Karen Wood, PhD, is Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She received a doctorate in Reading Education from the University of Georgia. A former middle school teacher and K-12 Literacy Coordinator, Dr. Wood is the author of over 175 articles, chapters, and books, all of which involve translating research and theory into classroom practice. She is the originator and has been the editor of the "Out of Research -- Into Practice" column in the Middle School Journal since 1986 and is the former coeditor of Reading Research and Instruction. Her most recent books are Integrating Reading and Writing in Middle and Secondary Classrooms and Literacy Strategies across the Subject Areas.
Maryann Mraz, PhD, is Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She received a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Kent State University. A former classroom teacher and program administrator, she is the author of numerous articles, chapters, and instructional materials related to literacy instruction, policy issues in literacy education, and the professional development of teachers. With Timothy Rasinski and Nancy Padak, she is coauthor of the forthcoming Evidence-Based Instruction in Reading: A Professional Development Guide to Phonemic Awareness.