A Practical Guide to Action Research for Literacy Educators

About the Authors
Glenda Nugent has been recognized locally, statewide, and nationally for her innovative classroom teaching
methods and dedication to literacy education. She has 18 years of classroom teaching experience plus 10 years as an
administrator of literacy and early childhood programs. Her experience includes serving as the Arkansas
Department of Education’s Program Manager for Reading and also as the Reading First Professional Development
Coordinator. During her tenure, the state was a leader in standards-based literacy reform. As Director of
Elementary Literacy and Early Childhood for the Little Rock, Arkansas School District, she led district-wide
literacy reforms that resulted in significant gains on state achievement tests by focusing on early literacy,
differentiation, and intervention. Nugent has served as President of the Arkansas Reading Association and as chair
of the International Reading Association’s International Coordinating Committee for North America. She is
currently the president of IRA’s LEADER Special Interest Group and also serves on the Missouri State Council-IRA
Board. She has been an IRA literacy volunteer in Pakistan.
Sakil, Mohammad Yousuf Malik serves as Director of the Global Operations Unit for the International Reading
Association. He assumed that role in June 2008 after spending 5 years as Senior Program Officer. In his current
position, he manages literacy activities in 8 regions encompassing 93 countries. He has secured grants totaling
millions of dollars from leading government entities and Fortune 500 companies—USAID, Nokia Corporation,
and Pearson Corporation, to name a few—to support a wide range of literacy projects. Many of these projects
focus on increasing the self-sufficiency and standard of living of indigenous people through improving their
literacy skills. To that end, he has led more than 150 international consultants and staff in implementing
professional development for thousands of teachers across the world. He holds dual master’s degrees in educational
leadership and policy and economics, as well as a bachelor’s degree in commerce and an international diploma in
peace and conflict studies. He is also a Certified International Project Manager and a Certified Manager of Major
Programs.
Sandra Hollingsworth is Senior Associate for Literacy Instruction, Creative Associates, International,
Washington, DC. A recent professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and San José State University,
Hollingsworth is a published historian and former K-12 classroom teacher. She currently studies and promotes
literacy instruction in developing countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Haiti, as well as many
African countries. With ministries of education, NGOs, and local educators, Hollingsworth has collaboratively
developed literacy programs in local and national languages suitable for teachers with minimal preparation in
literacy. The programs enable students of all ages to learn to read in a few months. Action Research is one of the key
elements of the program to provide feedback to teachers in order to modify their instruction. Hollingsworth’s
academic work has resulted in over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals and by major book companies. Her
book Personal, Community and School Literacies: Challenging a Single Standard, published by Teachers College
Press, speaks to the complexities of maintaining home languages while transitioning to national languages.
71