Deb Decker

Professor Decker's current research interests are in Motivation to Read and Lifelong Literacy Habits.
Her doctoral studies were completed at Liberty University in the Ed. D program in Educational Leadership with a heavy concentration in reading and curriculum and instruction. She is currently working on her dissertation on Motivation to Read for Military Connected Students and will graduate in December 2020 upon completion. She earned her Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington with concentrations in literacy, including Multicultural Literature, Children's Literature, Young Adult Literature and acquisition of English as a Second Language. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Tarleton State University an extension of Texas A & M where her foundational reading strategies were formed. She has studied under Dr. Deborah Jinkins the co-creator of the Cognitive Foundations of Learning to Read or the SEDL-A, and Dr. Nancy Hadaway the author of Breaking Boundaries and many textbooks on literacy and teaching literacy to diverse learners. She is certified to teach students PK-4th grade in Texas and is also certified by the NYBOE for Reading and Math Grades 3-12.

Professor Decker has taught all courses in the graduate program in Early Reading and Literacy at Walden University . She was also the SME for READ 6705 the first specialization course in the degree program.

She recently retired as the Director of Short-term Programs and English as a Second Language program for foreign students coming to the US. In this position she wrote curriculum, oversaw the entire operation, and facilitated all aspects of the Asian English as a Second Language Program across every state in the US
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Professor Decker also works for Educational Testing Service with the TOEFL programs evaluating writing and reading samples for international students. She has over 30 years of experience in the teaching field as she owned a private school for 22 years as the administrator and one of the teacher of PK- 1st grade. She has taught all levels of PK-adult learners but teaching reading has been her passion at all levels.

Finally, Professor Decker works with Grand Canyon University as a Site Supervisor observing and evaluating pre-service teachers in their professional development role of clinical practice prior to receiving their Bachelor's degree in education.

Courses Taught

EDUC 6610 - Teacher as Professional

EDUC 6640 - Curriculum Instruction and Assessment

READ 6705 - Reading and Literacy Today

READ 6706 - The Emergent Reader

READ 6707 - The Beginning Reader

READ 6708/6718 - Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Student

READ 6709 - Academically Diverse Student

EDUC 6650 - Intro to Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

Education

AAS, Drury University

BS, Tarleton State University

MEd, University of Texas

Awards / Honors

Cum Laude, Tarleton University, 2002

Summa Cum Laude, Drury University, 1977