Get to Know
Dr. Lella
Dr. Rachel Lella shifted her career path to education in 2004 and has served in the capacities of pre-k through fourth grade teacher, K-12 ESL supervisor, elementary curriculum and instruction supervisor, and director of curriculum and instruction.
She holds masters degrees in elementary education, educational leadership, and language education, and a doctorate in teacher leadership with a literacy focus. She is currently a lecturer at Rutgers University and New Jersey City University as well as a clinical supervisor and literacy consultant. Dr. Lella belongs to a number of professional education organizations and has presented at their local, state, national, and international conferences.
Dr. Lella is currently serving her second term as the president of the New Jersey Literacy Association (NJLA) and sits on the International Literacy Association's Administrator Task Force and the Board of Directors for the Rutgers University Center for Literacy Development.
She is co-author of Literacy Changemakers: Bringing the Joy of Reading and Writing into Focus for Teachers and Students. She lives at the Jersey Shore, where she enjoys being a youth sports coach and mom to two daughters: nine going on fourteen and eleven going on sixteen.
Certifications & Education
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New Jersey Principal Standard Certificate, 2023
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Sheltered Instruction Trainer, NJDOE, 2017
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New Jersey Standard Certificate: Supervisor, 2016
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New Jersey Standard Certificate: Elementary School Teacher in Grades K-5, 2009
Ed.D. Teacher Leadership, 2016
Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education, New Brunswick, New Jersey Dissertation Title: “Response to Intervention under the Common Core: Using Think-Alouds to Explore Struggling Readers’ Comprehension of Narrative and Informational Text”
Ed.M. Language Education, 2020
Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education, New Brunswick, New Jersey
M.A. Educational Administration, 2019
Kean University, Union, New Jersey
M.A. Elementary Education, 2006
Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey
B.A. American Studies & Communication, 2003
Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Professional Development Topics
Literacy
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Small Group Reading Instruction
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Working with Struggling Readers
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Assessment Strategies
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Understanding Foundational Literacy
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Literacy Leadership: Supporting Teachers and Students
English as a Second Language/Multilingual Learners
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Sheltered Instruction Certification (NJDOE Certified Trainer)
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Instructional Best Practices for Multilingual Learners
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Collaborative Progress Monitoring for Multilingual Learners
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English as a Second Language Program Advocacy
Instructional Leadership & Curriculum
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Designing Effective Program Evaluations
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Creating Sustainable Curricula
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Curriculum Development
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Combining Program Resources and Teacher Autonomy
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Collaborative Leadership
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Student-Centered Learning
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Building a Culture of Support for Teachers and Students
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Conference Presentations
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Lella, R. (May 2023). Utilizing Think-Alouds to Promote Comprehension Growth for ALL Learners. Core session at the International Literacy Association Advancing
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Through Literacy Event, Dover, DE
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Lella, R., & Kunz, K. (July 2022). A Penny for Your Thoughts: Utilizing Think-Alouds to Promote Comprehension Growth for ALL Learners. Session presented at the
22nd European Conference on Literacy, Dublin, Ireland.
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Kunz, K., & Lella, R. (November 2020). Talking About, Within, and Beyond Books
with Joy! Session presented virtually at the New Jersey Education Association
Annual Conference.
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Kunz, K., Lella, R., & Carter, C. (October 2020). Talking About, Within, and Beyond Books: Strategies for Joy, Engagement, and Cultural and Linguistic Awareness.
Session accepted to be presented at the International Literacy Association
Annual Conference, Columbus, OH, prior to conference cancellation due to
COVID-19.
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Lella, R. (October 2020). A Penny for Your Thoughts: Utilizing Think-Alouds to
Promote Comprehension Growth for ALL Learners. Session accepted to be
presented at the International Literacy Association Annual Conference,
Columbus, OH, prior to conference cancellation due to COVID-19.
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Lella, R. (October 2019). Creating Professional Collaboration: Tools for
Bilingual/ESL Advocates. Session presented at the WIDA Annual Conference,
Providence, RI.
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Kunz, K., Hall, M., & Lella, R. (October 2019). Literacy Changemakers: How to
Bring the Joy of Reading and Writing Back into Focus for Teachers and
Students. Session presented at the International Literacy Association Annual
Conference, New Orleans, LA.
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Lella, R. (October 2019). A Penny for Your Thoughts: Utilizing Think-Alouds to
Promote Comprehension Growth for ALL Learners. Session presented at the
International Literacy Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
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Lella, R. (October 2019). Stand Out in Your Field as a Teacher, School, or District
Early Literacy Leader. Roundtable session presented at the International
Literacy Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
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Lella, R. (May 2019). Advocacy 101: How Teachers Can Build Compliance. Session
presented at the New Jersey Teachers of English as a Second Language Annual
Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.
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Lella, R. (May 2019). Creating Professional Collaboration: Tools for Bilingual/ESL
Advocates. Session presented at the New Jersey Teachers of English as a
Second Language Annual Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.
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Lella, R. (January 2019). A Penny for Your Thoughts: Utilizing Think-Alouds to
Promote Comprehension Growth for ALL Learners. Session presented at Unlock
Learning, Middlesex, NJ.
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Lella, R. (July 2018). Empowering Readers Through Response to Intervention:
Using Think-Alouds to Explore Struggling Readers’ Comprehension of Narrative
and Informational Text. Research poster session presented at the International
Literacy Association Annual Conference, Austin, TX.
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Lella, R. (July 2018). Intentionally Planned Best Practices That Motivate Early
Literacy Development: Promoting Comprehension Growth and Independence
through Think-Alouds. Research roundtable presented at the International
Literacy Association Annual Conference, Austin, TX.
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Lella, R. (May 2018). Advocacy 101: How Teachers Can Build Compliance. Session
presented at the New Jersey Teachers of English as a Second Language Annual
Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.
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Lella, R. (May 2018). Creating Professional Collaboration: Tools for Bilingual/ESL
Advocates, Session presented at the New Jersey Teachers of English as a
Second Language Annual Conference, New Brunswick, NJ.
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Lella, R. (July 2017). Literacy and Equity for PreK-3rd Grade Learners: Research
Supported, Standards-Based Practice: Response to Intervention under the
Common Core: Using Think-Alouds to Explore Struggling Readers’
Comprehension of Narrative and Informational Text. Research roundtable
presented at the International Literacy Association Annual Conference, Orlando,
FL.
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Lella, R. (October 2016). Response to Intervention under the Common Core: Using
Think-Alouds to Explore Struggling Readers’ Comprehension of Narrative and
Informational Text. Poster session presented at the Rutgers University
Conference on Reading and Writing, New Brunswick, NJ.
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Kunz, K., & Lella, R., (October 2016). Sharing Our Favorite K-8 Literacy Strategies.
Session presented at the West Jersey Reading Council Annual Conference,
Pennsauken, NJ.
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Lella, R. (October 2015). Response to Intervention under the Common Core: Using
Think-Alouds to Explore Struggling Readers’ Comprehension of Narrative and
Informational Text. Research poster session presented at the Rutgers University
Conference on Reading and Writing, New Brunswick, New Jersey.