Jena Akard has over 20 years of educational experience in the greater Phoenix area. She is National Board Certified Early and Middle Childhood Literacy: Reading and Language Arts Teacher. Dr. Akard has held positions as a K-1 grade teacher, Reading Specialist, Instructional Coach, Writing Coach, and Assistant Principal, where she was named a Rodel Aspiring Principal. She is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the College of Education, working with pre-service teachers. Jena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a Doctorate in Cognition and Instruction. She is K-8 Certified and holds an Early Childhood Education and a K-8 Reading Endorsement. She has been serving future early childhood teachers since 2013. She has developed an early childhood partnership and experiential learning model for her methods students. This allows her students to learn and practice the methodologies while working with young learners.