Tess M. Dussling

Assistant Professor, Education Specialties

• Ph.D., Literacy Education, Syracuse University
• M.S., Curriculum and Instruction, Reading Education K-12, Florida International University
• B.S., Elementary Education and Sociology, University of Miami

Tess M. Dussling began her educational career as a third-grade teacher in Miami, Florida, where all of her students were English language learners.

While studying at Syracuse University, Dussling taught undergraduate and graduate courses in primary literacy methods and early reading interventions. She also supervised students during school placements and clinical tutoring experiences.

Her scholarly interests range from how to best meet the literacy needs of children who are struggling with reading, particularly English language learners, to learning more about the experiences, challenges, and professional development needs of teachers working with English-language learners. While at St. John’s University, Dussling plans to continue implementing early reading interventions to examine whether strategies that have been shown to be effective with native English-speaking students can also be effective with young English-language learners. This research allows for the investigation of the effects of supplemental reading programs that build on phoneme awareness skills and emphasize explicit instruction in the alphabetic code for English language learners placed in small reading groups with native English-speaking students.

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