Emergent literacy • Scientific literacy • Professional development • Teacher self-efficacy

About

Kristen Pennycuff Trent, Ph.D., is a Professor of Literacy Education at Tennessee Technological University. Pennycuff Trent received a PhD in Exceptional Learning with a Literacy concentration, a MS in Curriculum and Instruction: Reading, and a BS in Multidisciplinary Studies: Human Learning, K-8 certification from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. After teaching elementary school for over six years, she has spent the last eighteen years working with undergraduate and graduate programs both on the main campus and in the 2+2 program. She is a past president of the Tennessee Reading Association, newly renamed the Literacy Association of Tennessee, and currently serves as a district coordinator for the organization while maintaining an active presence in the International Literacy Association. As a grant writer, Pennycuff Trent has been awarded over 2.4 million dollars for her work with literacy professional development for PreK-12 educators. Funded projects have ranged from an early childhood education program for at-risk families from the TN Department of Education, Reading Excellence Act and Reading First grants, Tennessee Higher Education Commission Improving Teacher Quality grants, and Math and Science Partnerships projects in science literacy.