Education

Ph.D., Education, Florida State University
M.S., Education, Florida State University
B.A., Special Education, Florida State University 

Biography

Dr. Ellis is an assistant professor of early childhood education. She has experience in curriculum and instruction, reading, special education and teacher education.

Dr. Ellis’ research interests include integrating science and reading instruction, reading and science student achievement, effective models of establishing and maintaining P-12 school and community partnerships, transition and adult education of students with disabilities, effective pre-service field and clinical models for teacher education, and multidisciplinary education research.

“I believe that research and scholarship about "us",  for "us", and by "us" is essential to changing the narrative around preparing teachers of color and illuminating the rich contributions of HBCU teacher preparation programs,” Dr. Ellis said.

In addition to her service to Spelman College, Dr. Ellis was elected Program Chair (2022-Present) American Association of Education Research Association (AERA) Research Focus on Black Education Special Interest Group (SIG), Treasurer (2023-Present), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Topical Action Group (TAG), The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and Treasurer (2016-Present) National Holmes Scholar Alumni Association (NAHSA).

Dr. Ellis is a Board Member (2020-Present) The National Center for Clinical Practice in Education Preparation (NCCPEP) and centers her research and scholarship around minority teacher preparation, clinical experiences/community partnerships, and highlight the rich legacy of  HBCU teacher preparation programs. 

Honors & Awards 

Keynote Speaker at the Waco Independent School District New Teacher Launch, Leading from the Heart, Waco, Texas, 2023

Department of Defense (DoD) Research Mentor, Center for Minority Women in STEM Research Program, 2023

Recipient of the Early Childhood Education Overseas Professional Development Program in Finland Award, The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana 2023 Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative Affiliate, 2023

Invited Faculty Researcher of the School of Rock Program on the JOIDES Resolution funded by the National Science Foundation and the International Ocean Discovery Program, 2023

Present American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Clinical Partnership
Commission, 2016

Partners in Excellence Award, Dougherty County Schools, Albany, GA, 2014-2015 

American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Holmes Scholar-Florida State University, 2004-2013

Dean’s Student Advisory Committee, FSU College of Education, 2004-2002 

Florida Center for Reading Research Fellow-Florida State University, 2002-2004 

Florida State University Dean’s List, 1996-2005 

Who’s Who Among College Students, Florida State University, 1999-2000 

Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers’ Sorority House, Florida State University, 1996-2001 

Courses Taught

IBQC 100: Radical Self of the Black Professional Woman
EDU 316: Exceptional Learners
EDU 330: Science Methods
EDU 331: Math Methods
SLS 1510: College Success
SPED 3231: Contemporary Perspectives of Exceptional Students
SPED 3307: Nature and Characteristics of Students with Intellectual Disabilities
SPED 3312: Curriculum, Methods, and Materials
RED 4310: How Children Learn How to Read
MAE 4326: How Children Learn Math
ECEC 4420: Preschool Education
ECEC 4423: Corrective Reading
ECEC 4500: Remedial Reading: A Practicum
RED   4510: Teaching Reading in Elementary Schools
ELD 5140: Advanced Student Learning Disabilities (Co-taught with Dr. Patricia Mathes)
ECEC 5500: Early Childhood Development
SPED 5501: Exceptional Children
SPED 5510: Characteristics & Instructional Strategies for Teaching the Mildly Disabled
ECEC 5512: Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood Education
SPED 5516: Nature & Characteristics of Gifted Students
SPED 5529: Instructional Methods in Gifted Education
SPED 5536: Curriculum for Gifted Education
SPED 5545: Educational Assessment of Exceptional Children
ECEC 5555: Creative Experiences for Young Children
SPED 5570: Practicum in Interrelated Special Education
SPED 5590: Teaching of Reading and Math to Exceptional Learners
Early Childhood Block IV Intern Supervision

Research Interests

Integrating Science and Reading Instruction
Reading and Science Student Achievement
Effective Models of Establishing and Maintaining P-12 School & Community Partnerships
Transition & Adult Education of Students with Disabilities
Effective Pre-service Field & Clinical Models for Teacher Education
Multidisciplinary Education Research

Publications

Ellis, V., Jenkins, P., Pogue, T., & Stephenson, L. (In Review) In the Field: Moving Teacher Candidates from Theory to Practice. Collaborations: Journal of Community-Based Research and Practice.

Ellis, V. (2014). An exploration of the impact of reform-based science instruction on second graders' academic achievement. ProQuest.

Terrell Shockley, E. & Ellis, V. (2022). The perspectives and pedagogies of middle school social justice educators. The Middle School Journal.

Dickens, D., Ellis, V., & Hall, N. (2021) Changing the Face of STEM: Review of Literature on The Role of Mentors in the Success of Undergraduate Black Women in STEM Education. Journal of Research Initiatives.

Ellis, V., Jenkins, P., Pogue, T.D. (2020) An HBCU Initiative to Build Effective Partnerships for Pre-Service Teachers’ Field and Clinical Experiences. Georgia Educational Researcher.

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (2019). Special Education Tenets of Clinical Practice. Washington, D.C: AACTE Clinical Practice Commission: Special Education Task Force.

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (2018). A pivot toward clinical practice, its lexicon, and renewing the profession of teaching. Washington, D.C: AACTE Clinical Practice Commission.