An Associate Professor and an experienced practitioner with over 23 years in education. Their expertise centers on Special Educational Needs, particularly literacy difficulties like dyslexia, and the impact of poverty on learning. They recently completed a PhD focusing on reading motivation and student wellbeing during the primary-to-secondary school transition, utilizing participatory research methods. Their work aims to bridge the gap between academic research and classroom practice to create inclusive educational environments. They also work directly as a Specialist Teacher supporting schools.