Who Am I?

I am an AssociateProfessor in the Education Department at Saint Vincent College where I teach courses in both the undergraduate and graduate programs and advise Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor Society. Prior to entering my career in higher education, I taught secondary English and journalism for several years and served as a reading specialist in a high school setting. Following my teaching career, I began a career in school administration where I held the position of junior and senior high assistant principal, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Director of Secondary Education and Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education, all in public school systems. I hold a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction; a Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility and Secondary Principal Certification; a Master of Reading and Reading Specialist Certification; and a certification in secondary English education.

My Research Interests

Media Literacy

• What are teachers’ knowledge and beliefs about media literacy education?
• How do teachers conceptualize media literacy education?
• What are the challenges teachers face in teaching media literacy education?
• What knowledge do pre-service teachers have about media literacy education?
• Does instruction in media literacy education impact pre-service teachers knowledge and efficacy about media literacy education in their future classrooms?

The Influence of Technology on Literacy

• How do electronic books (eBooks) impact the literacy skills and motivation of children?
• How can teachers select appropriate multimedia electronic books for the classroom?
• Can technology influence vocabulary acquisition?

Pre-service Teacher Efficacy and Growth 

• How do embedded field experiences impact pre-service teacher knowledge and growth?
• What are student teacher views on using digital storytelling to reflect upon teaching and learning?
• How does the use of blogging impact pre-service teachers growth and efficacy?

My Professional Work

Publications

McNelly, T. A., & Harvey, J. (2021). Media Literacy Instruction in Today’s Classrooms: A Study of Teachers’ Knowledge, Confidence, and Integration. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 13(1).

McNelly, T. A. (2019). Teacher candidate perceptions of an integrated field experience within a sixth-grade English language arts classroom. PA Teacher Educator, 18, 1-13.

McNelly, T. A. (2018). Student teachers’ views on using digital storytelling. Academic Education Quarterly, 22(3), 17-23.

McNelly, T. A. (2018). Selecting ‘just right’ electronic books for the early childhood classroom. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 54(1), 23-29.
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McNelly, T. A. (2016). Using a student self-assessment template to gauge student learning, College Teaching Journal.

Conrad Barnyak, N., & McNelly, T. (2016). The literacy skills and motivation to read of children enrolled in Title I: A comparison of electronic and print nonfiction books. Early Childhood Education Journal. 45(5), 527-536.

McNelly, T. A., & DeMore, C. (Spring, 2015). Using a professional learning community framework for sustained professional development. Pennsylvania Education Leadership, 34(2).

Conrad Barnyak, N., & McNelly, T. A. (2015). Supporting young children’s visual literacy through the use of e-books. In Heider, L. L & Jalongo, M. R. (Eds.), Young children and families in the information age: Applications of technology in early childhood (pp. 15-41). Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer Science + Business Media.

McNelly, T. (2014). Creating a culture of STEM-mindedness in the Norwin School District. Math and Science Collaborative Journal, 20, 40-41.
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Conrad Barnyak, N. & McNelly, T. A. (2009). An urban school district’s parent involvement: A study of teachers’ and administrators’ beliefs and practices. The School Community Journal, 19(1), 33-58.

McNelly, T. (2005). Every teacher is a teacher of reading: Training content area teachers to teach reading. The Pennsylvania Administrator, 8(1), 19-21.

McNelly, T. (2002). Teacher Evaluation: Using Teacher Portfolios to Document Professional Growth and Evaluate Performance.  Principal Leadership, 3(4), 55-59.