Assistant Professor
Early, Elementary, and Reading Education

Dr. Donica Ouckama Hadley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early, Elementary and Reading Education at JMU.  She has served over 24 years in education as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, supervisor, and instructor in higher education. Dr. Hadley’s teaching and scholarship primarily focus on P-16 culturally relevant and responsive teaching and leadership with an emphasis on cultivating relationship building. Donica has a passion for working with and empowering pre-service P-12 teachers and administrators.

Academic Degrees:

• Ph.D., Educational Leadership, Old Dominion University
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• B.S., Elementary Education, State University of New York at Oswego

Research and Teaching Interests:

• Culturally Relevant & Responsive Teaching & Leadership
• Cultivating Relationship Building
• Preservice Teacher Education
• Children’s Literature

Professional Involvement:

• American Education Research Association
• Virginia Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education

Courses Taught at JMU:

• TCLD 640: Management & Problem Solving in Schools
• TCLD 650: Leadership and Communication Skills in Schools
• TCLD 660: Collaborating, Teaming & Leading in Schools
• TCLD 670: Leading Curriculum Implementation& Revision
• ELED 272: Introduction to Early Childhood and Elementary Education
• ELED 311/321: Practicum with a Focus on Learners and Learning
• ELED 411: Practicum Supervisor
• ELED 510: Creativity and the Arts in Elementary Education
• ELED 570: Learning and Teaching in the Elementary Education Curriculum
• ELED 621: Practicum Supervisor
• ECED 372: Introduction to Early Childhood Education
• ECED 412/512: Natural and Social Sciences in PK-3
• ECED 508: Observation and Study of the Young Child