Donna Fortune

Donna Fortune is an Associate Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech's School of Education and the Program Leader for Elementary Education and Coordinator for Undergraduate Licensure Programs. With over 25 years of experience in education, her work focuses on preparing the next generation of teachers while specializing in literacy instruction, listening skills, universal design for learning and culturally responsive teaching practices. She collaborates with faculty from Virginia Tech and with other colleagues across the United States on a variety of projects researching and learning more about best-practices for preparing future educators. Ms. Fortune's research and teaching interests span elementary education, teacher preparation, and inclusive classroom practices. She is the co-author of "Mindful Listening Skill Instruction in the Elementary Classroom" and have contributed significantly to developing innovative teaching methods that integrate social studies, language arts, and culturally responsive practices. She is particularly passionate about using children's literature to promote empathy, critical thinking, and justice in education. She has also collaborated with a colleague and is the author of two children's picture books.