Courses Taught
- EDU 2510: Foundations of Education & the Teaching Profession
- EDU 3450: Foundations of Reading Instruction
- EDU 4100: Diagnosis & Correction of Reading Problems
- EDU 4945: Teaching Internship
Research Interests
- Early Literacy Interventions
- School Choice
Professional Experience
University/College Level - Professor of Education at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (2001-present); Assistant/Associate Professor of Education at the University of Scranton (1995-2001); Assistant Professor of Education at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (1990-1995).
High School Level - Chapter 1 Reading Teacher at Appalachia High School (1982-1986).
Elementary & Middle School Level – Teacher at The Miller School of Albemarle, Charlottesville, VA, (1988-1990).
Chair-Department of Education, UVA Wise (2001-2017)
Director of the Teacher Education Program, UVA Wise (2002-2005)
Selected Recent Presentations
UVA-Wise Mentoring Workshop. Created on-line module, “Accreditation and UVA-Wise Conceptual Framework,” June 2020.
Presented “Literacy Interventions in the U. S.” University of Seville, Seville, Spain. May 2018.
Presented “The UVa-Wise Conceptual Framework for Teacher Education: Preparing Teachers to Be Transformative Leaders—TEAC Claims & Program Evidence.” Day 1 workshop of “Partnerships for Teacher Excellence: UVA-Wise Clinical Faculty and Mentor Teacher Training Program,” Wise, VA, May 2016.
Selected Publications
Cantrell, R. J. (2015). Providing Professional Development for Title I Teachers through an Early Literacy Intervention in the Primary Grades. Reading in Virginia, 36, 23-34.
Cantrell, R. J., & Askins, J. (2011). Preparing teachers at the University of Virginia’s College at
Wise. Revista Fuentes, 11, 29-40.
Cantrell, R. J. (2010). The dilemma of literacy accountability from a developmental perspective.
Southeastern Teacher Education Journal, 3, 11-17.
Cantrell, R. J. (2001). Exploring the relationship between dialect and spelling for
specific vocalic features in Appalachian first-grade children. Linguistics & Education:
An International Research Journal, 12, 1-23. Oxford, England: Elsevier Science Ltd.
Cantrell, R. J., Fusaro, J. A., & Dougherty, E. (2000). Exploring the effectiveness of
journal writing on learning social studies: A comparative study. Reading Psychology: An International Quarterly, 21, 1-11.
Hanlon, M. M., & Cantrell, R. J. (1999). Teaching a learning disabled adult to spell: Is it ever too
late? Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 43, 4-11.
Cantrell, R. J. (1997). K-W-L learning journals: A way to encourage reflection.
Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 40 (5), 392-393.
Richardson, J., & Cantrell, R. J. (1996). A read-aloud for English classrooms. Journal of Adolescent
& Adult Literacy, 39 (8), 680-683.
Cantrell, R. J. (1994). Enhancing the spelling/meaning connection through crossword
puzzles. Journal of Reading, 38 (4), 310-311.