Faculty Directory
Shelley L. Esman, Ph.D.
She brings over 20 years of elementary teaching experience and an additional decade of teaching and instructional coaching in middle grades (5–8), specializing in literacy development and instructional support.
Esman holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master of Arts in Reading and a K–12 Literacy Endorsement. She earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in English with a focus on English Education, where her scholarly interests centered on the teaching of writing, children’s and adolescent literature and the integration of Holocaust education within English Language Arts classrooms.
Since 2014, she has taught a wide range of undergraduate courses, including Freshman Composition, Writing in the Elementary Classroom, Children’s Literature, Early Literacy, Emergent Literacy, School and Society, Early Childhood Literacies and Classroom Environment. Her teaching blends strong literacy foundations with meaningful classroom practices that are grounded in equity, empathy, and historical understanding.
Esman’s current research interests explore teacher resilience and Holocaust education, with a focus on preparing educators to deliver thoughtful, impactful instruction that supports both student development and teacher well-being.
