Cris Crissman, Teacher Educator

Phone 919.231.4027
www.writinglife.org/cris
cris@writinglife.org

Research Interests: Development of reading and writing processes with special interest in socio-cultural influences on cognitive-psychological development and agency (Dissertation): Connections between reading and writing; Integration of reading, writing, and technology in the content areas; the creation and fostering of on-line learning and teaching communities for children and educators; and the collaborative change process in schools and teacher education programs.


Education:

1998    Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with special emphases on literacy and technology integration, North Carolina State University

Dissertation: Writing Life

1976    M. A. in Education and Graduate Reading Certification, East Carolina University

1971     B. S. with special areas of emphasis and certification in reading/language arts, mathematics, and social studies, East Carolina University

Additional Educational Experiences:

Developing Web-based Courses, Diane Kester, East Carolina University (Spring 1999)

Effective Schools Training facilitated by Larry Lezotte (1988)
Grantwriting Course, The Grantsmanship Center (1990)

Dimensions of Thinking course facilitated by Robert Marzano and Debra
Pickering, McCrel Lab (1992)

Reading Recovery Training audited course offered by Wake County Schools and UNC-Chapel Hill (1993)

Accelerated Schools Coaches' Training, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (1994)

Frameworks Facilitators Training facilitated by Brian Cambourne (1995)
Internship in Documentary Video, Marine Grafics (Fall 1997)

Professional Experience:

Fall 2000 to Present    Post-Doctoral Teaching and Research Fellow, North Carolina State University and University of Virginia; Courses taught:  Literacy, Media and Technology (Fall 2000) and Young Adult Literature (Spring 2001); Research into using e-technology to mediate literacy and literature instruction

Spring 2000    Visiting Instructor, Teaching Literature for Young Adults, North Carolina University; Web Curriculum Developer for Literacy Junction, North Carolina State University; Educational Consultant; Documentary/Educational Video Writer and Producer

Summer 1999    Website Developer and Editor, LiteracyLIVE, UNC-General Administration

Spring 1999      Visiting Instructor, East Carolina University; Reading in the Middle and Secondary School, Graduate Course; Reading in the Middle and Secondary School, Undergraduate Course

Fall 1998    Visiting Instructor, East Carolina University; Reading in the Middle and Secondary School, Graduate Course; Reading in the Middle and Secondary School, Undergraduate Course; Elementary School Reading Methods, Undergraduate Course

Spring 1998     Instructor, Reading in the Content Areas; Graduate Course, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, NC State University

Fall 1997  Instructor, Theory and Process in Reading and Language Arts, Graduate Course, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, NC State University

Spring 1996-1998    NCSU Fall 1995 Philip Morris Research Fellow, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, NCSU ($45,000 Fellowship)

1991 - 1995   Consultant, Chapter 1, North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction

1984 - 1991   Regional Communication Skills Consultant, North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction

1983 - 1984    Journalism and Computer Science Student at NCSU and Intern, The News and Observer, Raleigh, NC

1980 - 1983    Director, Reading Certification Program, Instructor of Reading Courses, and Student Teacher Supervisor, Mars Hill College

1979 - 1980    Coordinator, Right to Read Project, Moore County Schools, NC

1976 - 1979    Teacher, Title 1 Reading Specialist, Cumberland County Schools, NC


Activities and Awards:

Reading Educator of the Year (1996), North Carolina Reading Association

Editor and Project Coordinator, Young Authors Project (1985-1992), North Carolina Reading Association

Chair, Southeastern IRA Conference (1991), International Reading Association

Fellow (1986), North Carolina Educational Policy Fellowship Program (affiliated with the National Institute of Educational Leadership).


Grants:

Writing life: A Documentary About Writers (1997-1998). A documentary video project partially funded by the North Carolina Reading Association ($6000).

Technology as a Catalyst for Change: A Teleconference Experience for the NCSU Doctoral Seminar (Fall 1996). Philip Morris and the College of Education and Psychology Technology Incentive Grant, $250.

MIDTech: An On-line Community of Educators Dedicated to the Infusion of Technology in the Middle School Curriculum (1997-1998) [The Teacher Interview Component was conceptualized in this proposal]. Philip Morris and the College of Education and Psychology Technology Incentive Grant, $3000.

It Takes a Whole Village: A Video About School Community and Business Partnerships (1995). A documentary video partially funded by the North Carolina Reading Association, ($4000).


Publications:

Spires, H.A., Crissman, C., Mason, C. L., Jackson, A. (under review). Exploring the academic self within an electronic mail environment. Reading Research and Instruction.

Crissman, C. (2000). The Marshian Chronicles: Looking back to see the future of EstuaryLIVE.  Meridian: An Online Journal  www.ncsu.edu/meridian/estuary.htm

Crissman, C., Spires, H.A., Pope, C.A., & Beal, C. (2000). Creating pathways of change: One school begins the journey. Urban Education, 35.  104 - 120.

Spires, H.A., Pope, C.A., Crissman, C., & Beal, C. (1999). Reculturing teacher education: One college begins the journey. Action in Teacher Education, 51 - 57.

Crissman, C. (1999). [Review of the book Particularities: Collected Essays on Ethnography and Education]. North Carolina Journal of Teacher Education, 10.   146-150.

Crissman, C. (1996). Chapter 1 Supports Literacy Professionals.
The Literacy Professional, 5, (1), 3.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1992). Everybody has a story to tell: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1991). Special delivery: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1990). The tar heel family album: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1989). Books that ring a bell: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1988). Seasoned with love: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1987). Tar heel folks: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1986). A kid's guide to North Carolina: A publication of the North Carolina Reading Association. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.

Crissman, C. (Ed.). (1985). A kid's guide to western North Carolina: A publication of the Great Smokies Reading Council. Raleigh, NC: Chamblee's Graphics.


Presentations:

Crissman, C. (2000, April).   Writing life in the academy: Blurring genre, media, and voices.  In Strong Poets, fiction, and writing life.   Interactive symposium to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.  S. Carey, Chair, and T. Barone and L. Neilsen, Discussants.

Crissman, C. (2000, April).  Why we use technology: A collaborative critical inquiry.  Interactive symposium to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.  B. Bruce, Chair and Discussant, and A. G. Rud, Jr., Discussant.

Crissman, C. (1999, October). The Writing Life 2000 Project.   Presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina English Teachers Association, Winston-Salem, NC.

Crissman, C. (Organizer). (1999, April). Shaking the Ivory Tower: Writing, Advising, and Critiquing the Postmodern Dissertation. Interactive symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada. T. Barone, Chair, and E. Eisner and H. Gardner, Discussants.

Crissman, C., Pope, C. A., Spires, H. A. (1999, April). Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Dancing the Tensions of the Dissertation. In Shaking the Ivory Tower: Writing, Advising, and Critiquing the Postmodern Dissertation. Interactive symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada. T. Barone, Chair, and E. Eisner and H. Gardner, Discussants.

Crissman, C., Dehu, K., Mense, M., Moritz, C., and Ouzts, K. (1999, March). Thank a Teacher: A Reader’s Theatre Performance of a Dialogue Among Beginning and Experienced Teachers of Reading. Presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Reading Conference, Winston-Salem, NC.

Crissman, C., Dehu, K., Mense, M., Moritz, C., and Ouzts, K. (1999, February). Thank a Teacher: A Reader’s Theatre Performance of a Dialogue Among Beginning and Experienced Teachers of Reading. Presented at the Mary Lois Staton Reading Conference, Greenville, NC.

Crissman, C. (1999, January). Ethnography as writing life. Workshop presented at the meeting of the Conference on Qualitative Research in Education, University of Georgia at Athens.

Crissman, C. (1998, October). Using webforums as a integral component of methods courses. Presentation made at a state-wide teleconference sponsored by UNC-General Administration.

Crissman, C. (1998, October). Writing life. Presentation made at the North Carolina English Teachers’ Association, Wilmington, NC.

Crissman, C. (Organizer). (1998, April). Real life in virtual communities: The light side and the dark side. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA, and at NCSU through a videoconferencing link.

Crissman, C.; Pope, C. A.; Vasu, E. S.; Munro, M.; & H'Siang, M. (1998, April). CyberCommunities: Where technology meets imagination. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.

Spires, H. A.; Crissman, C.; & Mason, C. (1998, April). Project Dialogue: The academic discourse community goes online. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.

Crissman, C. (Organizer). (1998, March). Celebrating North Carolina writers. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Reading Association.

Crissman, C. (1998, January). From dance to data: New science and evolving inquiry. Paper presented at the annual conference on Qualitative Research in Education, University of Georgia, Athens,GA.

Crissman, C. (1997, October). Writing life. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Teachers of English, High Point, NC.

Crissman, C. (1997, April). The continuous dance of energy: Using new science to explore an evolving organization. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

Spires, H. A.; Crissman, C.; & Mason, C. (1997, April). Assessing the progress of North Carolina accelerated schools: Toward a model of participatory evaluation. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York, NY.

Spires, H. A.; Pope, C. A.; Crissman, C.; & Beal, C. (1996). Creating pathways for educational excellence and equity through institutional reculturing. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Educational Research Association, New York, NY.


MultiMedia Projects:

Crissman, C. (Writer and Producer). (2000).  To be a teacher.  A video produced for the School of Education, East Carolina University.

Crissman, C. (Producer). (2000).  A good choice.  A video produced for the Migrant EvenStart Program for Wake County Publid Schools.

Crissman, C. (Writer and Producer). (1999).   Building for the Future: Character education.  A video for the North Carolina Character Education Partnership.

Crissman, C. (Writer and Producer). (1998). Writing life: A documentary about writers. Video partially funded by the North Carolina Reading Association.

Crissman, C. (Interviewer-Writer). (1998). MIDTech: An on-line community of educators dedicated to the infusion of technology in the middle school curriculum. Raleigh, NC: NC State University.

Crissman, C. (Editorial Board). (1997-98). Meridian: Electronic journal for middle schools and computer technologies.

Crissman, C. (Writer-Producer). Waters of life. Video for the North Carolina National Estaurine Research Reserves.

Crissman, C. (Writer-Director-Producer). (1995). It takes a whole village: A video about school community and business partnerships. Video funded by the North Carolina Reading Association.

Crissman, C. (Writer-Director). (1993). A new chapter in compensatory education: A public television special. Chapel Hill: UNC-TV.

Professional Affiliations:

American Educational Research Association (AERA)
International Reading Association (IRA)
Professionalizing Careers in Reading/Literacy Development (IRA Special Interest Group)
National Council of the Teachers of English (NCTE)
North Carolina Reading Association (NCRA)

Academic Areas of Emphasis:

Literacy:
Introduction to Linguistics (W. Wolfram)
Empirical Research in Composition (N. Penrose)
The Teaching of Composition (C. Pope)
Theory and Process in Reading and Language Arts (H. Spires)
Advanced Seminar in Research in Reading (H. Spires)
Thesis and Dissertation (C. Pope)

Technology Integration:
Development of Micro Computer Software (E. Vasu)
Technology Integration for Teacher Educators (NC State Department of Public Instruction)
Practicum in Instructional Technology (P. Martorella)

Research Methods:
Empirical Research in Composition (N. Penrose)
Problems in Social Foundations I [Teacher as Researcher] (G. Noblit)
Problems in Social Foundations II [Teacher as Researcher] (G. Noblit)
Qualitative Research in Education (D. Eaker-Rich)
Research Applications in Curriculum and Instruction (E. Vasu)
Statistics for Behavioral Science I (W. Swallow)
Statistics for Behavioral Science II (J. Dietz)

Documentary Videography:
Duke University, The Center for Documentary Studies, PPS 1954
Community Service and the Documentary Tradition (R. Coles)
Internship in Instructional Technology [Documentary Videography] (P. Martorella), (Marine Grafics)

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10/28/03