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Donna Block

donna block
Biography

Donna Block, Ed. D., is an associate professor in the Teacher Education Department. She has been teaching in higher education since 2007 in teacher education and special education where she has taught over 30 different courses. Dr. Block enjoys mentoring teacher candidates and has been recognized for her Mentorship at Alliant International University with an IMPACT award. 

Donna was a public school teacher for 24 years in general education and special education. She taught grades 1-8 in general education and grades K-12 in special education. Her current research interests are in the areas of literacy, higher education teaching, and teacher retention.

Professional Interests
  • Reading and Literacy

  • Higher Education Teaching

  • Animal Assistance in Education

Education and Certifications
  • Doctor of Education, Reading and Literacy: Capella University

  • Master of Education, Educational Administration: California State University/San Bernardino

  • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education: Northern State University

  • California Teaching Credential in Multiple Subjects

  • California Teaching Credential in Special Education

  • Autism Authorization: Brandman University

  • Cross-cultural Language Development Authorization: University of San Diego

Courses
  • Literacy Pedagogy/Multiple Subject
  • Literacy Pedagogy/Single Subject
  • Professional Learning and Practice
  • Educational Foundations
  • Teaching the English Language and Diverse Learner*
  • Introduction to Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities*
  • Education, Mental Health, and Community Collaboration*
  • Advanced Research, Theory and Assessment*
  • Curriculum Instruction for Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities*
  • Assessment and Evaluation for Mild/Moderate Disabilities*
  • Technology in the Curriculum
  • Psycho-Educational Development of Diverse Learner Classroom Application
  • Seminar: Setting Classroom Procedures
  • Applied Linguistics Seminar: Content Area Reading 6-12
  • Seminar: Common Core and Instruction
  • Applied Linguistic Seminar: Reading K-8
  • Principles, Practices, & Socio-Cultural Issues
Scholarship and Contributions to the Field
  • 2022: Block, D. Teacher education preparation courses: What can we do to help candidates focus? Critical Questions in Education Conference, Denver, CO
  • 2020: Block, D. Engaging your students. Alliant International University Speakers Bureau
  • 2020: Block, D., and Block, M. Rethinking career preparation in education. California Council of Teacher Education Conference, Sacramento, CA (virtual)
  • 2020: Block, D., and Block, M. Are we modeling modeling? Critical Questions in Education Conference, Seattle, WA
  • 2018: Block, D., Block, M., and Cochrane, S. Cultivating empathy in today’s schools, at California Council on Teacher Education, San Diego, CA
  • 2018: Cochrane, S., Block, D., et. al. Decreasing maladjusted behavior through the use of flexible furniture, educational technology, student-directed learning, project-based learning, and a “flipped classroom” approach, at the annual Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, HI