M.Ed in Literacy Program Faculty
Professor Becca Adamitis has been a classroom teacher for the past 21 years, with 18 years spent teaching middle school English Language Arts. She is an avid reader of young adult books and a connoisseur of all things true crime on Netflix! As a graduate of the MLIT Program and a current DLIT student, Professor Adamitis is excited to be joining the incredible faculty here at Judson. Through the pursuit of her doctorate, one of Professor Adamitis’ lifelong goals has been to work with pre-service and practicing teachers at the University level. Her research interests include pre-service teaching and teacher preparation programs, the adolescent learner, and best practices in the middle grades.
View Bio of Becca AdamitisDr. Karen Biggs-Tucker has been an elementary school teacher for 25 years working extensively in grades two and five. A graduate of Loyola University’s doctoral program, Dr. Biggs-Tucker loves to share ideas with others about how to instill a love for both reading and writing in students of all ages. In her spare time she enjoys Chinese food, walks on the beach and reading books by her favorite authors. Dr. Biggs-Tucker’s research interests include children’s literature and literacy engagement.
View Bio of Karen Biggs-TuckerDr. Brenda Buckley-Hughes
Assist. Vice President of Academic Affairs, Professor
Dr. Brenda Buckley-Hughes serves as Assistant Vice Presidents] of Academic Affairs and teaches with enthusiasm and energy. She has a passion for her students’ speaking success. Dr. Buckley-Hughes is the author of Introductory Speech Communication: Overcoming Obstacles, Reaching Goals
View Bio of Dr. Brenda Buckley-HughesDr. Maribel Guerrero was an elementary dual language teacher for 11 years before starting her journey as a Learning Support Coach. Dr. Guerrero received her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Aurora University. She is passionate about collaborating with and supporting other teachers, as well as attending and presenting at local, state, and national conferences. Dr. Guerrero has also presented to parents on the subject of establishing partnerships to support our bilingualism and bilculturalism at home with an emphasis on Biliteracy.
View Bio of Maribel GuerreroDr. Heather Kraus is a former middle school language arts teacher who is currently teaching 5th grade in School District 308. Dr. Kraus enjoys her time in the classroom and was honored to be one of twelve Illinois State Teacher of the Year finalists in 2014. She appreciates the opportunities to present at various conferences, sharing classroom and school literacy ideas.
View Bio of Heather KrausDr. Melissa Leisner is a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Prairie Knolls Middle School in District 301. She has presented at the local, state, and national level and published an article about conferring with adolescents during writing instruction. In November 2013, Dr. Leisner was honored to receive the National Milken Educator Award.
View Bio of Melissa LeisnerDr. Kristy Piebenga has been a passionate educator for over 15 years. She spent many years teaching in second, third, and fourth-grade classrooms before transitioning to the university level. She now shares her passion for literacy education with both undergraduate and graduate students
View Bio of Dr. Kristy PiebengaDr. Tina Scruggs is a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Prairie Knolls Middle School in District 301. Social and emotional learning is at the forefront of her teaching philosophy. Her interests include reading young adult literature, writing poetry for adolescents, and presenting on the topic of SEL integration into curriculum. Dr. Scruggs was the recipient of the Kane County Educator of the Year Award in May 2019.
View Bio of Tina ScruggsDr. Noor Shammas is a fourth-grade teacher in School District 308 in Oswego. In addition to her time in the classroom, Dr. Shammas has presented at state and national conferences and was honored by her district as teacher of the month in December, 2015. As a graduate of Lewis University’s Instructional Technology program, she has a passion for supporting teachers’ integration of technology and literacy into their classrooms.
View Bio of Noor ShammasDr. Megan Truax has taught at both the primary and middle school levels throughout her career. She enjoys spending her time attending and presenting at various local, state, and national conferences, as well as sharing her love of literacy with the staff and students with whom she works on a daily basis. Dr. Truax’s research interests include reading and writing motivation and the impact of teachers’ language on students.
View Bio of Megan TruaxDr. Brian Tucker has taught over twenty years in elementary schools and at the undergraduate level. He is the co-author of Transforming Literacy Teaching in the Era of Higher Standards. The Illinois Reading Council honored Dr. Tucker as the “Jerry Johns Teaching Educator of the Year” in 2017. He also presents at conferences to help educators prepare students to meet the challenges of 21st-century learning. Dr. Tucker’s research interests include social semiotics, meaning making, and multimodality.
View Bio of Brian Tucker