Jean Louise M. Smith, Ph.D.

Jean Louise M. Smith, Ph.D., is an Early Childhood School Psychologist for children birth to five years old receiving early intervention and early childhood special education services in Lane County, Oregon, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon. She is a graduate of the School Psychology doctoral (2005) and Special Education master’s (2003) programs at the University of Oregon. 

She has served as a co-principal investigator on an Institute of Education Sciences efficacy study evaluating a multi-tiered system of instructional support in first grade reading and has led the implementation of several research projects. Jean Louise has publications in peer-reviewed journals and is a co-author of a reading curriculum along with Lana. 

Her professional interests emphasize prevention and early intervention of academic and behavioral difficulties within a systems approach. She enjoys being in preschool classrooms for story times and talking with parents and teachers about evidence-based emotional literacy support in early childhood. 

Her experience allows her to “connect the dots” of early literacy, social and emotional learning, and early childhood. Jean Louise has fond memories of being read to as a little girl, especially the Berenstain Bears and Amelia Bedelia books. She has enjoyed sharing her love of read alouds with her own children.