Penelope Dyer

Guiding Research Questions:

• How can we best support teacher candidates in their literacy instructional practices in the content areas? 
• How can we best support first year teachers in adjusting to life outside of the university and in public high schools?
• How can we work with the community to assist high school students in creating their college and career pathways? 

Current Research Projects:

Dyer is a member of a community-based cohort (ASU Pathways Institute, AZ State Department of Education-ECAP, and Experience Matters) that was awarded a three-year grant from AmeriCorps. The ECAP Mentor Pilot Program grant was funded through Experience Matters in September 2015. Dyer is director of professional development and curriculum development/implementation for the grant. Data from mentor and student surveys indicated that the program was successful and it was expanded to two high schools starting in the fall of 2016, Central High School and Paradise Valley High School. There are currently two Site Coordinators for the grant program, one at each campus. Dyer assists the coordinators in keeping the program running smoothly and delivers professional development sessions at both sites as needed. She is working in coordination with Experience Matters, a community-based organization for retired people, and with the ASU Global Pathways Institute to create a successful program and expand it statewide within the next two years. 

Additionally, Dyer is integrating Cognitive Coaching theory and practice in her Teacher Candidate program at Central High School.  She uses the cognitive questioning during performance assessment coaching sessions with her Teacher Candidates.  Dyer also instructs the Mentor Teachers onsite in Cognitive Coaching techniques. She is a certified EQ Practitioner licensed to work with Emotional Literacy instruction and coaching through the Six Seconds program. With this certification, Dyer conducts SEI Emotional Literacy assessment debriefs for iTeachAZ SEED candidates and teaches courses in emotional literacy for first year teacher SEED candidates.