Amy Santos

Amy Taylor Santos is a dedicated educator and researcher, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sociocultural and Community-Based Approaches to Education with a focus on literacy at the University of Delaware. With extensive experience spanning over two decades, Amy has held various roles in education, including reading specialist, curriculum director, assistant professor, and elementary school teacher. Her research interests stem from her background in literacy education, particularly in fostering culturally responsive teaching and innovative approaches to student learning.

At the University of Delaware, Amy has contributed to multiple research projects, including the WALL (Writing Across Levels of Language) initiative and the NSF-funded TUPL (Transforming & Understanding Professional Learning) project. She has also mentored pre-service teachers and served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses. Amy’s commitment to educational equity is further reflected in her work on the Stories with Clever Hedgehog project, which provides digital literacy resources to children in war-affected areas, and the Joy project which seeks to influence and understand pre-service teacher well-being. An active member of professional organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of English and the American Educational Research Association, Amy has presented her work at national conferences and has co-authored scholarly publications.

Education

• M.S., Curriculum and Instruction, Language and Literacy Education, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2001
• B.S., Education: Elementary Education, Concentration in Mathematics, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, 1995

Professional Experience

• Field Instructor, University of Delaware; Fall 2023-Spring 2024
• Reading Specialist and MLL Coordinator, Providence Creek Academy; January 2018-August 2021
• Assistant Professor, West Chester University, West Chester, PA; College of Education; Department of Literacy; 2004 –2006
• Director of Curriculum, Providence Creek Academy, Clayton DE, 2002-2004
• Graduate Lecturer, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Language and Literacy Education; 1999-2002
• Elementary School Teacher, Reading School District, Reading, PA, 1996-1999
• Middle School Teacher, Reading School District, Reading, PA, 1995

Recent Honors and Awards

• Name of Award, Institution, Year(s)
• Early Literacy Grant, Donors Choose, mini home library for kindergarten students, 2020-21
• Nominee for The Cornerstone Award, DE Charter Network; IDEA Awards; 2020
• Inches and Miles Award for Academic Achievement; Providence Creek Academy; DCSN; IDEA 2020
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Teacher At Sea; 1998
• Edwin S. Youse Scholarship recipient; 1991-1995
• Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; 1995The National Order of Omega, Honor Fraternity; President; 1994-1995
• Gamma Sigma Alpha, Academic Honor Society; 1995
• Kappa Delta Pi, Honor Society in Education; 1995

Publications

• Han, M., Novikova, E., Kuntz, S., Kouzeli, A. Davis, S., Santos, A., Harlan, M. (2024). Incorporating adult play in graduate education: Inspired by Brian Sutton-Smith, Play & Culture Studies V. 17.

Presentations

• Flynn, J.E., Porcher, K.M., Santos, A.T., & Vilceus, S.S., (2024, November). There is Joy in Our Collaboration: Understanding Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions of Joy in Courses & in Teaching Teacher Candidates. Panel presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention in Boston, MA.
  Golinkoff, R., Santos, A., Zhestkova, O., Skrypnuik, J., Craig, J., Smith, O., Hartman, H., Moldavanova, A., & Kucirkova, N., (2024, August). Stories with Clever Hedgehog: Evaluating a Web Platform for Ukrainian Children, Symposium Presentation in Research and Interventions for Children Exposed to Political Violence and War at the American Psychological Association Conference in Seattle, WA.
• Santos, A.T., (2024, April). Increasing Teacher Self-Efficacy for Culturally Responsive Teaching Through Children’s Literature and Visioning in a Professional Learning Partnership. Research in Progress Roundtable at the American Educational Research Association Conference in Philadelphia, PA
• Santos, A.T., (2024, April). Centering Joy: Community and Connection in the English Language Arts Classroom. Presentation at the University of Delaware Steele Symposium in Newark, DE.
• Santos, A.T., (2023, April). Teacher Beliefs about Student Success in the Context of Indigenous Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. Poster presentation at the University of Delaware Steele Symposium in Newark, Delaware.
• Santos, A.T., (2005, November). Constructing Identity and Voice: What is the Role of Literature and Popular Culture? Presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
• Darigan, D. & Santos, A. T., (2005, May). Let’s Laugh a Little: Humorous Children’s Book Authors Talk About Their Work. Panel presentation at the International Reading Association Conference in San Antonio, TX.
• Santos, A.T., (2005, April). Cinderella: Children’s Fantasy or Adult Reality? A Closer Look at the Cinderella Motif. Presentation at the Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference, Kutztown, PA.
• Santos, A.T., (2003, May). Exploring the Art of Picturebooks: A Preview to the Fall Exhibit. Presentation at the Pennsylvania State University Children’s Literature Matters Conference, University Park, PA.
• Taylor, A.K., (2001, April). Race, Class and Gender: A Historical Look at the Art of U.S. Picturebooks, 1900-2000. Presentation at The History of Art Education Conference, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
• Taylor, A.K., (2001, April). What’s New in Picture Books 2000. Presentation at the Pennsylavania State University Children’s Literature Matters Conference, University Park, PA.
• Myers, J. & Taylor, A. (2001, April). Building A Professional Development School for Secondary School Literacy. Presentation at the International Reading Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Myers, J., Taylor, A., Paul, C., & Bertoty, K. (2000, December). Challenging and Changing School Literacy Practices through Professional Development School Collaboration and Curricular Invention. Presentation at the National Reading Conference, Scottsdale, AZ.
• Taylor, A.K., (2000, April). What’s New in Picture Books 1999. Presentation at the Pennsylvania State University Children’s Literature Matters Conference, University Park, PA.
• Myers, J., & Taylor, A.K. (2000, January). Professional Development School Institute: Using Technology in the Secondary Language Arts Classroom. Poster presentation at the Holmes Conference, Cincinnati, OH.
• Taylor, A.K., (1998). On Being a Teacher At Sea: Cross-Curricular Classroom Applications. Presentation at the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association Conference, Hershey, PA.