Denise D CunninghamI am the Department Head of the Childhood Education and Family Studies department within the College of Education at Missouri State University. I am also a Professor of early childhood education within a large teacher education program. I have taughtat the undergraduate and graduate level and also serve as a research advisor for students within the Early Childhood and Family Development Master's program. I have worked in the early childhood field for over 35 years serving in both the private and public sector. I was a preschool teacher and center director as well as a primary teacher, literacy coach and instructional coordinator in the St. Louis Public School District. The school in which I taught was designated a National Blue Ribbon School and partnered with a local university as a Professional Development School. My research interests include literacy development in the early childhood years, early childhood curricula, and teacher preparation. Read More Read Less