Dr. Jennaca Cotton is a Professor of Education and a Literacy Specialist. After graduating with her BA from Pepperdine University, she started her career in education as a first grade teacher in West Los Angeles. Dr. Cotton fell in love with the process of teaching reading, and returned to school to get a Masters in Reading Instruction and a Reading Specialist Credential from Loyola Marymount University. Dr. Cotton transitioned out of the classroom to become a Literacy Specialist for an elementary school and opened her private practice working with students and families to support their academic experiences, many of whom were neurodiverse. During this time, Dr. Cotton started teaching part-time at the university level, working with current and future teachers as a University Field Supervisor and professor. A lifelong learner, she returned to school to earn a doctorate in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California. She transitioned in 2021 to working full-time at Pepperdine University, where she now serves as the Co-Director of Field Experience and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Graduate Teacher Preparation Program. At Pepperdine, Dr. Cotton guides and mentors her students to prepare them for their future as educators. Dr. Cotton continues to consult with families, teachers, and schools to bring research into homes and classrooms in practical, hands-on, and supportive ways.

Dr. Cotton lives in Southern California with her husband and two young children. Motherhood has made her even more passionate about education, as she now knows firsthand how important but confusing the educational setting can be for parents and children.

Dr. Cotton is trained in Lindamood Bell, Wilson Reading System, and Orton-Gillingham. She utilizes a whole-child approach when planning her instruction with students, preparing different plans specific for each individual child’s needs. Dr. Cotton has expansive experience in assessing students’ reading proficiencies and working with parents and teachers to plan interventions based on results. She has led workshops on Dyslexia, the Foundations of Literacy, the Science of Reading, Motivation and Learning, Reading Assessments and Differentiation, Social & Emotional Learning, and many other topics in education. When preparing for Professional Development trainings, Dr. Cotton takes into consideration every school’s unique needs and goals, and tailors her instruction to best support each unique group of teachers.

Dr. Cotton’s research interests and passions include Social and Emotional Learning, Literacy Foundations and Best Practices, Supporting Neurodiverse Students, Trauma-Informed Care Practices, Teacher Education, Universal Design for Learning, Early Childhood Education and its Lifelong Impacts, and Practical Implementation of Educational Psychology Best Practices. Reach out to see how Dr. Cotton can best support you!