Office Phone: 724-847-6132
egbelcas@geneva.edu
ebelcastro1@comcast.net

Disciplines/Field of Instruction

• Education Department: Special Education

Degrees Received

• Ed.D. in Reading Education, 2009, University of Pittsburgh
• M.A. in Specific Learning Disabilities, 1989, West Virginia University
• B.A. in Elementary Education, 1983, Fairmont State College

Courses Taught

• Education 576 - Advanced Studies of Severe Disabilities
• Education 572 - Advanced Studies of Academic Skill Intervention for Exceptional Children 
• Education 472 - Academic Skill Intervention for exceptional Children
• Education 474 - Reading Intervention
• Education 214 - Initial Field Experience in Special Education
• Seminars:
  The Role of a Literacy Coach
  Parenting a Child with Autism: A Book Study

Publications

• Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Jenkins, K., Zigmond, N., & Wilson, R. (2008). Four coaches coaching: What coaches do and why they do it. Manuscript submitted for publication.
• Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Hathaway, J., Risko, V., Rosemary, C., & Roskos, K. (2006, December). Literacy Coaching: A Synthesis of the Research and Literature. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Presentations

• Ankrum, J. W., Belcastro, E. G., Morewood, A. L., & McMahon, J. (2010, December).Differentiated Reading Instruction: Year One Data from the Classrooms of Exemplary Primary Teachers. Presented at the 60th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Fort Worth, TX.
• Mathers, B. G., & Belcastro, E. (November. 2010). Reading Intervention: Pre-service Teachers Discuss their Experiences in the Field. Presented at the 51st annual Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children Conference, State College, PA.
• Belcastro, E., Schmalz, K., Baughman, C., Baxter, A., Cover, C., Ellefson, K., Fevang, K., Fisher, E., Forstate, K., & Price, L. (2010, November). Grasping the Meaning of Reading: Research-Based Comprehension Strategies for Struggling Readers. Presented at the 51^st annual Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children Conference, State College, PA.
• Belcastro, E., Bean, R., & Ankrum, J. (2010, April). “Coaching Conversations: The nature of talk between a literacy coach and three teachers.” Poster Session to be presented at the International Reading Association, Chicago, Illinois.
• Belcastro, E., & Bean, R. (2009, December). “Coaching conversations: The nature of talk between a literacy coach and three teachers.” Presented at the 59th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Jenkins, K., Kenavey, L., & Zigmond, N. (2008, December). Defining Literacy Coaching: Lessons Learned from “The Blind Man and the Elephant. Presented at the 58th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Orlando, Florida.
• Belcastro, E., & Heisey, N. (2008, October). SBRR: Piece of Cake! Presented at the 41st annual Keystone State Reading Association Conference, Valley Forge, PA.
• Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Heisey, N., Jenkins, K., & Wilson, R. (2007, November). What Do They Do All Day?: Literacy Coaching Practices and Outcomes. Paper session presented at the 57th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Austin, Texas.
• Heisey, N., & Belcastro, E. (2007, October). SBRR: Practical Suggestions for Classroom Implementation. Presented at the 40th annual Keystone State Reading Association Conference, Hershey, PA.
• Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Heisey, N., Morewood, A., & Zigmond, N. (2007, March). Crossing Boundaries: Teachers’ and Coaches’ Perceptions of an On-Line Course in Pennsylvania’s Reading First Schools. Presented at the Council of Graduate Students in Education Academic Research Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Bean, R., Belcastro, E., Hathaway, J., Risko, V., Rosemary, C., & Roskos, K. (2006, December). Literacy Coaching: A Synthesis of the Research and Literature. Symposium session presented at the 56th annual meeting of the National Reading Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

Current Projects

• I am currently collaborating with colleagues on several research projects focused on literacy coaching and literacy instruction.

Awards & Distinctions Received

• Recipient of the Fairmont State College Public School Teaching Fellowship, Fairmont State College and Harrison County Board of Education, 1992
• Recipient of the WV Governor’s Recognition Award for Teaching Excellence, Harrison County Board of Education, 1999

Affiliations

• Member, American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities
• Member, Arc, 2009-present
• Member, Council for Exceptional Children, 2009-present
• Member, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2007-present
• Member, International Reading Association, 2006-present
• Member, National Reading Conference, 2006-present
• Member, College Reading Association, 2006-present
• Member, Keystone State Reading Association, 2006-present
• Member, Beaver County Reading Association, 2006-present
• Member, Pi Lambda Theta, 2006-present
• Member, Council of Graduate Students in Education, 2006-present 

Miscellaneous

• I enjoy reading devotional and motivational books, fitness walking, traveling, and spending time with family.