Kamshia Childs, Ed.D.

Assistant Professor

Kamshia Childs, Ed.D., is a first-generation college student turned teacher, then professor, from Wichita, Kansas. Her journey is full of valuable experiences honed by each transition in her career and life. After a brief stop at Wichita State University, Childs attended Kansas State University, where she earned her bachelor’s in elementary education in 2002, and her master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2004. She earned her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Texas Southern University in 2013.

As a literacy instructor for more than two decades, Childs has proven success in urban and rural settings in K-12 and higher education. She has published several literacy and multicultural education articles in peer-reviewed journals, authored and self-published a book, and presents at various state, national and international conferences on topics related to literacy, educator empowerment, parent involvement and culturally relevant pedagogy.

After achieving against all odds, Childs desires to give back to other students by sharing the knowledge she lacked. She is passionate about education and the college experience. Beyond education, she fosters a love for music and singing, traveling, reading, writing and working on various projects with her husband.

A Conversation with Dr. Childs

What would you tell a student who is thinking about attending A&M-Commerce?

Talk to people on campus. Talk to graduates in the field that you are interested in. If you want to be at a place that focuses on quality teaching, service to others and the community, and the opportunity to grow and lead in your field, A&M-Commerce could be the place for you!

What draws you to your discipline?

Teaching is challenging, and I vowed to never teach the same lesson the same way each time I teach. It has some structure, but every day is different. Education is a field that is foundational and makes an impact across many disciplines. I continue to teach because I want to support and help others and pour into future teachers in areas that I feel were lacking in my college experience as a first-generation college student. I never personally knew any educators in my community growing up. I want to be an example, a leader and an innovator. I want to be an inspiration and provide empowerment for others who are passionate about the future of education.

Tell us about a project you are currently working on or recently completed.

I recently completed writing a book chapter about the link between social media and traditional literacy skills and standards-based skills that educators teach in the class every day. Students use many of the skills that we are trying to teach them on social media or in their daily communications, but they are not seeing the connection. All of my work focuses on relevant and fresh teaching practices that incorporate popular culture or reimagine the literacy classroom setting. If you search Google for my publications, you will find out why I have been dubbed the Acronym Queen. From L.O.V.E Literacy, D.R.E.A.M. Literacy or creating Literacy R.I.C.H. environments, I have an acronym to get my point across!

Educational Background

• Ed.D., Curriculum and Instruction, Texas Southern University, 2013
• M.S., Curriculum and Instruction—Reading and Language Arts, Kansas State University, 2004
• B.S., Elementary Education with ESL concentration, Kansas State University, 2002

Honors and Awards

• Nominee, Faculty Senate Award for Professional Excellence in Professional Service, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2022
• Dr. Augustine “Chuck” Arize Junior Faculty Award, A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate and Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, 2021

Research Interests

• Reading engagement and motivation
• Culturally relevant pedagogy
• Digital literacies and social media literacy
• Parent engagement and empowerment

Professional Organizations

• Texas Association for Literacy Education
• International Literacy Association
• National Writing Project of Northeast Texas
• National Council for Teachers of English
• Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers
• Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education

Selected Publications

• Childs, K. & Loewenstein, M. (2022). Staying Connected: Rooting Literacy Courses in Current Topics and Relevant Teaching Practices. J. Aruajo (Ed.). Handbook of Research on Reconceptualizing Preservice Teacher Preparation in Literacy Education. (In Press). Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.

• Childs, K. (2021). Let's Blog About It: Capturing Preservice Teachers' Thoughts About Literacy Education. Texas Association of Literacy Education's Literacy Yearbook (Vol. 8)

• Childs, K. (2020). Write Away: Writing Across the Curriculum and Beyond. Texas Association of Literacy Education's Literacy Yearbook (Vol. 7).

• Childs, K. (2020). Sparking Engagement: Translating and Integrating Social-Media Into the Literacy Environment. L. Haas & J.T. Tussey (Eds.). Disciplinary Literacy Connections to Popular Culture in K-12 Settings. Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.

• Childs, K., Jennings, I. & Panozzo-Schagene, M. (2020). READ: Accepting and Interacting with the Diverse Needs of Texas Literacy Learners. Texas Association of Literacy Education's Literacy Yearbook (Vol. 7).