CURRICULUM VITAE
Cheryl Jackson Cummins
1712 Terrace Road
Cleveland, MS 38732
Telephone: (Work) 662.846.4405 (Cell) 662.402.0493
ccummins@deltastate.edu
Academic Background
Ed.D., The University of Mississippi; University, Mississippi, August 1996
Dissertation: A Comparison of the Effects of Multiage Grouped
Thematically Organized Whole Language Instruction on the Frequency of
Classroom Discipline Problems and Second and Third Graders’ Attitudes Toward
School.
M.Ed., Elementary Education, Delta State University; Cleveland, Mississippi, May 1989
B.S.E., Delta State University; Cleveland, Mississippi, May 1988
High School, Grenada High School; Grenada, Mississippi, May 1984
Professional Experience
Director of Field Experiences, Delta State University, July 2007 – present
Duties include ensuring that every candidate who registers for directed teaching
internship has been properly screened and approved, making initial contact with the
cooperating school administration concerning placement of teacher candidates for all
field experiences, maintaining records of teacher candidates, and serving as a liaison
between the cooperating schools and Delta State University. Duties also include serving
as the Certification Officer for Delta State University to manage licensure issues.
Co-Coordinator of National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
(NCATE) for College of Education, Delta State University, June 2008 – present
Duties include serving on the NCATE steering committee, helping to coordinate
all NCATE activities for the COE including retreats, faculty meetings, etc. Duties also
include working with all teacher education program coordinators in a supervisory
capacity as they prepare individual Specialized Professional Association (SPA) reports.
Further duties include assisting with all preparations for the 2014 NCATE site visit to
include co-writing of the Institutional Report (IR) for submission in 2013.
Professor of Elementary Education, Delta State University; May 2012 – present
Duties include advising elementary education majors, chairing and serving on
doctoral committees, university committees, and departmental committees.
Coordinator of Elementary Education program, Delta State University, May 2010 –
December 2012
Duties included writing Association for Childhood Education International
(ACEI) SPA report, coordinating elementary education faculty activities to include
supervision of the advisement process, assisting in course scheduling, guiding faculty
modifications to the elementary program, monitoring curriculum changes, conducting
syllabi revisions, and conducting elementary education faculty meetings.
Associate Professor of Elementary Education, Delta State University; August 2002-April
2012
Duties included advising elementary education majors, sponsoring education
organizations, chairing and serving on doctoral committees, university
committees, and departmental committees. Teaching includes the following
graduate and undergraduate courses:
Graduate courses: Communicative Arts, Fundamentals of Early
Childhood Education, Education in the Intermediate Grades, Literacy
Instruction in the Elementary School, Practicum in Elementary Education,
Special Topics in Elementary Education, Practicum in Early Childhood
Education, and Development, Assessment, and Evaluation
Undergraduate Courses: Introduction to Elementary Education,
Instructional Planning in the Elementary School, Language Arts for the
Elementary School, Basic Skills of Reading, Teaching of Reading in the
Elementary School, Approaches to Reading Instruction for Early
Childhood and Primary Grades, Principles and Techniques of Teaching in
Early Childhood, Special Topics in Reading Education, Diagnosis and
Evaluation of Student Achievement in the Elementary School, Children’s
Literature, Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties, and
Orientation and Field Experiences
Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, Delta State University; August 1997- July
2002
Duties included advising elementary education majors, sponsoring
education organizations, serving on doctoral committees, university committees,
and departmental committees. Teaching included the following graduate and
undergraduate courses:
Graduate courses: Communicative Arts, Fundamentals of Early
Childhood Education, Education in the Intermediate Grades, Literacy
Instruction in the Elementary School, Practicum in Elementary Education,
Special Topics in Elementary Education, Practicum in Early Childhood
Education, and Development, Assessment, and Evaluation
Undergraduate Courses: Introduction to Elementary Education,
Instructional Planning in the Elementary School, Language Arts for the
Elementary School, Basic Skills of Reading, Teaching of Reading in the
Elementary School, Approaches to Reading Instruction for Early
Childhood and Primary Grades, Principles and Techniques of Teaching in
Early Childhood, Special Topics in Reading Education, Diagnosis and
Evaluation of Student Achievement in the Elementary School, Children’s
Literature, Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Difficulties, and
Orientation and Field Experiences
Adjunct Faculty, Delta State University; 1994-1996
Duties included teaching undergraduate courses in reading, early childhood, and
supervision of student teachers.
Classroom Teacher, Lockard Elementary School; Indianola, Mississippi, 1989-1997
Duties included teaching in a first grade self-contained classroom. Lockard
Elementary School appointments: MTAI mentor, First grade lead teacher,
tutoring coordinator, textbook selection committee, K-3 theme-based chairperson,
principal’s advisory committee, and cooperating teacher for Delta State
University.
Professional Papers, Presentations, and Publications
Griffin, L., Cummins, C., & Garrison, J. (2013). Creating a Culture Shift for AssessmentBased Program Improvement: Lessons Learned. Presentation for the National
Institute on the Assessment of Adult Learning Conference, Atlantic City, NJ.
Cummins, C. (2012) Specialized Professional Association (SPA) report written and
submitted to Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) and
Response to Conditions report written and submitted in 2013.
Cummins, C., Garrison, J., & Thomas, D. (2011). Teacher Tenure: For or Against?
Paper presented at the MSERA Annual Conference, Oxford, MS.
Griffin, L., Bridges, A., Cummins, C., & Varner, L. (2011). Standardizing and
Communicating a Continual Assessment Model for Educator Preparation
Programs, Presentation given at the CREATE Conference, Oxford, MS
Cummins, C., Powers, A. & VanNamen, M. (2011). Passive to active: Transforming
the Traditional Teacher Education Classroom. Presentation given at the
American Council on Rural Special Education, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Cummins, C. & Pedersen S. (2010). Teaching geography utilizing a narrative format.
Presentation given at the annual meeting of the American Council on Rural
Special Education (ACRES), Memphis, TN.
Griffin, L., Davis, K., Colbert, T., Snow, C., Varner, L., & Webster, A. (2009). A
healthy schools initiative: Answering the call through teacher and leadership
preparation. Paper presented at the Association of Teacher Educators’ annual
meeting.
Cummins, C., & Griffin, L. (2008). Holding teachers accountable: Differentiating
Instruction for learners in rural settings through teacher work sample
Methodology. Presentation given at the ACRES conference.
Cummins, C., Pedersen, S., & Thomas, D. (2008). Comparison between informal
graded word list instructional levels and classroom teachers’ perceived
instructional reading levels of second and third graders. Action research
accepted for presentation at the 3rd Annual Faculty Research and Scholarship
Symposium at Delta State University.
Griffin, L., & Cummins, C. (2008). Longitudinal faculty study groups: A model for
developing comprehensive teacher preparation programs. Article accepted for
publication in the Journal for College Teaching and Learning.
Ratliff, L., Cummins, C., & Hebert, D. (2007). The Relationship beween undergraduate
grade point average and scores on the Praxis series exams for students in an
alternate route teacher education program in the Mississippi Delta. Paper
presented at the MSERA Annual Conference, Hot Springs, AR.
Griffin, L., & Cummins, C. (February 2007). Longitudinal faculty study groups achieve
seamless program development in teacher education. Paper presented at the
American Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) Annual
Conference, New York, NY.
Griffin, L., & Cummins, C. (November 2006). Improving student learning outcomes
through the implementation of teacher work sample folios. Paper presented at the
MSERA Annual Conference, Birmingham, AL.
Cummins, C., & Griffin, L. (2005). Literacy instruction through the smallgroup tutorial: A training manual for the Americorps literacy tutor”. Training
manual prepared for Delta Reads Partnership and Mississippi Delta Service
Corps, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS.
Griffin, L., & Cummins, C. (October 2005). Teacher work sample folios: Adapting
teacher work sample methodology for existing educator preparation program.
Paper presented at the Teaching Learning Conference, The Clute Institute, Las
Vegas, NV.
Cummins, C., & Griffin, L. (Fall 2005). Teacher work sample folios: A
medium for improving practice in teacher education. Presentation at the
Reaching Out to Mississippi Education in Action (ROMEA) Higher Education
Faculty Development Conference, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS.
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (2005). The effect of think-aloud strategies on
listening comprehension. Delta Education Journal, II, (2).
Cummins, C. (2004). The influence of maturation on children’s learning. Delta
Education Journal, I, (2).
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (December, 2004). Integrating the fine arts through
literature connections. Mississippi Reading Association, 34th Annual
Conference.
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (December, 2003). Aunty Dot – Teaching geography
utilizing a narrative format. Presentation given at the 22nd Southeast IRA
Regional Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Cummins, C. (February, 2003). Integrating Kidpix and lessonpPlanning into the
preservice classroom. Presentation given at the Creating Futures through
Technology Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Cummins, C. & Macon, R. (February, 2003). Using digital video in the early
childhood classroom. Presentation given at the Creating Futures through
Technology Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (December, 2002). Making connections in reading-A bridge
from the new to the known. Presentation given at the Mississippi Reading
Association Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (December, 2001). The Devil’s Highway-How to teach
children about the Natchez Trace through historical fiction. Presentation given at
the Mississippi Reading Association Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (December 2000). Literature circles: Student roles.
Presentation given at the Mississippi Reading Association Conference, Biloxi,
MS.
Cummins, C. & Branton, C. (November, 2000). Teacher induction: Is this the answer
to teacher retention? Paper presented at the Mid-South Educational Research
Association Conference, Bowling Green, KY.
Branton, C. & Cummins, C. (November, 2000). Teacher induction: Roles and
responsibilities. Paper presented at the Mid-South Educational Reasearch
Association Conference, Bowling Green, KY.
Cummins, C. & Rakes, S. (December 1999). Thematic literature unit centers.
Presentation given at the Mississippi Reading Association Conference, Biloxi,
MS.
Cummins, C. (January 1998). Self-esteem and children’s literature. Presentation given
at the Mississippi Reading Association Conference, Biloxi, MS.
Cummins, C. (December 1997). Dippin’ into chocolate! A literature connection based
on Charlie and the chocolate factory. Presentation given at the Mississippi
Reading Association Conference, Biloxi, MS.
University/Community Service and Involvement
Certification officer for Delta State University, 2007-present
College of Education and Human Sciences Administrative Council, 2007-present
Task Stream Coordinator for COEHS, 2012-present
NCATE Steering Committee, 2009 - present
Teacher Preparation Process Review Coordinator, 2007-present
Teacher Education Council, 2005-present
Search Committee Chair for COEHS teacher education chair, 2012
Process and Performance Review State Committee, 2012-2013
Chair of Redesign of Teacher Education for Delta State University 2008- 2010
COEHS Unit Assessment committee, 2008-present
Teacher Shortage Program professional growth coordinator, 2010 - 2011
Teacher Retention Initiative coordinator, 2008- 2010
Hall of Fame Selection Committee, 2011
High School Feedback Liaison for DSU, 2007- 2009
Higher Education Literacy Council, 2007-present
College fair representative for COEHS, 2007 - present
Chair of successful Doctoral Candidate graduate, 2007
Chair of NCATE Standard One committee, 2007 - present
Serve on NCATE Standard Three committee, 2007-present
Serve on NCATE Conceptual Framework Committee, 2007-present
Serve on dissertation committees, 2006-present
Advisor to pre-dissertation candidate, 2007- 2008
Report to faculty after Commission meetings, 2007-present
LACI guest speaker, 2007-2008
Academic Success Workshop speaker, 2008
DAAIS District Reading Fair Judge, 2002-present
Presbyterian Day School Literacy Consultant, 2007-2008
St. Luke Methodist Church Youth Council Member – 2009 - present
St. Luke Methodist Church Children’s Ministries Coordinator, 2000-present
Margaret Green Junior High School Parent Teacher Organization, 2009 – present
Cleveland High School Parent Teacher Organization, 2011 - present
Presbyterian Day School Parent Teacher Organization, 2000- 2010
Wildcat Booster Club, 2009-present
Faculty Senate secretary, 2006-2007
Faculty Senate vice-chair, 2005-2006
Faculty Senator, 2005-2007
Faculty Senate Executive Board, 2006-2007
NCATE Standard One committee, 2005-2007
Social Studies Curriculum Framework Revision Team, 2003
Presbyterian Day School MPSA spelling bee judge, 2004-2007
Girl Scout Leader, 2002 - 2005
University Evaluation Committee, 2002-2003
SACS Standards Committee, 2002-2003
Writing Committee, 2001-2002
Teaching Academy Committee, 2001-2002
Special Programs Committee, 2001-2003
Teacher Education Council, 1999-2001
Student Organizations Committee, 1999-2003
Bolivar Literacy Council, 1999-2002
Kappa Delta Alumni Advisory Board, 2000-2002
Delta State Child Development Center Parent Advisory Board, 2000-2003
Parent Advisory Board President, 2002-2003
St. Luke Neighborhood Children’s Program Advisory Board, 2000- 2007
Professional Associations
Delta Kappa Gamma, 1998-present
Delta Kappa Gamma, Secretary, 2006-2008
Student Advisory Council Sponsor, 2005-2007
Delta Reading Council, 1997-present
Delta reading Council President, 1999-2000
Delta Reading Council, President Elect, 2003-2004
Mississippi Early Childhood Association, Faculty Sponsor, 1998-2005
Mississippi Reading Association, 1997-present
Mississippi Reading Association board member, 1998-1999
International Reading Association, 1997-present
Kappa Delta Pi, 1997-present
International Reading Association, 1997-present
Additional Professional Development Endeavors/Projects/Trainings
Contributed to the Institutional Report (IR) written and submitted to the National
Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) along with 455
electronic exhibits, February 2014
Completed the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Annual Report and submitted it in
AIMS for NCATE/CAEP, April 2014
Completed the Professional Education Data System (PEDS) report with assistance from
Institutional Research for submission for accreditation with NCATE/CAEP, April 2014
Completed the Title II report submitted to Title II for accreditation purposes, April 2014
Completed the annual state EPP data tables and submitted to the Mississippi Department
of Education (MDE), May 2014
Contributed to the Addendum to the Board of Examiners’ Off-Site report submitted to the
National Association for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) along with an
additional 26 electronic exhibits, July 2014
Assessment Training, Bowling Green, KY, June 2012
`National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Conference, Las
Vegas, Nevada, March 2012
English Language Learners (ELL) training, Cleveland, MS, March 2012
Common Core Standards Training II, for IHL faculty, Jackson, MS, March 2012
Common Core Standards Training for IHL faculty, Oxford, MS, November 2011
Mid-South Educational Research Association Conference, Oxford, MS, November 2011
Consortium for Research on Educational Accountability Conference, Oxford, MS,
September 2011
NAFSA: Association of International Educators Conference, Vancouver, Canada, June
2011
American Council on Rural Special Education Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
March 2011
Teach for America’s Dean’s Summit, Cleveland, MS, June 2010
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development summer conference on
Differentiated Instruction, Understanding by Design, What Works in Schools, and
Curriculum Mapping, Orlando, Florida, June 2010
Delta Health Alliance Training, Stoneville, MS, May 2010
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Conference, Louisville,
Kentucky, April 2010
American Council on Rural Special Education Conference, Memphis, TN, March 2010
Content Area Literacy Training, Jackson, MS, January 2010
Mississippi Department of Education Licensure Training, Jackson, MS, November 2009
Delta Health Alliance Training, Stoneville, MS, November 2009
Adolescent Literacy Workshop, Jackson, MS, August 2009
2009 Teacher Work Sample Conference and Training, Western Oregon University,
Portland, OR, summer 2009
Licensure Training for Administrators, Greenwood, MS, July 2009
Healthy Schools training, Delta State University, May 2009
Professional Development Schools site visit, Emporia, KS, March 2009
Association for Teacher Educators’ Conference, Dallas, TX, February 2009
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Conference and
Training, Arlington, VA, September 2008
Mississippi Summer Rising Conference, Biloxi, MS, June 2008
Professional Development Schools Conference, Orlando, Florida, April 2008
Understanding by Design Training, Jackson, MS, March 2008
2008 ACRES Conference and Training, Charlotte, West Virginia, March 2008
National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Association for
Childhood Education International (ACEI) Training, Mississippi Department of
Education, Jackson, MS, Spring 2007
Assisted with compilation of ACEI Report, summer and fall 2006
Developed in collaboration with other faculty, the Teacher Work Sample Folio as an
assessment tool in elementary education, 2005
NCATE Board of Examiner Training, Mississippi Department of Education, Jackson,
MS, Fall 2006
2006 Teacher Work Sample Conference and Training, Western Oregon University,
Portland, OR, Summer 2006
NCATE Standards Training, NCATE, Washington, DC, Fall 2005
NCATE Training for Teacher Work Sample Methodology, NCATE, Kansas City, KS,
Spring 2005
Raleigh Museum School Site Visit, Raleigh, NC, Fall 2005
Consultant Experiences
Teacher Education consultant – Americorps, October 2008
Literacy consultant – Phonemic Awareness and Phonics, Yazoo City School District,
August 2008
Literacy consultant – “I can read it, but I don’t know what I read!” Reading
comprehension strategies for struggling readers, Workshop presented for the Literacy
Enhancement Clinic, June 2008
Literacy consultant – Reading comprehension strategies, Workshop presented for the
Literacy Across the Curriculum Institute, June 2008
Reading/Language Arts Consultant – Series of literacy workshops presented to
Presbyterian Day School faculty, September 2007 – April 2008.
Assessment consultant – Effective use of assessment in the classroom, Washington
School. June 2006.
Classroom management consultant - Cooperative Learning; Humphreys County School
District. January 2006.
Neighborhood Children’s Program Consultant – Reader’s Theatre in the Classroom; St.
Luke United Methodist Church; Cleveland, MS; 2005.
Reading consultant - Comprehension,Vocabulary, and LiteratureEextensions; Benoit
School District, 2003-2004.
Southwest Educational Developmental Laboratories Consultant; Reading Success
Network Professional Development; Grenada, MS, 2001-present.
Neighborhood Children’s Program Consultant – Creating the Peaceful Classroom; St.
Luke United Methodist Church; Cleveland, MS; 2003.
Language Arts Consultant – Family History Interviewing Project; Eastwood Junior High
School; Cleveland, MS; April 2003.
Reading Consultant – Comprehension Strategies; Cleveland School District; Cleveland,
MS; 2002- present.
Southwest Educational Developmental Laboratories Consultant; Fox in a
Box screening; Grenada, MS, 2001- 2002.
National Faculty Consultant; Reading Success Network Project; Grenada, MS, Spring
2001.
DAAIS Consultant; Teacher Induction Program; Delta Consortium; Cleveland, MS,
Spring 2000.
DAAIS Consultant; Coordinator for Reading improvement/Parent involvement program;
Delta Consortium; 1998-1999.
Reading Consultant; Greenville Public Schools, 1998-1999.
DAAIS Consultant; Reading Improvement; Mound Bayou, MS; 1998-1999.
DAAIS Consultant; Reading/Vocabulary Instruction; Shelby, MS; 1997-1999.
References:
Dr. Leslie Griffin
Dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences
Box 3121 DSU
Cleveland, MS 38732
Telephone: 662.846.4400
lgriffin@deltastate.edu
Dr. Joe Garrison
Chair of Teacher Education, Leadership, and Research
P.O. Box 3112
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS 38733
Telephone: 662.846.4374
jgarrisn@deltastate.edu
Dr. Sue Jolly, Chair
Education Department
Mississippi University for Women
1100 College Street
Box W – 1637
Columbus, MS 39701
Telephone: 662.329.7190
sjolly@muw.edu
Ms. Darrian Duckworth, Pastor
St. Luke United Methodist Church
1227 Deering Street
Cleveland, MS 38732
Telephone: 662.843.2306
stlukeumc@cableone.net