Susan Lewis

Susan Lewis is a former preschool special education teacher and curriculum and assessment coordinator for the Arizona Department of Education and Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood. She has a MS. Ed in Applied Technology in Education and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Early Childhood Policy and Systems. Her research interests include early care and education teacher, leader, and coach education and well-being in the context of state policy and quality improvement initiatives.

Recent Presentations

International and National Conferences

• Pollack, K., Tolbert, D., Gallo-Fox, J., & Lewis,  S. (2020, August). Birds and Birdhouses with Toddlers, Preschoolers and Preservice Teachers in a Laboratory School. National Start Alliance, Nature-Based Early Learning Conference. Virtual Annual Meeting.
• Gallo-Fox, J., Lewis, S., Pollock, K. (2020, August) Teaching and Learning in a Nature Preschool. National Start Alliance, Nature-Based Early Learning Conference. Virtual Annual Meeting.
• Lewis, S., Cutler, L., Liu, D., & Riser, D. (2019, June). Navigating New Worlds with Children with Disabilities. Diversity in Organizations, Communities, & Nations International Conference-Border Crossing Narratives: Learning from the Refugee Experience. Patras, Greece.
• Slicker, G., Lewis, S., Hustedt, J.T., & Buell, M.J. (2020, April). Expectations and transition support for entering kindergarteners: Profiles of kindergarten teachers [Poster session]. American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. San Francisco, CA (conference cancelled).

Regional and Local Conferences

• Tang, J., Lewis, S., Cutler, L., Hallam, R., & Collier, Z., (2021, April). Characteristics of home-based-child-care providers who offer non-standard hours care. Paper presented in the session: Issues in Childcare and Early Education in the United States. American Education Research Association (AERA) Virtual Annual Meeting.
•  Lewis, S., Tang, J., Hallam, R., Drain, D., & Cutler, L. (2020, December). Characteristics of home-based childcare providers who offer non-standard hours care. Poster presented virtually at ACF’s National Research Conference on Early Childhood.
• Lewis, Susan. (2014, April).  Implementing GOLD Assessment.  Delaware Making A Difference Conference (DAEYC/DHSA), Newark, DE.
• Lewis, Susan. (2014, April).  Implementing GOLD Assessment.  Delaware Making A Difference Conference (DAEYC/DHSA), Newark, DE.

Professional Experience

• 2018-present, Teaching Assistant, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware
• 2019-2020, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware
• 2014-2018, Curriculum and Assessment Program Coordinator, Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, Delaware Stars for Early Success, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
• 2013-present, Professional Development Instructor, Teaching Strategies, Bethesda, MD
• 2011-2013, Quality Mentor Specialist, Arizona Department of Education, Early Childhood, Phoenix, AZ
• 2007-2011, Preschool Special Education Teacher, Vail Inclusive Preschool, Vail School District, Vail, AZ
• 2006-2007, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Johnson Elementary School, Tucson Unified School District, Tucson, AZ
• 2000-2006, Special Education Teacher: Early Childhood, Brader Elementary School, Christina School District, Newark, DE

Honors and Awards

• Excellence in Teaching Award, Faculty Senate Committee on Student and Faculty Honors, University of Delaware, 2021
• Professional Development Award, Office of Graduate and Professional Education, University of Delaware, 2019
• Emerging Scholar Award, 2019 International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities, and Nations, 2019

Professional Memberships

• National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Division for Children of the Council of Exceptional Children

Past Education

• Ph.D. University of Delaware, Human Development and Family Sciences, 2023 (expected)
• M.A.  Wilmington University, Applied Technology in Education, 2004   
• B.S. University of Delaware, Early Childhood Development and Education/Early Childhood Special Education, 2000