SDSU Department of Policy Studies in Language and Cross Cultural Education

Dr. Elsa Billings

Assistant Professor
Dr. Elsa Billings teaches courses in the bilingual Multiple Subject credential program. Dr. Billings' research interests include the preparation of teachers to effectively teach in diverse classroom settings; academic equity issues, especially concerning language minority children; and the use of technology such as video cases in teacher education and professional development.

Education

Ph.D. in Language, Learning and Policy Program in the School of Education at Stanford University
M.A. in Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation, School of Education, Stanford University
M.A. in Language, Literacy and Culture, School of Education, Stanford University
Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential from U.C. Irvine
B.A. in Social Ecology from U.C. Irvine

Background

Prior to coming to the Policy Department at San Diego State University, Elsa served as a program director of a $1 million Federal Department of Education grant at the Stanford Center for Innovations in Learning at Stanford University. Elsa has over 15 years of experience in education, including teaching in bilingual programs at the elementary level, providing professional development to pre- and inservice teachers, and most recently creating and implementing curriculum in an online CLAD certification program through Stanford University.

Projects, Grants and Research

Projects & Grants
Federal Department of Education Title III grant out of the Stanford Center for Instruction and Learning, Stanford, CA. I am guiding and directing $1 million grant with Professor Guadalupe Vald��s as PI. There are three components to the grant: 1) The development of video cases and curriculum for online teacher professional development in the teaching of English language learners; 2) Advising and overseeing online CLAD course offerings to teachers in districts throughout California; and, 3) Coordinating a partnership with CSU teacher educators for the development and implementation of video case materials.
Research
I am currently conducting research on the online interactions of the teachers participating in the online CLAD program. In addition, I am beginning a study that analyzes the decision-making process of a Latino immigrant adolescent to drop out of high school and the impact this has on him, his family, and his friends.

Publications

Bikle, K., Billings, E., and Hakuta, K. (2003). Trends in two-way immersion research. In Banks & Banks (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Multicultural Education, 2nd edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Schirling, E., Contreras, F., and Ayala, C. (Winter/Spring, 2000). Proposition 227: Tales from the schoolhouse. In E. Garcia (Ed.), Bilingual Research Journal, 24, (1-2). Washington, DC: National Association of Bilingual Education. Available online: http://brj.asu.edu/v2412/articles/art9.html
Orr, J.E., Baker, S., Schirling, Elsa, Sanders, L., Huffman, L., and Mendoza, F. (2000). A book a day keeps the doctor away: A look at the implementation and effects of reach out and read, a pediatric clinic-based early literacy promotion program. ERIC_NO: ED452980. [Online]. Abstract in Resources in Education, Sept. 2000.

Note: Maiden name is Schirling

Courses

PLC 932: Spanish Language Arts
PLC 931: Reading and Writing

Vitae

Available upon request: billings@mail.sdsu.edu

Other Interests

Spending time with family
Traveling the world
Going to the movies
Listening and dancing to live music
Loving life