Alessandra Ward

Alessandra E. Ward is a former elementary teacher and reading specialist who now shapes future teachers as an Assistant Professor of Education at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. Dr. Ward is passionate about supporting young readers holistically by integrating literacy instruction with transformative social and emotional learning, designing instruction for reading motivation and engagement, and providing culturally responsive and sustaining instruction. Her research interests include curriculum development, evaluation, and adaptation, early literacy assessment, and interdisciplinary approaches to literacy. Dr. Ward has helped develop an open-source, justice-oriented, project-based curriculum for grades K-2 called the Great First Eight Curriculum, and recently published a book, Transformative Social and Emotional Learning: Centering Equity and Social Justice in PreK-6 Classrooms (coauthored with Drs. Madora Soutter and Chu Ly) with Teachers College Press.