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Jessica Kamuru, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor Phone 816-501-2960

Dr. Jessica Kamuru’s expertise is in special education with an emphasis in learning disabilities and mathematics. She is a 13- year veteran special education teacher, who taught students with disabilities in self-contained, itinerant and co-teaching settings in Kansas City, Mo. Her areas of teaching and research include supporting students with disabilities, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and creating equitable access to mathematics. She recently received her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou). Before leaving Mizzou, Dr. Kamuru was presented with the Graduate Student Diversity Award and was nominated for the Graduate Teacher of the Year Award. Dr. Kamuru has presented at several conferences for both special education and mathematics education. Her most recent presentations include presenting at the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) Conference in Spring 2021 and presenting more locally the at Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) Conference in Fall of 2021. In addition to presenting at conferences, Dr. Kamuru has also served as a consultant to a local school district to help teachers better understand how to teach English Learners.

When Dr. Kamuru is not teaching, presenting, or writing, she enjoys traveling, spending time in nature, jazz music, yoga, and reading books. She is very thankful for all the opportunities that Avila University has provided for her to use her talent and passion for education.

Math Methods for Elementary Teachers
Geometry for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Psychology of the Exceptional Child
Analysis and Characteristics of Mild-Moderate Disabilities
Multicultural Foundations of Education
Practicum
Parent Collaboration and Consultation
B.S.- Sociology and minor in Public Relations, 2002, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO
M.A.- Special Education - Mild/Moderate Disabilities, 2006, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Ph.D.- Special Education - Learning Disabilities with 2020 emphasis in mathematics - University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Missouri Teaching Certificate-- Mild-Moderate Disabilities K-12
Awards:
Awarded College of Education Graduate Student Diversity Award Spring 2020
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Nominated for Graduate Student Instructor of the Year Fall 2019
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Awarded Project PRISM fellowship funded by grant obtained Fall 2016 through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Program Director: Delinda van Garderen. University of Missouri- Columbia
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Publications:
Wang, P., Jackson, D., Freeman-Green, S., Kamuru, J. & Driver, M. (in press) Integrating culturally sustaining pedagogy and evidence-based practices to support students with learning disabilities in a social justice mathematics lesson. Teaching Exceptional Children.
Freeman-Green, S., Driver, M., Wang, P., Kamuru, J., & Jackson, D. (2021) Culturally Sustaining Practices in Content Area Instruction for CLD Students with Learning Disabilities. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice 0(0),1-14. DOI: 10.1111/ldrp.12240
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van Garderen, D., Lannin, J, & Kamuru, J. (2020). Intertwining special education and mathematics education perspectives to design an intervention to improve student understanding of symbolic numerical magnitude. Journal of Mathematical Behavior.
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Lannin, J.K., van Garderen, D., & Kamuru, J. (2020). Building a strong conception of the number line. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12, 113(1), 18-24.
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de Araujo, Z., Otten, S., Zhao, W., Kamuru, J., Han, J. (2020) Fostering collaboration with the flip. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12.
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