Aimee Frier, PhD, NBCT

Aimee Frier earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with dual specializations in Literacy Studies and Special Education from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Frier also holds graduate certificates in Qualitative Research and Program Evaluation. Her current research focuses on the ways in which technology, children’s literature, and arts-based methods support or constrain children’s literacy development with a specific focus on text analysis and composing. Dr. Frier also brings expertise in literacy and language development, assessment and remediation procedures of reading difficulties, and literacy instruction for diverse learners. 
 
Dr. Frier spent the last three years as a visiting faculty member in Literacy Studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Prior to her university teaching, she taught elementary school in both the United States and Mexico.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Academic Degrees 
Ph.D., 2018 Curriculum & Instruction: Literacy Studies & Special Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cognate: Evaluation and Qualitative Research
Dissertation Title: The Digital Practices of Students with Reading Difficulties in the Context of Integrated Technology Instruction
Committee Members: Jenifer Jasinski Schneider (Co-Major), David Allsopp (CoMajor), James King, & David Hoppey

M.A., 2007 Reading Education
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Certified, State of Florida, Reading K-12

B.S., 2004 Elementary Education
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Magna Cum Laude

Certified, State of Florida, K-6

Areas of Interest:
• Pre-service teacher education in evidence-based literacy practices for all students.
• Inclusion of technology within traditional literacy practices
• Implementation and assessment of digital literacies in the classroom, particularly with students that
struggle with traditional literacy.

Professional Experience
Visiting Instructor, 2018-Present: Literacy Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Responsible for planning and instruction of courses in emergent and intermediate literacy, reading and reading assessment, children’s literature, disciplinary literacy, and writing within the elementary and special education programs. Responsibilities include course revision and development, departmental and college-wide committee work.

Graduate Assistant 2013-2018: Literacy Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Taught four undergraduate courses in emergent and intermediate literacy, reading and reading assessment, children’s literature, and writing

Graduate Assistant 2012-2015: Special Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Taught undergraduate coursework related to special education, instructional methods, classroom management, behavioral interventions, and assessment.

Supervisor for Special Education Undergraduates
Liaison for undergraduate field experiences. Responsibilities included:coordination of undergraduate field placements, organization and
facilitation of practicum meetings, and maintenance of departmental records.

Research Assistant 2014: Literacy Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Responsible for planning and instruction for LAE 7794: Survey of Research on Writing under the supervision of Dr. Jenifer Schneider. Collaborated to plan weekly course instruction, facilitated in-class discussions and led course activities.

Research Assistant 2013: Qualitative Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Responsible for planning and instruction for EDG 6931: Qualitative Research under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Wolgemuth. Collaborated to plan weekly course instruction, facilitated in-class discussions, led course activities, and provided feedback to students on projects and assignments.

Research Assistant Service-Learning Grant Coordinator, University of South Florida,
2011-2012 Tampa, FL
(Under the direction of Dr. Patricia McHatton)
Responsibilities included on-site coaching and training on Service-Learning, facilitation of student developed Service-Learning projects, and
dissemination of Service-Learning resources and materials.

Research Assistant Project REACH, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
2011 (Under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Shaunessy)
Responsibilities included gathering research data from on-site records, compilation of data into university databases, data fidelity checks, and the review of relevant literature related to the study.

Research Assistant Instructor and Supervisor, Pepin Academy, Tampa, FL
2012-2015 (Under the direction of Drs. David Allsopp and David Hoppey)
Taught courses in reading instruction and assessment for students in the Special Education program at the yearly summer institute. Supervised the implementation of instructional decisions, evidence-based interventions, and assessments in grades K-10. Supervised student progress towards Reading Endorsement.

Inclusion Teacher, Seven Oaks Elementary, Wesley Chapel, FL
2005-2011 -- Responsible for the instruction of children in 2nd and 3rd grades. Classroom composition included children with exceptionalities; including learning disabilities and giftedness. Other responsibilities included school-based RtI leadership team, mentor teacher, curriculum committee member, and gradelevel team leader

Elementary Teacher, San Antonio Elementary, San Antonio, FL
2004-2005 -- Responsible for the instruction of children in the 2nd grade. Classroom composition included children with exceptionalities; including learning disabilities and giftedness. Member of the technology committee.

Reading Teacher, Ínstituto Las Americas, Parral, Chihuahua, MX
1997-2002 -- Responsible for English language instruction in grades K-10. Additional duties as the department head for the English Department included curriculum selection, curriculum development, and oversight of English language instructors.

Publications
Referred Journal Articles

• Agosto, V., Wolgemuth, J. R., Green, S., Frier, A., Sabnis, S., Riley, M. W., ... & Kearbey, J. (2019). Curating Provocative Engagements with Assessment in Education: A Mysterious Thing. Educational Research for Social Change, 8(1), 101-119.
• Anderson, A.W., Smith, P., Schneider, J.J., & Frier, A. (2015). Live! From Mount Olympus: Theatricizing two analyses of a multimodal, multimedia composition. Creative Approaches to Research Journal, 8(1), 75-96.
• Green, S., Kearbey, J., Wolgemuth, J.,Agosto, V., Romano, J., Riley, M., & Frier, A. (2015) Past, Present, and Future of Assessment in Schools: A Thematic Narrative Analysis. The Qualitative Report, 20(7), 1111-1124.

Articles Under Review

• Schneider, J.J., King, J., & Frier, A. (under review). Cancelling Culture?: Developing AccessPromoting Pedagogies and Literacies by Reading and Composing Memes. Journal of Adult and Adolescent Literacy.

Book Chapters

• Hoppey, D., Allsopp, D., Riley, M., Frier, A., & Hahn, S. (2018). Understanding teacher candidates’ perspectives of learning to teach during an innovative summer practicum. In D. Hoppey (Ed.) Outcomes of Clinically Rich Teacher Education: Advances in Teacher Education Series (pp). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
• Krause, M., Frier, A., & Powell, R. (2014). A Mexican party in the sky: The glitches and hitches of using video to share disciplinary knowledge. In J.J. Schneider (Ed.). Casework in K-6 writing instruction: Connecting composing strategies, digital literacies, and disciplinary content to the Common Core (pp ). New York, NY: Peter Lang.
• Smith, P.M. & Frier, A. (2014). Writing American history: Multilingual learners collaboratively compose digital information texts. In J.J. Schneider (Ed.). Casework in K-6 writing instruction: Connecting composing strategies, digital literacies, and disciplinary content to the Common Core.(pp). New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Creative Works

• Persohn, L., & Frier, A. (Eds.). (2019). EXTRA: A festschrift in honor of James R. King. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida College of Education.
• Schneider, J.J., & Frier, A. (2016). Analyzing Student-made films: A Design-based Field Experience in Composing Disciplinary Texts. In Schneider, J.J. (Ed.). Multimodal data analysis collection: A curated, open-access compilation of methodologies. [Online exhibit]. USF Scholar Commons. http://digital.lib.usf.edu/multimodal-data

Presentations
National Conferences

• McCarthy, L., Constable, S., Schneider, J.J., Persohn, L., Powell, R., Frier, A., Branson, S., & Scheckelhoff, C. (2020). We are in a book! In defense of books, children, and reading. Alternative session presentation at the 2020 Literacy Research Association (LRA) virtual conference.
• Schneider, J.J. & Frier, A. (2020). Deficits, dominance, and the eradication of culture: Toward imaginative, access-promoting pedagogies. Presentation at the 2020 annual meeting of the Journal of Language and Literacy Education (JoLLE), Athens, GA.
• Frier, A. (2019). Writing the future: Students with literacy-related reading difficulties composition practices using digital tools. Paper presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA), Tampa, FL.
• Frier, A., Margarella, E. E., Powell, R. (2019). Illuminating the future with 1:1 technology initiatives: A discussion of relevant and meaningful recommendations for P-12 policy and practice. Paper presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA), Tampa, FL.
• Krause, M.B., Schneider, J.J., Hadley, E., Persohn, L., Frier. A., & Dodson, G. (2019). Contextualizing dyslexia in a literacy teacher preparation program in the midst of ideological tension. Paper presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA), Tampa, FL.
• Branson, S. & Frier, A. (2019). Beyond book reports: Extending engagement with children’s literature through multimodal responses. Presentation at the 2019 annual meeting International Literacy Association (ILA), New Orleans, LA.
• Frier, A. & Branson, S. (2019). Good-bye book reports: Multimodal response to children’s literature exploring difficult and challenging topics. Presentation at the KSU Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults, Kennesaw, GA.
• Frier, A. (2017). The digital practices of struggling readers: Benefits and barriers of digital tools in a technology rich environment. Paper presented at the 2017 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA), Tampa, FL.
• Schneider, J., Osvath, C., Frier, A., & Branson, S. (2017). The escape room: Using capers, quandaries, and theoretical constructs to explore children’s and YA literature. Presentation at the 2017 annual meeting of the Journal of Language and Literacy Education (JoLLE), Athens, GA.
• Schneider, J., Frier, A., & Osvath, C. (2016). Teaching beyond text boxes: Embodied learning in open-access, online teaching. Paper presented at the 2016 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA) Conference, Nashville, TN.
• Green, S, Kearbey, J, Wolgemuth, JR, Agosto, V, Romano, J., Riley, M, & Frier, A. (2015). Voices of the Tested: Visions of the Past, Present, and Future of School Assessment. Paper presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, Chicago, IL.
• Carusi, T, Wolgemuth, JR, Green, S, Agosto, V, Kearbey, J, Riley, M., Frier, A., & Romano, J (2015). “It’ll be more of the same, just worse:” Dystopian future(s) of education assessment. Paper presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, Chicago, IL.
• Schneider, J., Frier, A., Kozdras, D., Krause, M., Powell, R., & Welsh, J. (2014). Building and presenting disciplinary knowledge through Informational “Texts”: Using iPads to Create Multimodal Research Projects with K-6 Students. Presentation at the Annual International Reading Association (IRA) Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Agosto, V., Wolgemuth, J., Frier, A., Carusi, T., Green, S., Kerby, J., Riley, R., Romano, J., & Morphew, K. (2014) The things we hold dear: The sedimentation of assessment in material culture. Paper presentation at the Annual American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
• Frier, A., & Diciccio, M. (2014). Students with learning disabilities perceptions or learning using photovoice. Submitted to the Annual American Educational Research Association (AERA) Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
• Powell, R., Frier, A., Schneider, J., & Hagge, J. (2014). Children's literature, social justice, and artsbased responses: Conversations that matter. Presented at the annual meeting of the Journal of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia (JOLLE), Athens, GA.
• Frier, A., Schneider, J., & Smith, P. (2013). Pre-service Teachers’ Approximations of Literacy Instruction During a Multilingual, Multimodal Field Experience. Paper presented at the 2013 annual conference of the Literacy Research Association (LRA), Dallas, TX.
• Hoppey, D., Frier, A., Riley, M., & Hahn, S., & Allsopp, D.H. (2013). Special education teacher candidates’ perspectives of an innovative summer school practicum. Paper presented at the 2013 annual conference of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
• Casciola, V., & Frier, A. (2013). Deconstructing gender: Presentations of LGBTQ characters in young adult literature. Session presented at the Florida Reading Association (FRA), Orlando, FL.
• Frier, A., Curtis, J. & Lockhart, L. (2013). Voices from the lacuna. Poster presented at the 2013 International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. (ICQI), Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
• Smith, P., Schneider, J. & Frier, A. (2013). Leveraging linguistic “privation” into semiotic sufficiency: Examining multilingual learners’ process of collaborative media composition. Paper presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, California.
• Anderson, A., Branscombe, M., Persohn, L., Smith, P., & Frier, A. (2013). Literacy: Beyond the here, beyond the now, beyond the new. Poster presentation at the NCATE poster session at the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
• Schneider, J., Frier, A., Powell, R. & Krause, M. (2013). Speed Dating with iPads: Creating DisciplineSpecific Films in 90 Minutes. Presentation at the 2013 annual meeting of the Journal of Language and Literacy Education (JoLLE), Athens, Georgia. 
• Anderson, A., Branscombe, M., Persohn, L., Smith, P., & Frier, A. (2013). Literacy: Beyond the here, beyond the now, beyond the new. Paper presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the Journal of Language and Literacy Education (JoLLE), Athens, Georgia.
• Frier, A., Riley, M., Hoppey, D., & Hahn, S., & Allsopp, D.H. (2012). Special education teacher candidates’ perspectives of an innovative summer school practicum. Presentation at the 2012 annual conference of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, Grand Rapids, MI.
• Allsopp, D.H., Hoppey, D., Hahn, S., & Frier, A. (2012). Mathematics RtI: One program’s efforts to enhance teacher candidate’s knowledge and skills. Presentation at the 2012 annual conference of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, Grand Rapids, MI.
• Hoppey, D., Hahn, S., Mickelson, A., Frier, A., & Allsopp, D.H. (2012). Learning to teach: The lived experience of prospective special education teachers. Presentation at the 2012 annual conference of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, Grand Rapids, MI.

Regional/Local Conferences

• Lindo, M. & Frier, A. (2011). Integrating the Gifted Learner. Professional Presentation, 65th Annual Council for Exceptional Children Conference, Jacksonville, FL.
• Frier, A. & Lanpher, G. (2009). RtI Processes in the Classroom. Staff Training for Seven Oaks Elementary School, Wesley Chapel, FL
• Frier, A. & Olsen, L. (2007). Integration of Learning Focused Strategies. Professional Presentation, Pasco County Summer Literacy Institute, New Port Richey, FL.
• Frier, A. & Olsen, L. (2007). Integration of Learning Focused Strategies. New Teacher Training, Seven Oaks Elementary School, Wesley Chapel, FL.

Faculty and Institutional Grant Work
Funded:

• Hadley, E. B. (Principal Investigator), Gunn, A., Schneider, J. J., Krause, M., Frier, A. (2021-2022). Identifying levers for early literacy intervention in Head Start classrooms. University of South Florida Research and Innovation Program, Building Partnerships Across Campuses Grant. Amount awarded: $10,000.
• Frier, A. (2016). Student Government Association, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the Literacy Research Association, Nashville, TN. $500.00. (funded).
• Frier, A. (2015). Student Government Association, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL. $500.00. (funded).
• Frier, A. (2014). Student Government Association, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA. $500.00. (funded).
• Frier, A. (2013). Department of Childhood Education and Literacy Studies, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA. $250.00. (funded).
• Frier, A. (2013). Department of Special Education, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, Urbana-Champaign, IL. $200.00. (funded).
• Frier, A. (2012). Student Government Association, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, Grand Rapids, MI. $500.00. (funded).
• Frier, A. (2011). Student Government Association, University of South Florida. Travel grant for presentation at the Florida Council for Exceptional Children, Jacksonville, FL. $500.00. (funded).

Grant Proposals Not Funded:

• Schneider, J.J. (Principal Investigator). (in review) The Escape Room: Life or Death Problem Solving, Project Management, and Critical Reading. EdSim Challenge. $50,000 (pending). As key personnel, I developed the proof of concept that served as the inspiration for the grant concept.
• Schneider, J.J. (Co-Principal Investigator) & Griffin, M. (Co-Principal Investigator). (2014). National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). CLiCK! Children’s Literature Collection of Knowhow. $60,000. As key personnel, I assisted in the redesign of the annual children’s literature conference, as well as serve on the advisory board.
• Schneider, J.J. (Principal Investigator).(2013). National Endowment for the Humanities (NIH). CLiCK! Children’s Literature Collection of Know-how. $60,000. As key personnel, I assisted in the redesign of the annual children’s literature conferee, as well as serve on the advisory board.

Teaching Experience
2013 - Present Literacy Studies Instructor of Record, University of South Florida

• RED4742: Intermediate Literacy
• RED4312: Emergent Literacy Strategies and Assessment
• RED4943: Reading Practicum
• RED4333: Content Area Reading
• RED6365: Disciplinary Literacy
• RED6449: Literacy and Technology
• RED6540: Assessment in the Development of Literacy
• RED6846: Practicum in Reading
• LAE4414: Literature in Childhood Education (online)
• LAE4314/6317: Elementary Writing Methods (face-to-face and online)
• LAE4424/6427: Children’s Literature

Responsibilities:
Collaboration with other course instructors to plan and deliver weekly course instruction, including development of lectures, in-class assignments, and assessments. Evaluation of student outcomes through a variety of assessments, including lesson plans, students case studies, discussions, quizzes, and presentations. Adjustment of instruction based on student needs of pre-service teachers
Assist pre-service and in-service teachers with applying theory to practicewithin the classroom.

2011-2015 Special Education, Instructional Team Member, University of South Florida

• EEX4070: Integrating the Exceptional Child
• EEX 4202: Contexts and Foundations of Special Education
• EEX4240: Beginning to Teach
• EEX4241: Creating Effective Learning Environment
• EEX4242: Instructional Decision Making

Responsibilities:
Plan and delivery of undergraduate block coursework with instructional team. Evaluated student progress via course projects, in-class assignments, and cumulative assessments individually and as an instructional team. Assisted students with implementation of theory to practice in their internship placements. Guided pre-service teachers in reflective inquiry into their teaching. Communicated and supported collaborating teachers. Evaluated pre-service teachers in their internships through observations

Professional Service and Leadership

• Editorial Editorial Board Member: Journal of Reading Education (2013-Present)
• Reviewer Conference Proposal Reviewer: Literacy Research Association (2013-Present)
• Conference Proposal Reviewer: Council for Exceptional Children (2012)
• Conference Proposal Reviewer: Teacher Education Division of Council for Exceptional Children (2012)
• Member: Formative and Design Based Research Innovative Community Group, Literacy Research Association
• Conference Facilitator Facilitator – Paper Presentation – Literacy Research Association (2017, 2019)
• Facilitator – Roundtable - University of South Florida’s Annual Inquiry Conference (2015)
• Facilitator – Poster Session - University of South Florida’s Annual Inquiry Conference (2014)
• NCATE Accreditation – Doctoral Student Team (2013)
• Facilitator – Roundtable - University of South Florida’s Annual Inquiry Conference (2013)
• Department Invited Speaker: Annual Doctoral Student Orientation – Special Education (2015)
• CLiCK (Children’s Literature Collection of Know-how) Conference – Planning committee member, advisory board member, and facilitator during the annual conference. (2014-2015)
• Teacher Education Committee – Department of Special Education (2011-2013)
• Community School Advisory Committee - New River Elementary, Wesley Chapel, FL
• Equity Partner, Pasco County Schools, Pasco County, FL

Professional Affiliations 

• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
• Division C – Learning and Instruction
• Special Education Research
• Research in Reading and Literacy
• Writing and Literacies
• Qualitative Research
• Queer Studies
• International Dyslexia Association (IDA)
• Literacy Research Association (LRA)
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
• Division of Diverse Exceptional Learners
• Division of Learning Disabilities
• International Literacy Association (ILA)

Professional Development

• Online Instructor Certification (2018)
• Can't Fight This Feeling: Emotion in the Classroom (2018)
• From Haha to Aha: Using Humor to Boost Learning (2018)
• Common Core Training, University of South Florida (2011)
• Conducting Focus Group Training, University of South Florida (2011)
• Professional Practice Partner Training, University of South Florida (2011)
• PS/RtI Leadership Team Member, Pasco County, Florida (2009)
• Clinical Education/Mentor, Pasco County, Florida (2006)
• Sharpening the Saw Leadership Training, Pasco County, Florida (2005)
• United Streaming Training, Pasco County, Florida (2004)

Awards and Honors

• McCarthy, L., Constable, S., Schneider, J.J., Persohn, L., Powell, R., Frier, A., Branson, S., & Scheckelhoff, C. (2020). We are in a book! In defense of books, children, and reading. Alternative session presentation at the 2020 Literacy Research Association (LRA) virtual conference.
• *Winner of the AREA 9 Best Paper Award.
• Diversity Caucus Award (2012) Teacher Education Division, Council for Exceptional Children. Grand Rapids, MI. $280.00

Certifications

• National Board Certification:
• Early-Middle Childhood Language Arts
• Teacher Certification:
• Reading Education – Florida (K-12)
• Elementary Education – Florida (K-6)
• Graduate Certificates:
• Qualitative Research
• Program Evaluation

Languages

• Spanish
• Written – fluent
• Spoken – fluent