Dr. Sheila Valencia

Professor

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Biography

Sheila Valencia is an Emeritus Professor in the College of Education at the University of Washington, Seattle. She began her career as a teacher in New York City and spent six years as the Director of Reading for Adams County School District. For over 32 years, she served as a faculty member at UW, contributing to teacher preparation and graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees in literacy. Her research primarily focuses on literacy assessment, policy, and teacher development, specifically on creating and utilizing assessment tools to enhance teaching and learning. Valencia has collaborated with various states and school districts on research projects aimed at aligning instructional practices with assessments to foster deeper and more rigorous literacy education. Her work is published in numerous renowned journals, such as Reading Research Quarterly and the Journal of Teacher Education. She has actively participated in national and state assessment committees, contributing to the improvement of assessment systems and policies, including the Common Core Standards. Currently, she is a member of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Validity Studies Panel and the Technical Advisory Panel for Smarter Balanced Assessment. Valerie has received several accolades, including being named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and receiving prestigious awards such as the Dina Feitelson Research Award from the International Literacy Association.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Washington

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:80
IELTS
Overall
Required:6.5
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:105
Overall
Required:105
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • English proficiency scores (for international students)
Specialization Notes

Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.