Amy has served in various roles in the K-12 education system including as classroom teacher, literacy intervention teacher, and Multi-Tiered System of Supports coach. She held certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in literacy for early and middle childhood. Her higher education experience includes serving as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Elementary Education Program at Campbell University. In this role, she taught all undergraduate and graduate reading courses for elementary majors. She received the 2020 Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award for her high expectations, student engagement, and personal focus on quality instruction.

Prior to Helping Education, she was a literacy specialist at The Hunt Institute with the primary role of supporting state leaders and policymakers with embedding evidence-based reading instruction within policy and practice throughout the education continuum. Her passion for advocating for vulnerable children and families and promoting education equity was influenced by her experiences as a foster parent.

Amy is a native North Carolinian and first-generation college student. She was a NC Teaching Fellow at UNC-Wilmington where she received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and master’s degree in Language and Literacy. She earned her Ph.D. from NC State University in Educational Research and Policy Analysis for K-12 with a specialization in Reading.

In her free time, Amy enjoys fishing, gardening, reading, and relaxing in the hammock. She also loves spending time with her husband and three children. Together, they have a dog, cat, and hedgehog.