Assistant Professor
Department of Child and Family Development, San Diego State University
Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley (2004)
Major: Human Development & Education
M.A. in Education
University of California, Berkeley (2000)
Major: Human Development & Education
B.A.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1995)
Major: Psychology
Teaching Positions Held (Higher Education)
San Diego State University
Rank: Assistant Professor
Start Date: August 2008
Arizona State University
Rank: Assistant Professor
Date: August 2005 – June 2008
New College of California
Rank: Adjunct Faculty
Date: August 2002 – May 2005
College of Teacher Education and Leadership/ Arizona State University. (Funded $9935.00 in 2007). Principal investigator for a project investigating the understanding of leadership in early childhood education and the leadership practices used by current and emergent leaders in Arizona’s early childhood community known to improve school readiness. Results from six focus groups consisting of 72 early childhood educators were compared with findings from a literature review on theory and research in educational leadership. The findings were used to evaluate CTEL’s Early Childhood Teacher and Leader preparation program and to create a framework for leadership professional development activities.
U.S. Department of Defense. (Funded $100,000 in 2007). Co-investigator for a two-part investigation of charter schools as a quality school choice for children of military families. In the first phase of the study, we reviewed the literature on the consequences of school and residential mobility for civilian and military-connected students and offered suggestions for the systemic strategies that will meet the needs of mobile students. In addition, we reviewed how DoDEA, local educational agencies serving military installations and charter schools compare in terms of structural and process qualities known to meet the needs of highly mobile student populations. In the second phase of this investigation, we examined the structural and process characteristics of charter schools in states heavily affected by BRAC with an eye toward identifying charter school operators that could serve as potential partners in the development of a system of DoDEA-connected charter schools.
Nogales Elementary School District and Arizona Department of Education. (Funded $3000 in 2006). Co-evaluator for the Nogales Even Start Family Literacy Program. Results of this evaluation were developed into a manuscript, which was published in the Journal of Early Care and Education, describing how Latino immigrant families incorporate school-based interactive literacy activities into their existing home literacy practices.
Queen Creek Elementary School District and Arizona Department of Education (Funded $3000 in 2006). Co-evaluator for the Queen Creek Even Start Family Literacy Program.
Mitchell, S., Brady, S.J. & Kay, A. (accepted for publication, 2008). Discipline policies in early childhood education and care programs: Building an infrastructure for social and academic success. Early Education and Development.
Brady, S., Mitchell, S. & Kay, A. (accepted for publication, 2008). Essential features in early childhood discipline policies. Young Exceptional Children.
Perry, N. J., & Mitchell-Kay, S. (2007). Continuity and Change in Home Literacy Practices of Hispanic Families with Preschool Children. Journal of Early Child Development and Care.
Perry, N. J., Mitchell-Kay, S., & Lawton, S. (2007). Charter School as a Quality Choice for Children of Military Personnel. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Perry, N. J., & Mitchell-Kay, S. (2006). Evaluation of Nogales Even Start Family Literacy Program, prepared for Nogales Elementary School District and Arizona Department of Education.
Perry, N. J., & Mitchell-Kay, S. (2006). Evaluation of Queen Creek Even Start Family Literacy Program, Prepared for Queen Creek Elementary School District and Arizona Department of Education.
Mitchell-Kay, S. (2006). Introduction of the new Early Childhood Teacher Education Preparation Program at ASU. Arizona Annual Early Learning Conference: Scottsdale, AZ.
Mitchell-Kay, S. (2005). Attending to the needs of adult learners in family literacy programs. ASU Faculty Research Session: Glendale, AZ.
Mitchell-Kay, S. (2004). The politics of care in family literacy. Graduate School of Education Research Day: Berkeley, CA.
Mitchell-Kay, S. (2004). Women’s narratives of care and concern in a family literacy program. American Educational Research Association: San Diego, CA.
Mitchell, S., Moss, J., Pursell, K. & Campione, J. (2003). Teaching narrative to young children using a communities of learners approach. International Reading Association: Orlando, FL.
Mitchell, S., Moss, J., Pursell, K. & Campione, J. (2002). Fostering story structure development in children from low SES backgrounds: An intervention study. In J. Moss (Chair) & S. Mitchell (Organizer), Fostering narrative competency: Innovations in instruction. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting for the American Educational Research Association: New Orleans, LA.
Mitchell, S. (2002). The philosophy of John Dewey: Connections to the narrative experience. American Educational Research Association: New Orleans, LA.
Mitchell, S. & Pursell, K. (2002). Fostering the development of narrative structure with at-risk kindergarten students: A longitudinal case study. American Educational Research Association: New Orleans, LA.
Mitchell, S. (2002). Conceptions and uses of literacy in a family literacy program: An ethnographic account. Graduate School of Education Research Day: Berkeley, CA.
Moss, J., Mitchell, S., Pursell, K. & Campione, J. (2001). Preparing children to enter community of learners: Fostering metacognitive understanding of narrative structure with at risk kindergarten children. American Educational Research Association: Seattle, WA.
Mitchell, S. (2001). Introduction of retell tasks: Implications for a narrative intervention for at risk kindergarten children. American Educational Research Association: Seattle, WA.
American Education Research Association
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Association for Childhood Education International
Reviewer: Journal for Research in Childhood Education
Member: First Things First Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board Professional Development
Workgroup and Family Support Workgroup
Advisory Board: Kushi Children’s Productions, Inc.