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Dr. Sunshine Moss earned her PhD in special education from the University of Florida with a minor in research and evaluation methodology. She is committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn to read by leveraging the power of school, university, and community partnerships to strengthen the relationship between literacy research, policy, and practice.
Dr. Moss’ research focuses on teacher knowledge of dyslexia and special education policy and the barriers parents and teachers experience to meeting the needs of children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. In 2018, she was awarded a generous grant by the Learning Disabilities Foundation of America to support her research. Dr. Moss works with multiple dyslexia-related organizations to support improved learning for children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
Through the University of Florida, Dr. Moss served as coordinator of the UF Literacy Institute‘s pre-service teacher training and Summer Adventures in Literacy programs. In addition, she assisted in the content development of the UF’s Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia for which she won UF’s 2018 Online Education Excellence award for Instructional Strategy. Dr. Moss also served as assessment coordinator and data analyst for Winning Reading Boost a multisensory reading program and school improvement initiative, funded through the Florida legislature to improve literacy in the state’s most struggling schools. Dr. Moss is a trainer for the University of Florida Literacy Institute and has provided literacy-related professional development to teachers in Florida and South Carolina through UF’s Lastinger Center for Learning.
Dr. Moss is a Clinical Educator and a longtime supervisor and mentor to elementary and special education preservice teachers in the UF’s Unified Elementary ProTeach Dual Certification program. She is the recipient of UF’s Graduate Mentoring Award in honor of her longstanding commitment to mentoring children and preservice teachers. As a classroom teacher, Dr. Moss was a Lastinger Institute Teacher-Leader and member of the school discipline committee. She is the recipient of the Alachua County Literacy Award and two grants for cross-curricular unit-studies she developed.
In private practice, Dr. Moss is the director of The Homeschool Resource Center where she provides education consultation, tutoring, and workshops for families with children with special needs. She has been invited to present on literacy development and education policy by various community organizations, including the Gainesville Education Task Force, The Alachua County Public Library, and The Council for Exceptional Children’s Gatorland Chapter. She is on the steering committee for Decoding Dyslexia Florida, board of directors of Resilience Charter School, and she provides consultation for community organizations seeking to improve educational outcomes.
Dr. Moss has a passion for family, school, and community partnerships, parent-education, effective teaching, and empowering learners of all ages. Throughout her rewarding teaching career, she has developed lasting relationships with the children, families, and teachers she has had the honor of working with. However, her most important work is in her home, as mother to her beautiful son and beloved goddaughter.
Sunshine Moss, Ph.D. 