Dr. Kristen Driscoll

Biography

Kristen Driscoll is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education in 2012 and an M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning with a specialization in Literacy in 2015 from Coastal Carolina University. She completed her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Literacy Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research centers on the intersection of theory and practice in collaboration with educators, children, and families, examining how educational policy influences early literacy instruction and assessment across various educational settings. Dr. Driscoll supports preservice teachers in developing equity-minded perspectives and advocating for historically underserved students in public schools. Her work emphasizes the importance of justice-oriented pedagogy that honors students' diverse languages and literacies. She has taught kindergarten in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and currently teaches courses such as CI 465 Language Literacy Early Childhood Education, CI 466 Language Literacy Early Childhood Education II, CI 501 Curriculum Development in the 21st Century, and CI 509 Curriculum Research, focusing on effective early literacy instruction and developmentally appropriate practices in K-2 education.

Research Interests

Courses