Susan K L'Allier Author

Laurie Elish-Piper, PhD, is Distinguished Teaching Professor, Presidential Engagement Professor, and Director of the Jerry L. Johns Literacy Clinic in the Department of Literacy Education at Northern Illinois University, where she also serves as Deputy Provost. Dr. Elish-Piper's research and teaching focus on literacy leadership and coaching. She has published and presented widely with Susan K. L'Allier on literacy coaching at the elementary level. She has worked extensively with school districts to develop and implement literacy coaching programs at the elementary and middle school levels, and she teaches graduate courses related to literacy coaching and leadership. Dr. Elish-Piper has coauthored seven books. Prior to joining the faculty at Northern Illinois University, she worked as an elementary teacher, a middle school reading teacher, and an educational therapist in a clinical setting.

Susan K. L'Allier, EdD, is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Reading Program in the Department of Literacy Education at Northern Illinois University. She and Laurie Elish-Piper have conducted multiple research studies to examine the relationship between literacy coaching and student literacy achievement. In addition to their journal articles, chapters, and presentations about literacy coaching, they also have published a video “workshop in a box” titled The Literacy Coaching Series, which enables viewers to see and analyze interactions between literacy coaches and teachers. Prior to joining the faculty at Northern Illinois University, Dr. L'Allier worked as an elementary teacher, a lead teacher, and a principal.