinical Practice Commission.