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UT Tyler Education Professor Earns International Service Award

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May 13, 2014

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

May 13, 2014

Dr. Kouider Mokhtari has received the 2014 John C. Manning Public School Service Award from the International Reading Association, Dr. Ross Sherman, The University of Texas at Tyler College of Education and Psychology dean, announced.

Mokhtari serves as the Anderson-Vukelja-Wright Endowed Professor of Education within the UT Tyler School of Education and chair of the Tyler Area Partnership for Literacy.

The IRA Manning Public School Service Award recognizes a professor of reading education who has demonstrated their commitment to public education and has spent significant time working with public school teachers and their students in classrooms demonstrating effective approaches and techniques shown to improve reading instruction. Eligibility is open to college- and university-based teacher educators with a record of effective preparation of reading teachers and graduate students. He was recognized at the IRA 59^th Annual Convention on May 11 in New Orleans.

“I’m honored to be recognized by students, public school leaders and literacy professionals for the work I have done to promote and support literacy at the university school and community levels,” Mokhtari said. “I am also honored to join a prestigious group of international literacy experts who have contributed in meaningful and significant ways to advancing literacy within schools and communities around the world.”

Mokhtari regularly works in public schools to help enhance instructional practices and improve students’ literacy achievement outcomes.

“His work and scholarship in literacy has brought considerable national and international recognition to the UT Tyler College of Education and Psychology. More importantly, however, is that his work is making a positive impact on teacher practices and students’ literacy achievement outcomes,” Sherman said.

For the past few years, Mokhtari has served as a member of IRA’s Conference Program Committee and co-chaired IRA’s Literacy & English Learners Committee. He has also served as co-editor of “Tapestry,” an international cross-disciplinary journal dedicated to the advancement of research and instruction for English learners.

Mokhtari holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics, cognitive psychology and curriculum and instruction with a specialization in reading from Ohio University.

His research focuses on the acquisition of language and literacy by first and second language learners, with particular emphasis on children, adolescents and adults who can read but have difficulties understanding what they read.

The mission of the International Reading Association is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide. Since 1956, IRA has been a nonprofit, global network of individuals and institutions committed to worldwide literacy.

More than 53,000 members strong, the association supports literacy professionals through a wide range of resources, advocacy efforts, volunteerism and professional development activities.

For more information about IRA, visit the association's website.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.