Becca Gibson, Ph.D.

An education professional focused on children's literacy and using children's literature as a teaching model.

Joyful | Collaborative | Problem-Solver: When she first joined the McDaniel faculty in 2007, Becca Gibson was both a coordinator and instructor in the Innovations in Teaching and Learning master’s program. Now part of the Education department, Gibson teaches courses on cultivating reading skills, literacy development, and how to teach children writing using children’s literature as models. She holds a B.A. in French and an Elementary Education Teaching Certification from Albright College, an M.Ed. in Reading Education from Towson University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park.
What’s your background? Where were you before McDaniel and when did you start here?: I have been at McDaniel quite a while, but not always in the undergrad world. Before becoming part of the Education faculty six years ago, I was a program coordinator and lecturer in Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS), in the Innovations in Teaching and Learning master’s program (previously Curriculum and Instruction). Before coming to McDaniel, I was a reading specialist/literacy coach in Pennsylvania public schools for 10 years. My passion as an educator has been working with children to help open the world of literacy to them, supporting classroom teachers in that mission, and now developing the knowledge and skills in our pre-service teachers to do the same.
Why did you choose McDaniel as a place to work? What inspired you to become part of the Hill?: As a teacher in the public school system, it takes a real team effort to survive and thrive, and when I started here in GPS, that team mentality was so present. Teaching and learning are complicated endeavors, so being part of a supportive and collaborative team, which I’m lucky to be a part of in McDaniel’s Education department, makes the challenges so worth it.
What have you enjoyed most during your time at McDaniel?: I find so much joy in everyday interactions with my students and colleagues. I’m surrounded by the most inspiring, caring, and fun people! I still get to be connected to elementary school classrooms because all my students are out in the field every semester. Many of my most enjoyable times here are spent laughing at comments made by sweet and hilarious kindergarteners, celebrating with interns when they teach a great lesson, and problem-solving with them when the lesson doesn’t go so great.
What do you hope students take away from your courses?: I hope students come away from my courses with an understanding of both how complex and how important teaching reading and writing is to children and a sense of self-efficacy in literacy teaching. It’s not supposed to be easy, and students won’t know all the answers, but they will be able to teach effectively — and joyously!

Directory Profile for Becca Gibson

Becca Gibson, Ph.D.

About Prof. Gibson