Lauren Gibson, PhD

Dr. Lauren Gibson is a visiting professor in the Elementary Education department at Florida State University Panama City.  She earned her Ph.D. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at New York University.  She completed her master’s degree in TESOL at Inter American University of Puerto Rico. She attended Asbury University for her undergraduate degree where she majored in Elementary Education and minored in French.  Dr. Gibson has experience teaching at the elementary level in Kentucky and the undergraduate or graduate levels in Kentucky, Puerto Rico, New York, and Florida.  Her current research focuses on the adaptation and schooling of immigrant youth. 

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION:
New York University, New York, NY
Ph.D. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
(TESOL) (2015)

Inter American University of Puerto Rico, San German, PR
M.A. in TESOL (2004)
Asbury College, Wilmore, KY
B.A.in Elementary Education K-5, Cum Laude (2003)
French Minor (2003)
Dean’s List (Spring 2000 – Spring 2002)

UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Adjunct Professor in the Elementary Education Program:
Florida State University Panama City Campus, Panama City, FL
(August 2020 – Spring 2023; August 2014 - December 2015;
August 2013 - December 2013)

Courses Taught:

• Taught TSL 4251, Applied Linguistics for Second Language Learning, focusing on knowledge of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics in first and second language acquisition (Spring 2023)
• Taught TSL 4080, Methodologies for Teaching PK-12 English Learners, focusing on theory and application of second language learning and instructional techniques for English Language Learners (Fall 2022 – Spring 2023)
• Taught EDG 5940, Student Teaching, supervising three interns through observation, feedback, and evaluation of teaching (Spring 2023)
• Taught 5005, Theory and Methods in Teaching English Language Learners in PK-12 Classroom, graduate course focusing on theory
• and application of second language learning and instructional techniques for English Language Learner (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022)
• Taught 5709, Culturally Responsive Teaching for Equitable Instruction, graduate course focusing on culturally responsive teaching and how it can be used to improve the academic performance of culturally and linguistically diverse learners (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021; Spring 2022)
• Taught EDE 4943, Student Teaching in Elementary Education, supervising two teacher candidates through observation, feedback, and evaluation of teaching (Fall 2015) 
• Taught EDE 4907 - 0005, Directed Field Experience, focusing on developing skills in lesson planning, identifying effective teacher practices, and working with diverse student populations (Co-taught with Dr. Dorothy Imperial in Fall 2014; Co-taught with Dr. Elizabeth Crowe in Spring 2015; Co-taught with Dr. Dorothy Imperial in Fall 2015)
• Taught RED 4510, Teaching Reading in Elementary School, focusing on the knowledge and skills needed to teach reading at the intermediate level in a classroom setting (Fall 2013)

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning: New York University, New York, NY (September 2010 – May 2011)
Course Taught:

• Taught Graduate Course, Adolescent Learners in Urban Contexts, focusing on applying theoretical knowledge of adolescent development to classroom teaching with an emphasis on differentiating instruction

Adjunct Professor in the Communication Skills Department, LaGuardia Community College/City University of New York, Long Island City, NY (September 2010 – December 2010)

Course Taught:

• Taught Essentials of Reading II, focusing on developmental reading skills including elements of critical reading, reading and study strategies, and standardized reading test strategies

Adjunct Assistant Professor: The College of New Rochelle, The Graduate School, New Rochelle, NY (June 2010 – August 2010)
Courses Taught:

• Taught Graduate Course, Second Language Acquisition, focusing on SLA theory
• Taught Graduate Course, Designing and Implementing Education for Diverse Populations, focusing on strategies and programs appropriate for distinct learning needs and developmental levels

Adjunct English Professor: Medgar Evers College/City, University of New York, Brooklyn, NY (January 2010 – May 2010)
Course Taught:

• Taught College Composition II, focusing on reading and writing skills

Part-time ESL Lecturer in Intensive ESL Program: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (July 2006)
Courses Taught:

• Taught beginner ESL, focusing on reading skills
• Taught intermediate ESL, focusing on writing skills
• Taught advanced ESL, focusing on oral communication

Part-time ESL Lecturer in Semi-Intensive ESL Program: University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (July 2006)
Courses Taught:

• Taught beginner ESL, focusing on reading skills
• Taught intermediate ESL, focusing on listening skills

Part-time English Faculty Member: Inter American University of Puerto Rico, San German, PR (January – December 2004)
Courses Taught:

• Taught required beginner ESL course for non-native speakers, focusing on oral communication, reading, and writing skills
• Taught required beginner ESL course for non-native speakers with labeled learning disabilities, focusing on oral communication, reading, and writing skills

K – 12 TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
ESL Teacher: Elementary ESL Teacher (K-5), Picadome Elementary School, Lexington, KY (August 2005 – August 2008)
ESL Teacher: Middle School ESL Teacher (6/8), Fayette County Public Schools’ ESL Middle School Summer School hosted at Winburn Middle School, Lexington, KY (June 2006)
Long Term Substitute Teacher: Elementary Education (K&1), Harrison Elementary School, Lexington, KY (January – May 2005)
Long Term Substitute Teacher: Elementary Education (3rd grade), Harrison Elementary School, Lexington, KY (May 2003)
Student Teaching Experience: Elementary Education (3rd grade), Harrison Elementary School, Lexington, KY (January – April 2003)

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT EXPERIENCE:
Beacon Educator Consultant:
Revised and developed an online course titled ESOL: An Overview (Fall 2016 – Spring 2017)
Revised and developed an online course titled ESOL for Guidance Counselors (Fall 2012)
 

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION:
Ph.D. Dissertation: Narrative inquiry research on the linguistic and educational adaptations of transnational adult and adolescent Haitian immigrants (Defended April 2015).
Research Assistant: Collaborated in training, evaluation, and research projects, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University, New York, NY (September 2008 – May 2010)
Training:
Co-led a workshop for employees at Metropolitan Center for Urban Education on using ATLAS.ti (April 13, 2010).
Evaluation Projects:
Involved in an evaluation project for “Winning Strategies” on Outof-School-Time (OST) programs effective for Black and Latino males. Worked on building an extensive database of (OST) programs in several regions of the NYC area. Administered surveys and conducted interviews to narrow programs down to select programs effective for Black and Latino males. Identified why these programs were effective and aspects of these programs that could be replicated in other OST programs. Collaborated in writing a paper to publish and present these findings. 

Assisted on an evaluation of the Bilingual/ESL program of a small school district in New Jersey. Conducted classroom observations, interviews, and focus groups to determine the effectiveness of the program and ways it could improve.

Involved in an evaluation of a school for at-risk students in Washington, DC. Using ATLAS.ti, coded qualitative data and collaborated in writing the final report that was presented to the school board.

Research Project:
Worked on a study of Long-Term English Language Learners and SIFE students who are English Language Learners. Used qualitative measures such as interviews and observations to conduct a case study on an effective school for English Language Learners (ELLs) to determine what makes this school successful with ELLs when many other schools experience very little success. Also, collaborated in quantitatively examining trends and characteristics of ELLs who drop out and graduate using NYC DOE data.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Immigrant youth and schooling, Effects of transnationalism on the schooling context of youth and families, Investment in language acquisition, Community-Based Organizations and the adaptation process of immigrant youth, the roles of Haitian Creole and French in schools in Haiti.

PUBLICATIONS:
Refereed journal articles:
Gibson, L.C. (2011). Resistance to reform of Creole as a medium of instruction in schools: Rebuilding Haiti’s educational system, International Journal of Educational Policies, 5 (1), 15 – 32.
Chapters in edited books:
Gibson, L. C. (2019). Adolescent voices: Empowering Haitian immigrant youth through privileging narratives. In I. R. 
Berson, M. J. Berson, & C. Gray (Eds.). Participatory Methodologies to Elevate Children's Voice and Agency. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Book reviews:
Gibson, L. C. (2015). Review of The Haitian Creole language: History, structure, use, and education – A. K. Spears & C. M. B. Joseph (Eds.). (2010) Lanham/Boulder/New York/Toronto/Plymouth, UK: Lexington Books, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages, 30(1): 177-179.
Gibson, L. C. (2011). Review of English learners left behind: Standardized testing as language policy - K. Menken. (2009) Clevedon/Buffalo/Toronto: Multilingual Matters, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 14 (3): 364.
Gibson, L. C. (2010). Review of The Languages of Africa and the diaspora: Educating for language awareness - J. Kleifgen & G. C. Bond (Eds.). (2009) Boston/Buffalo/Toronto: Multilingual Matters, Caribbean Journal of Education, 32(2): 305 – 309.

PRESENTATIONS:
(2014, February). Linguistic and Educational Adaptations of Adolescent SIFE Haitian Immigrants and their Families. 43rd Annual National Association of Bilingual Education Conference, San Diego, CA. *Unable to present due to inclement weather that canceled flight to conference.
(2013, February). Investment: Linguistic and educational adaptations of adolescent SIFE Haitian immigrants. 42nd Annual National Association of Bilingual Education Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
(2012, April). Language Policy that Promotes Education for All: Language of instruction in Haitian schools. American Education Research Association 2012 Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
(2012, March). Transnational Framework: Linguistic and educational adaptations of Haitian immigrant youth. 2012 TESOL International Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
(2011, April). Addressing teacher shortages to increase student opportunity through discovery based research. Harvard Graduate School of Education 2011 Student Research Conference, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
(2011, February). Rebuilding Haiti’s educational system: Language of instruction in Haitian schools. The 32nd Annual NYS TESOL Applied Linguistics Winter Conference, Columbia University, New York, NY.
(2004, November). Using Reader’s Theater in the elementary ESL Classroom. The 31st Annual PR TESOL Convention, San Juan, PR.
(2004, April). Using Rubrics in the ESL Classroom. Western Puerto Rico TESOL Conference, Mayaguez, PR.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

• Board Member: University Academy, a charter school in Panama City, Florida (2017 – Present). Served on the Administrator Hiring Committee (2018); Served on the Administrator Evaluation Committee (2017- Present), and Chaired this committee (2019 – Present); Chaired the Teacher Retention and Recruitment Committee (2021 – Summer 2022); Chaired the Teacher Retention Committee (Fall 2022 – Present); Served on the Principal Interview Committee (2023)
• Panel Reviewer: American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Reviewed submissions for Special Interest Group (SIG)-Multicultural/Multiethnic Education: Theory, Research and Practice and SIG-Caribbean and African Studies in Education (2021 - 2023)
• Proposal Reviewer: National Association of Bilingual Education Conference (2014 – 2019)
• Proposal Reviewer: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages International Convention & English Language Expo (2016; 2018)
• Supervisor of Student Teachers Pursuing a M.A. in TESOL: New York University, New York City, NY (Fall 2008)
• ESOL Tutor: Tutored sixth-grade Japanese student (Summer 2002)

AWARDS/GRANTS:
2012: NYU Steinhardt Doctoral Student Conference Travel Grant
2011: NYU Steinhardt Doctoral Student Conference Travel Grant

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Successfully completed at – risk for University and College Faculty and Staff (December 18, 2020)
Successfully completed Florida Department of Education Clinical Educator Training (August 2015)

GRADUATE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTSHIP:
Graduate Administrative Assistant for course titled Intercultural Perspectives in Multicultural Education: Assisted Professor Shondel Nero, New York University’s January 2010 Intersession, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santiago, DR (September 2009 – February 2010)

COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCE:
ESOL Instructor: Taught a beginning level ESOL class for newly arrived adult Haitian immigrants, Empowerment Centre for Caribbean Immigrants, Inc., Brooklyn, NY (February – June 2011)
Curriculum and Teaching Consultant: Conducted Professional Development for teachers and collaborated in choosing curriculum for the organization, Empowerment Centre for Caribbean Immigrants, Inc., Brooklyn, NY (February 2011 – April 2012)

LEADERSHIP:
Grant Writer for the Junior League of Panama City (JLPC). Researched, identified, and developed grant opportunities that
aligned with the JLPC mission. (Spring 2012 – Spring 2014)
Member of the Haiti Working Group at the NYU Steinhardt Institute for Human Development and Social change. Collaborated on and conducted research as a part of an interdisciplinary team that examined critical issues related to human development and social change in Haiti. (2010 – 2012)
Editor of Gatekeepers of Hope to Rebuild Haiti. Edited work for the founder of this relief organization to help re-build Haiti. This organization was started in Miami after the Haitian earthquake in January 2010. (2010 – 2011)
Co-Historian/Photographer of NYU’s Graduate Program Initiative. Took pictures and documented events and service learning opportunities in the NYC area for graduate students at New York University. (Spring 2009)
Community Service Co-Chair of NYU’s Graduate Program Initiative. Coordinated service learning opportunities in the NYC area for graduate students at New York University. (Fall 2008)
Member of Diversity team at Picadome Elementary. Collaborated with the Professional Staff Assistant at Picadome Elementary to bring in a Japanese Koto Player and organize Unity Day. (Fall 2006) Collaborated with the Professional Staff Assistant at Picadome Elementary to bring in Latin Dancers and organize Unity Day. (Fall 2005) Organized a system at Picadome Elementary where teachers could get interpreters of all different languages for parent/teacher conferences. (Fall 2005)
Board Member of Oriental Mission Society (OMS) at Asbury College to plan service-learning opportunities locally and abroad for college students. (Fall 2001 – Spring 2003)

TEACHING CERTIFICATION:
Kentucky Professional Certificate for Teaching In Elementary School, Primary Through Grade 5 with Endorsement for Teaching English As Second Language, All Grades

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

• American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
• Haitian Studies Association at the University of Massachusetts Boston
• National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE)
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
• Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL)

COMMUNITY AND OTHER SERVICE:
Served in the Children’s Ministry at Northstar Church in Panama City (March 2016 – May 2017)
Traveled to Panajachel, Guatemala with Porch de Salomon to partner with the community on medical needs (March 2015)
Traveled to Kiu, Kenya with 410 Bridge to partner with the community on educational and medical needs (August 2013 & June 2012).
Traveled to Mexico with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) to build houses (March 2001)
Traveled to Haiti with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission five times to work with students in an orphanage (December 1997 - December 2000)