Linda earned a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading Education and Library Science and B.B.A. in Education and M.Ed in Reading degrees from Sam Houston State University. With over 34 years of experience, Linda taught middle school language arts for nine years prior to teaching literacy courses and coordinating field-based programs as a professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, University of Houston, Sam Houston State University, and University of St. Thomas. She has also served as Program Director for Secondary Language Arts (6-12) and for over 20 years worked with teachers in classrooms across Texas as a literacy consultant, as a Trainer for the New Jersey Writing Project in Texas/Abydos Learning, and as a Technical Assistance Provider, Professional Service Provider and School Leadership Coach for the School Improvement Resource Center and the Texas Center for District and School Support. Linda has presented at local, state, national and international conferences and has been president of numerous local and state literacy organizations, including Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading, Sam Houston Area Reading Council, Stone Fort Reading Council and North Harris County Council of Teachers of English. For over 20 years she served as Governmental Relations Chair for the Texas State Reading Association and Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading representing Texas teachers before the State Board of Education. She is the author of over 20 books and articles for teachers including Getting Started: The Reading-Writing Workshop, Grades 4-8 (Heinemann, 2007).  Linda worked with an amazing team of local educators to found the Center for Teaching & Learning in 2010 and serves as Head of School and President of the Board of Directors. In her spare time she loves spending time with family.