Mary Ellen Askew

Technical Assistance Partner

Literacy Specialist

Mary Ellen Askew has been in the education field for 25 years. She began her career in the elementary classroom and eventually moved to higher education. She holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education with a literacy specialization and is a National Board Certified Teacher. In higher education, Mrs. Askew has been instrumental in preparing future teachers through their clinical experiences and, more specifically, in literacy.

Mrs. Askew has helped transform teacher preparation in literacy in Mississippi and across the United States. She was a charter member of the Mississippi Momentum project, which led a statewide effort to reform EPP’s pedagogy and practices in literacy. She helped to ensure literacy courses throughout the state were grounded in the science of reading, strengthening the effectiveness of teachers throughout the state. She was a Higher Ed Literacy Council member, serving in leadership positions such as a lead for elementary literacy courses and website development.



She is currently a Clinical Instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi, teaching literacy courses. She has been the course lead and designer for numerous literacy and practicum courses. She has played a role in aligning textbooks, syllabi, instructional methods, and clinical experiences to research in structured literacy.

She is also a National Literacy Consultant who delivers professional development as a Professional Learning Facilitator, rooted in evidence-based practices in the science of reading. Through this, she has coached countless teachers and administrators nationwide in implementing research to practice in schools and classrooms.