Bonnie Barksdale earned her Ph.D. in Reading Education from Texas Woman’s University under the supervision of Dr. Pat Watson. She also holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Texas Woman’s University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Elementary Literacy from Texas Christian University. 

Prior to joining the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University, Dr. Barksdale worked in public school systems in Texas and Illinois as an elementary classroom teacher, literacy interventionist, literacy specialist, and literacy coach. These professional experiences continue to inform her teaching, service, and research. 

At MTSU, Dr. Barksdale teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy education. Her research focuses on writing instruction in primary-grade classrooms, the role of diverse classroom libraries, and the adaptive instructional decisions educators make during literacy instruction. She regularly presents at local, state, and national conferences, and her scholarship has been published in The Reading Teacher, Young Children, Journal of Research in Childhood Education, and the Tennessee Literacy Journal. 

Her contributions to teaching, research, and service have been recognized with several honors, including the 2023 Literacy Association of Tennessee Distinguished Professor Award, the 2021–2022 Outstanding EXL Faculty Award, a nomination for the 2025 College of Education Excellence in Service Award, and the 2026 College of Education Ambassador Award. She has also been recognized six times as an “Instructor Who Makes a Difference” (May 2020, May 2021, May 2022, December 2022, May 2023, and May 2024). 

In addition to serving on departmental and college-level committees, contributing to curriculum development, and reviewing for professional journals and conferences, Dr. Barksdale continues to serve as chair (since 2024) of the Williamson County Literacy Association, a local chapter of the Literacy Association of Tennessee. This role reflects her ongoing commitment to literacy, advocacy, and community engagement. 

Beyond her university service, Dr. Barksdale volunteers with the PAWS-Ability program at Williamson County Animal Center, mentoring adults with intellectual disabilities through dog-handling instruction and community service opportunities. This work reflects her commitment to fostering inclusion, empowerment, and meaningful community engagement. 

Updated 6/12/2026

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Barksdale, B. A. (2025). Taking a chance on honors. In Ertel, P. K., & Ridgley, R. (Eds.). Educator reflections: The power of our stories (pp. 76-77). MT Open Press, Middle Tennessee State University. https://doi.org/10.56638/mtopb00325

Parsons, S. A., Ives, S. T., Fields, R. S., Barksdale, B. A., Maine, J., & Rogers, P. (2023). The writing engagement scale: A formative assessment tool. The Reading Teacher, 77(3), pp 278-289.https://doi-org.ezproxy.mtsu.edu/10.1002/trtr.2244

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A., & Fields, R. S. (2022). Self-directed kindergarten writers. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 9(2), 12-29.

Barksdale, B. A., Schrodt, K., Fields, R. S., & Grow, J. (2021). We read as one: Strategies for Empowering a Community of Intergenerational Readers. The Dragon Lode, 40 (1), 8-15.

Schrodt, K., FitzPatrick, E., Barksdale, B.A., Nunnery, B., & Hasty, M. (2021). Teaching writing with mentor texts. Young Children, 76(3), pp. 44-53.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B.A., Fields, R. Stacy, Matthews, E. (2020). The ping pong project: Creating a kindness movement through author studies. Tennessee Literacy Journal, 1(2), 57-61. Retrieved from https://lat.wildapricot.org/Journal

Barksdale, B. A. (Spring/Summer 2019). Forward march: Tips for keeping the dissertation process moving toward the finish line. Literacy Research Association DSICG Newsletter. Page 11-12. Retrieved from https://lradsicg.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/3/9/25398474/spr.sum_2019_newsletter_final.pdf

Texas Woman’s University. (2016). Scaling up what works: The five year impact of the i3 grant. Denton, TX: Texas Woman’s University Reading Recovery University Training Center: Anderson, N., Briggs, C., Elias, A. T., Kaye, E., Simpson, A., Bynum, L., Barksdale, B. A., Kanwar, K., & Robertson-Powell, I.

Griffith, R., Bauml, M., & Barksdale, B.A. (2015). How context and teacher knowledge influence in-the-moment teaching decisions in reading. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 29(4), 444-457.

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National

Barksdale, B. A., McClain, J., Schrodt, K., & Fields, R. S. (December 2, 2022). Examining the Affordances of Assignments Intended to Cultivate Critically Among Preservice Literacy Teachers. Literacy Research Association, Arizona Grande Resort & Spa, Phoenix, AZ, United States of America. Alternative session.

Barksdale, B. A., Schrodt, K., Fields, R. S., McClain, J., & Evert, K. (December, 2021). Culturally responsive book club experiences for preservice teachers. Literacy Research Association, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, GA, United States of America. Paper session.

Morgan, D. N., Bates, C. C., Barksdale, B. A., Hight, C., Kerbs, M., & Griffith, R. R. (2019, November). Responsive teaching during literacy instruction. Paper presented as part of a symposium presentation at the meeting of Literacy Research Association (LRA), Tampa, FL.

Barksdale, B. A. (2019, October). Literacy specialists: Understanding adaptive teaching in intervention settings. Poster session presented at the meeting of the International Literacy Association (ILA), New Orleans, LA.

Barksdale, B. A. (2018, December). Literacy specialists: Understanding adaptive teaching in elementary intervention settings. Paper presented at the meeting of Literacy Research Association (LRA), Indian Wells, CA.  

State

Carter, J. L., Schrodt, Barksdale, B. A., & Maxwell, M. (December 7, 2021). Failing TO learn, learning TO fail: Becoming brave teachers. Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT), Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro, TN, United States of America.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A., & Fields, R.S. (December 6, 2021). We read as one: Strategies for empowering a community of intergenerational readers. Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT), Embassy Suites Conference Center, Murfreesboro, TN, United States of America.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A., Fields, S. (2020, December). Choosing and using diverse children's picture books. Literacy Association of Tennessee (LAT), Zoom platform.

Schrodt, K., Barksdale, B. A. (2020, October). Self directed writers. Mid-South Educational Research Association (MSERA), Zoom platform. 

Barksdale, B. A., & Gruenwald, J. (2018, October). Reading and writing connections for struggling readers. Presented at the 2018 annual conference of the Illinois Reading Council (IRC), Peoria, Illinois

Selected Local Presentations

Barksdale, B. A. (2019, October). The power of writing with striving readers. 2019 Fall Writing Conference of Middle Tennessee Writing Project (MTWP), Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Barksdale, B. A. (2016, November). Constructing meaning during reading: Strategic processing for young readers. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Hurst, Texas

Kerbs, M., & Barksdale, B. A. (2016, November). Struggling readers: Reading and writing connections. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Hurst, Texas.

Barksdale, B. A. (2016, February). Struggling readers: First steps. Presented at the annual forum of Texas Woman’s University Rose F. Spicola Forum in Reading, Denton, Texas

Kerbs, M., & Barksdale, B. A. (2015, November). The power of writing with struggling readers. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Dallas, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2014, November). Primary students can monitor comprehension too! (In-service teacher focus) Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Dallas, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2014, September). Primary students can monitor comprehension too! (Pre-service teacher focus) Presented at the annual conference of Texas Association for Institutional Research, Denton, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2014, March). Primary students can monitor comprehension too! (Pre-service teacher focus) Presented at the annual forum of Texas Woman’s University Rose F. Spicola Forum in Reading, Denton, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (2013, November). Analyzing running records for effective instructional decisions. Presented at the annual conference of Texas Woman’s University Billie J. Askew Reading Recovery and K-6 Literacy Institute, Dallas, Texas  

District Level Professional Development

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2018, December). Word study strategies: Deep dive. Presented at Kildeer Countryside Elementary Professional Development Session, Kildeer, Illinois.

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2018, November). Word study strategies. Presented at Kildeer Countryside Elementary Professional Development Session, Kildeer, Illinois.

Barksdale, B. A., & Gruenwald, J. (invited, 2018, October). Reciprocity: Strategies for working with struggling readers. Presented at Kildeer Countryside Elementary Professional Development Session, Kildeer, Illinois.

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2018, July). Who’s doing the work? Online book study. Conducted online for Kildeer Countryside School District Professional Development Summer Program.

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2017, July). Who’s doing the work? Online book study. Conducted online for Kildeer Countryside School District Professional Development Summer Program.

Peacock, J., & Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2016, January). Your secret weapon: Wait time. Presented at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District Professional Development Day, Saginaw, Texas

Sarchet, N., Fletcher, M., Barksdale, B. A., & Peacock, J. (invited, 2015, October). Backwards design planning. Presented at Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District Professional Development Day, Saginaw, Texas

Barksdale, B. A. (invited, 2015, August). Guided reading and beyond. Presented at Coppell Independent School district Summer Reading Institute, Coppell, Texas

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