Angela Stefanski
Associate Professor of Elementary Education
Curriculum Vitae
Department:
Elementary Education
About Angela J. Stefanski
As an experienced educator, researcher, and community advocate, Dr. Stefanski brings over thirty years of experience in literacy education, teacher development, and equity-focused program design. Her work centers on developing literacy teachers, partnering with community-based organizations to elevate local literacies, and conducting participatory research. She's passionate about translating scholarship into meaningful practice through immersive learning experiences, collaborative publications, and community-driven initiatives. When she's not immersed in teaching or research, you might find her walking trails with her favorite person, playing in the garden, or enjoying coffee with a good book or friend.
Professional Experience
Associate Professor
Education
Ph.D., Language and Literacy Studies
University of Texas
M.Ed., Education with literacy specialist and ESL licenses
Abilene Christian University
Research and Publications
Song, K., Consalvo, A., David, A., Stefanski, A. & Hitchens, C. (2023). Multiple pathways to perspectival learning: Children's literature in preservice teacher education. Journal of Language and Literacy Education.
Zurcher, M.A. & Stefanski, A.J. (2022). Valuing and supporting the complex writing processes of emergent writers. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. 0(0), 1-31.
Martin, N.M., Stefanski, A.J., & Martin, L. (2021). Addressing disciplinary literacy: An examination of teachers' instruction in first grade. Mid-Western Educational Researcher, 33(2), 85-110.
Stefanski, A.J., Martin, N. M., & Zurcher, M.A. (2019). Science-literacy integration: Equity and learning in first-grade, urban instructional contexts. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 9(1), 104-123.
Stefanski, A. J., Leitze, A. L., & Fife-Demski, V. (2018). Preservice teacher sense-making as they learn to teach reading through computer-mediated collaboration. Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts, 57(1), 32-54.
Areas of Expertise
- Literacy Teacher Education – Deep knowledge of K–6 literacy instruction, including structured phonics, reading comprehension, and writing instruction that is grounded in current research while also attending to the future literacies students will need to become critical consumers and producers of texts in an AI and tech-driven society.
- Community-Based Literacy Initiatives – Leadership in participatory action research and collaboration with nonprofit organizations to design and evaluate literacy programs that center local knowledge and cultural assets.
- Qualitative & Participatory Research Methodologies – Skilled in ethnographic, narrative, and Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods emphasizing reciprocity and transformation.