Amanda Sanford, Ph.D., is a Professor of Special Education in the College of Education at Portland State University (PSU). Her main research and instructional interests are in improving literacy outcomes for multilingual learners (MLs) and students with learning disabilities within the context of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS).
Dr. Sanford consults with state leaders, districts, and schools on implementing research-based reading practices and data-driven decision-making. She specializes in work with elementary reading programs and teaches literacy methods and assessment courses to Portland State University students earning their master's in special education. Bilingual in Spanish, she has deep interest in culturally and linguistically responsive instruction within MTSS.
Areas of expertise:
- Literacy instruction and assessment
- Multitiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
- Schoolwide Literacy Instruction
- Learning Disabilities
- English Learners/Multilingual learners
- Bilingual Teaching and Special Education