Dr. Amanda Nickerson
Hi! I’m Dr. Amanda Nickerson, a K-12 literacy technical assistance specialist dedicated to supporting schools and districts in implementing effective literacy initiatives. In my role, I develop and coordinate systems that enhance literacy practices, provide targeted technical assistance, and design state-wide professional learning opportunities for educators.
With over 20 years of experience in education, I’ve worn many hats—literacy consultant, classroom teacher, Title I specialist, gifted intervention specialist, peer coach, syllabi refinement specialist, textbook analyst, and adjunct instructor. Currently, I teach a course on data-based decision-making at Mount St. Joseph University. My research interests center on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), the science of reading, and gifted education, with a special focus on twice-exceptional learners. This is what makes my heart go “pitter-pat” and fills me with passion!
Relevant Degrees and Skills
→ Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education
→ K-12 Reading Endorsement
→ Master of Education in Literacy Curriculum and Instruction
→ K-12 Gifted Endorsement
→ Educational Doctorate (Ed.D.) in Reading Science
→ CERI Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher
→ R-TFI Train-the-Facilitator
→ Archer & Hughes’ Explicit Instruction Facilitator
→ Trained in Student-Focused Coaching and Jim Knight’s Coaching Model
→ Readsters Reading Simulations Facilitator
Note: I was previously trained to facilitate several vendor-specific trainings that are no longer relevant to my current role. These have been intentionally omitted but have also enriched my knowledge and skills.
One Extra Degree Blog
In 2010, I launched One Extra Degree to connect with the educational community and support fellow educators. At the time, I was working in a district without a core curriculum, which meant creating my own lessons, units, and resources—a challenge many other teachers faced as well. I began sharing my materials to save others time and bridge the gap between research and practice. I never imagined my work would reach tens of thousands of educators, and I’m deeply grateful for the impact it has had.
That said, my perspective has evolved over the years. As I’ve worked across different classrooms, districts, and states, I’ve come to appreciate the power of high-quality, unified instructional materials that ensure equitable learning experiences for all students. My goal is to provide thoughtful, research-based suggestions to help educators navigate literacy instruction in meaningful and sustainable ways.
Podcast Episodes
I had the opportunity to share insights on the following podcast:
→ Reading Road Trip Season 3, Episode 9: Supporting Gifted and Advanced Readers with Dr. Amanda Nickerson
Select Presentations
While I give many presentations across Ohio, the following presentations were delivered beyond the scope of my official role:
→ Indiana Virtual Administrator’s Workshop (Zoom, 2025; Assessing Data Practices to Strengthen Literacy Instruction for Advanced Learners)
→ University of Indianapolis Literacy Cadre (Zoom, 2024; The Science of Reading is for All Learners: Supporting High-Ability Students Within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports)
→ Unlocking Literacy Conference (Miami, FL; 2024; What’s the Fuss About Phonics? Why Explicit Instruction Matters)
→ Indiana Department of Education’s Literacy Lab (Zoom, 2024; The Science of Reading is for All Learners: Supporting Gifted and High-Ability Readers)
→ The Educator Summit Conference (Prerecorded, 2024; Unleashing Literacy Potential: Implementing the Science of Reading in the Intermediate Grades)
→ MTSS Innovations Conference (Zoom, 2024; Integrating Gifted Education with MTSS for Optimal Reading Achievement)