Bridging the Science of Reading and EdTech: How to Evaluate Digital Literacy Tools for K-5

Dr. Angelica DaSilva is a dedicated literacy educator and researcher with teaching experience at both the university and K-12 levels. Her work focuses on improving literacy outcomes for multilingual learners, integrating innovative technologies, and advancing equity in education. Among her notable contributions, she served on the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) committee, where she helped develop individualized education plans (IEPs) for emerging bi/multilingual learners. She also implemented and coordinated the Seal of Biliteracy, provided teacher training and professional development, and taught pre-service education courses at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).
Her research portfolio includes studies on multilingual student identity and translanguaging, as well as co-authorship of a meta-analysis of writing interventions for K-12 English learners. Additionally, as co-PI on a project conducted at MTSU addressing censorship in classroom libraries, she advocates for equitable access to diverse and inclusive reading materials. With her interdisciplinary expertise, commitment to research-driven practices, and experience developing tools to support multilingual learners, Angelica is uniquely positioned to contribute to the Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s mission of fostering literacy and learning through evidence-based, technology-driven approaches.

Dr. Diane Gifford is a literacy research specialist and former Clinical Associate Professor who currently serves as an adjunct professor in the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University (SMU). Since earning her Ph.D. in Educational Research with a focus on literacy in 2013, she has taught graduate-level courses in literacy and learning and actively engaged in literacy research at SMU. A former classroom teacher and school administrator in Dallas, Texas, Diane has contributed to a variety of projects, including the initial research and development of iStation Indicators of Progress and, more recently, The Enigma Project, an educational technology app designed to support adults with low literacy in learning to read. She currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, bringing her expertise in literacy research, curriculum design, and educational technology to efforts advancing equitable literacy learning for children and adults. Throughout her career, Diane has remained dedicated to Transforming Lives through Literacy.