Dr. Frances Gonzalez-Garcia

Dr. Frances L. Gonzalez-Garcia holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in literacy. Her passion for literacy equity advocacy stems from two decades of supporting learners from diverse and marginalized populations across K-12 Title and non-Title settings.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant supporting districts, state agencies, and universities nationwide, she served as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, district coordinator, state-selected trainer, and university instructor teaching undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses.

Her scholarly interests focus on early literacy, metacognitive strategies in evidence-based literacy instruction, technology-mediated literacy instruction, game-based instructional learning, literacy labs, and literacy motivation.

Collaborating with authors, teachers, and literacy leaders nationwide, she provides educators and librarians with innovative tools to cultivate inclusive, transformative environments. A national presenter and speaker, her foundational contributions as a literacy leader were recognized by the International Literacy Association's Legends in Literacy Award and H-E-B’s Excellence in Education in Elementary Leadership Award.

Ph.D., Curriculum and Instruction

M.S., Reading 

M.S., Educational Technology  

B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies

• Assistant Professor, University of the Incarnate Word 2026-present
• Lead Literacy Technical Support Implementer, TPI-US, 2026-present
• Clinical Supervisor, University of the Incarnate Word, 2026
• Lecturer, University of the Incarnate Word, 2025-2026
• Adjunct faculty, University of North Texas, 2021-2023
• Lecturer, Our Lady of the Lake University, 2020-2021
• Lecturer, University of Texas-San Antonio, 2019-2020
• Executive Director & Consultant, Trinity Elite Education & Co., 2017-present
• K-5 ELAR and K-12 Dyslexia District Coordinator, Boerne ISD, 2015-2017
• ADCaP Adjunct faculty, University of the Incarnate Word, 2014-2015
• Reading Specialist, Northside ISD, 2012-2015
• Adjunct faculty, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2010-2011
• Reading Clinic Assistant Supervisor, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2010-2011
• Master Reading Teacher, Corpus Christi ISD, 2005-2009
• Elementary Educator K-5, Corpus Christi ISD, 2001-2012
• Class-Size Reading Reduction Teacher, Corpus Christi ISD, 2000-2001

Recent Publications

Grote-Garcia, S., Ortlieb, E., & Panozza, M. (2025). What’s hot in literacy: Foundational and future-oriented practices. Literacy Research and Instruction. (Expert panel contribution by Frances L. Gonzalez-Garcia, Ph.D.)

Grote-Garcia, S., Ortlieb, E., & Cardona, S. (2024). What’s hot in literacy: Misguided trends in a divided field. Literacy Research and Instruction. (Expert panel contribution by Frances L. Gonzalez-Garcia, Ph.D.).

Gonzalez-Garcia, F. (2023). Game on: Leveling up literacy through play and game-based learning. Literacy Today. (Invited contribution).

 Recent Presentations

Gonzalez-Garcia, F. (2026, February). Power up read-aloud practices to boost comprehension, vocabulary, and background knowledge [Invited Moderator]. International Literacy Association.

Gonzalez-Garcia, F., & Garcia, A. (2025, June). From gears to galleries: Transforming STEM and cultivating STEAM with layered texts. [Session]. ME by the Sea Conference, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX.

Gonzalez-Garcia, F. (2024, March). Innovation in the stacks: Building, belonging, & becoming [Invited Featured Speaker]. Nevada State Board of Education: Nevada Reading Week Librarian Conference, Carson City, NV.

Gonzalez-Garcia, F., & Garcia, A. (2024, March). Layering conversations and comprehension with book stacks and digital tools (AI). [Table Session]. Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) Annual Conference, Waco, TX

Gonzalez-Garcia, F. (2023, May). Igniting literacy experiences for readers [Invited Session Presenter]. Nevada State Board of Education: Literacy Lifeline Cohort and Read by Grade 3 (RBG3) State Initiative, Carson City, NV.

Gonzalez-Garcia, F. (2022, November). Fostering literate identities for struggling readers [Invited Webinar Speaker]. International Literacy Association: Bridging Research and Practices Webinar Series.

External Grants

C.E.D.E.R. Research Grant, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

H.E.B. Excellence in Education Grant

Corpus Christi Education Foundation World Class School Grant

Leadership Roles

Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE)

• Board Member
• Website Committee Co-Chair
• Webmaster
• Communications Committee, Member

International Reading Association-Corpus Christi Council (Local Chapter)

• President
• President-Elect
• Historian
• Community Service Committee Chair

Active Memberships

• American Educational Research Association (SIG: Research in Reading and Literacy; Teaching and Teacher Education)
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• American Library Association
• International Literacy Association
• International Society for Technology in Education
• Literacy Research Association
• National Council of Teachers of English
• TCEA: Advancing Teaching and Technology Through Learning
• Texas Association for Literacy Education
• Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts
• Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association
• Texas Library Association

• Nominated for the International Literacy Association (ILA) Board of Directors by ILA Staff, 2025, ILA
• Member Spotlight, 2023, Texas Association of Literacy Education
• UNT North Texan Favorite Professor, 2021, University of North Texas
• Nominated for the International Literacy Association (ILA) Board of Directors by ILA Staff, 2021, ILA
• Member Spotlight featured in Literacy Today, 2020, International Literacy Association
• Selected Speaker for Podcast, 2017, Education on the Teaching Experience
• Selected Leader for Literacy Leadership Chicago Summit, 2016, Scholastic
• National Recipient of Legends in Literacy Award, 2015, International Literacy Association
• Outstanding Islander Award, 2014, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
• State Recipient of Excellence in Education in Elementary Leadership, 2012, H-E-B
• Region IV Best of the Best Presentation Award, 2011, TexTESOL
• Teacher of the Year (campus recipient and district semifinalist), 2009, Corpus Christi ISD
• Teacher of the Year (campus recipient), 2003, Corpus Christi ISD

Service to the Profession

Service on Professional Task Forces and Committees

• International Literacy Association Literacy Administrator Collaborative
• Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy Editorship Search Committee
• Texas State University Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Regional Committee

Ad Hoc Reviewer for Peer-Reviewed Journals

• Current Issues in Education
• Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education
• Texas Journal of Literacy Education
• The Reading Teacher

Ad Hoc Reviewer for Peer-Reviewed Yearbooks

• Texas Association for Literacy Education

Reviewer for Professional Books

• Advances in Early Education and Day Care, Discussions on Sensitive Issues in Early Education

Conference Reviewer Services

• American Evaluation Association
• American Education Research Association
• International Literacy Association Conference/Review Captain
• International Society for Technology in Education
• Literacy Research Association
• National Council of Teachers of English
• Texas Association for Literacy Education

Service to the Community

• Mercy Chefs
• Trinity Elite Education Book Bank Community Literacy Project
• Triumph Over Kid Cancer
• Catechist of the Good Shepherd faith formation, St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton

• Essentials of Literacy Instruction
• Writing in Literacy-Rich Environments
• Developing the Fluent Reader
• Creative Arts & Art-Making in Early Childhood
• Science of Cognitive Learning