Fay Mentzer

• Ph.D. — Curriculum and Instruction, Literacy and Language Education, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (Expected 2024)
• M.A. — Elementary Education, Literacy Education, University of Montana, Missoula, MT (2005)
• B.S. — Elementary Education: Early Childhood Education minor, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA (1996)

Licenses

• Indiana Elementary/Early Childhood Teaching license (2018-2020; currently renewing)
• North Carolina Elementary Teaching license (1998-2003)
• Montana Elementary Teaching license (2003-2008; 2018-2023; currently renewing)
• Pennsylvania Elementary/Early Childhood Teaching license (1997-2003)

• 2021-2024
  Graduate Teaching Assistant
  Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• 2014-2015, 2019-2020
  Assistant Teacher
  Montessori of Greater Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN
• 2012-2019
  Substitute Teacher
  Montessori of Greater Lafayette, West Lafayette, IN
• 2004-2005
  K-8 Gifted Specialist
  Darby School District, Darby, MT
• 2001-2002
  Literacy Specialist K-2
  Green Magnet Elementary, Year-Round, Raleigh, NC
• 1998-2001
  Classroom Teacher
  Hunter Magnet Elementary, Gifted & Talented, Raleigh, NC

• American Education Research Association (AERA) — Active since 2021
• Literacy Research Association (LRA) — Active since 2018
• International Literacy Association (ILA) — Active since 2022
• Indiana State Literacy Association (ISLA) — Active since 2023
• National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE) — Active since 2022
• Teachers of English to Speaker of Other Languages (TESOL) — 2019-2020

• Lee, W., & Mentzer, F. (2021). Identifying authenticity in children’s multicultural books. Multicultural Perspectives, 23(1), 56-59.
• Mentzer, F. (2019). Second Reaction: Sit with me: Exploring ecological empathy through Evan Turk’s Heartbeat. First Opinions, Second Reactions, 12(2), 4.
• Mentzer, F. & Martini, C. (2019). First Opinion: The illustration is mightier than the harpoon: The power of imaginary in emotion. First Opinions, Second Reactions, 12(2), 3.
• Mentzer, N., Mentzer, F. & Jones, K. (2008). Join the Mission, Design a patch. Technology and Children, 12(4). 4.

Manuscripts in Preparation

• Lee, W., & Mentzer, F. (Under Review- Journal of Literacy Research). Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction in Teacher Preparation. Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction in Teacher Preparation
• Mentzer, F., Bentley, H. (Manuscript in preparation) How does she take a bath with no water? Facilitating discussions on water equity with kindergarten through children’s literature. Pending submission to The Reading Teacher.
• Bentley, H., Mentzer, F., & Ramirez-Casalvolone, N. (Manuscript in preparation). “It moves like this”: Emergent Bilingual kindergarteners’ use of modalities during interactive read alouds. Pending submission to TESOL Journal.

Invited Presentations

• Bentley, H., & Mentzer, F. (2022, March). Critical Literacy in the Elementary Preservice Teacher Classroom. Presented at Research Seminar, West Lafayette, IN
• Mentzer, F., Bentley, H., Xue, M. (2021, January). Research Discussion on DIVERSITY and LIFT Grants. Guest presenter at EDCI638 Doctoral Seminar, West Lafayette, IN
• Mentzer, F., Lee, W., Xue, M, & Bentley, H. (2021, February). Critical Literacy Small Group Discussions. Guest presenter at EDCI 363 Literacy in the Elementary School II, West Lafayette, IN

Conference Presentations

• Mentzer, F., Bentley, H., & Wessel Powell, C. (2023). How Does Equity Work Here? Preservice Teachers Explore Critical Literacy. Presentation at the American Education Research Association (AERA) Division K, Chicago, IL
• Bentley, H., Mentzer, F., & Wessel-Powell, C. (2022). The Action Part is Really Important”: Learning to ‘Do’ Critical Literacy and Antiracism in K-5 Classrooms Through Interactive Read Alouds. Presentation at the National Conference for Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA
• Xue, M, Mentzer, F., Bentley, H., & Lee, W. (2021). Developing Pre-Service Teachers’ Cultural Sensitivity and Responsiveness Through Picture Books. Presented at the American Education Research Association (AERA) Division K Preconference Graduate Poster Session
• Mentzer, F., Lee, W., Bentley, H., Xue, M. (2021). DIVERSITY, Where Do We Go from Here? Presented to D’Jango Paris at American Education Research Association (AERA) Mentor/Mentee Preconference
• Bentley, H., Xue, M., Lee., Mentzer, F. (2021). Promoting DIVERSITY through Multicultural Picture Books. Presented at The Annual Graduate Student Education Research Symposium (AGSERS), West Lafayette, IN
• Mentzer, F., Xue, M., Lee, W., Bentley, H. (2021). Creating Opportunities to Understand Diversity through Children’s Picture Books. Presented at Graduate Student Research Day, University of California, Berkely
• Lee, W., Mentzer, F., Xue, M., & Bentley, H. (2021) Reading Diversity Through Picture Books: Preservice Teachers Explore Authenticity of Multicultural Picture Books. Presented at Literacy Research Association (LRA), Atlanta, GA
• Lee, W., & Mentzer, F. (2021). Preservice literacy teachers practicing cultural responsiveness: A review of the literature. Presented at Literacy Research Association (LRA), Atlanta, GA