Dr. Mariannella Núñez

Dr. Mariannella Núñez

Assistant Professor Office Location: GB Suite 124, Room 125 Phone: (210) 283-6411
Dr. Mariannella Núñez is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education in the Dreeben School of Education. She has experience teaching in elementary bilingual and ESL settings, focusing literacy and biliteracy instruction. Dr. Núñez’s research interests are guided by sociocritical perspectives and are driven by a desire to amplify the stories of historically marginalized and minoritized communities. Through her scholarship and service, she emphasizes the languages and literacies of these communities as strengths, aiming to provide new perspectives and tools for both in-service and pre-service educators to create transformative classrooms.

Ph.D. Reading, emphasis Bilingual/ESL,
Texas Woman’s University

M.Ed. Reading,
Texas Woman’s University

B.A. French,
University of North Texas

B.S. Interior Merchandising,
University of North Texas

Texas Teaching Certificates:

  • Bilingual Generalist, EC-6 & 4-8
  • Master Reading Teacher, EC-12
  • Reading Specialist, EC-12

TEA HB3 Science of Teaching Reading clearance

Assistant Professor
University of the Incarnate Word (2020-present)

Graduate Research Associate for Federal Grant from The U.S. Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition
Texas Woman's University Bilingual & ESL Teacher (2018-2020)

Elementary Teaching Experience:
ESL Specialist, EC-5, Denton ISD
Bilingual Instructional & Data Coach, Lewisville ISD
Bilingual Literacy & Dyslexia Interventionist, Lewisville ISD
Bilingual Teacher, Lewisville ISD
English as a Foreign Language Teacher, Inspection Académique du Calvados, France
Bilingual Teacher, A+ Academy School District

Essentials of Literacy Instruction
Developing the Strategic Reader
Differentiating Literacy Instruction
Writing in Literacy Rich Environments
Survey of Special Education for Secondary Students
Assessment & Instruction

Recent Publications:

Núñez, M. (2025) Enriching Language Acquisition with Asset-Based Pedagogy. English Journal.

Grote-Garcia, S., Núñez, M., Collins, R., Hardin-Simmons, Connally, G., Daub, A., Ashmore, B., & Talley, S. (2024) EPPs Recognized for Their First-Time Pass Rates in ELAR Share Practices and Resources that Have Contributed to Their Successes. TxEP: Texas Educator Preparation.

Núñez, M. (2023). Providing Spaces for Critical Reflections. In B. Muszyńska & H. Hansen-Thomas (Eds.), Critical Language Pedagogy in Action. Routledge.

Brewer, A. & Núñez, M. (2022). Secondary Pre-service Teachers Perceptions on Disciplinary Writing and CLD Students. In T. S. Hodges (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Teacher Practices for Diverse Writing Instruction. IGI Global. 10.4018/978-1-6684-6213-3.ch019

Núñez, M. & Brewer, A. (2021). Tensions in Text Selection: How English Teachers Balance Text Selection When Working with CLD Students. English in Texas.

Stewart, M.A., Flint, P., & Núñez, M. (2021).Teachers and diverse students: A knowledge-to-action reader response model to promote critical consciousness. Multicultural Perspectives, 23(2), 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/15210960.2021.1914050 

Stewart, M.A., Hansen-Thomas, H., Flint, P., & Núñez, M. (2021). Translingual disciplinary literacies: Shifting the linguistic landscape in two high schools. Reading Research Quarterly, 57(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.381 

Flint, P., & Núñez, M. (2021). Colonialism and Native American resiliency. In C. Salazar, M.A. Stewart, C. Thomas, & V. Lozada, (Eds.), Engage and empower! Expanding the curriculum for justice and activism. Rowman & Littlefield.

Recent Presentations: 

Núñez, M & Qui, T. (2024, November) Embracing Translingual Literacies in Literacy Research: A Step Towards Change. Literacy Research Association, Atlanta, GA.

Nunez, M. (2024, June). Critically reflecting on language education: Educator identities and ideologies. European Conference on Literacy. Crete, Greece.

Nuñez, M. & Brewer, A. (2024, May). Windows and mirrors: Literary texts to support language development and critical global literacies. Reading for in depth English Learning. Bodø, Norway.

Grote-Garcia, S., Núñez, M., Collins, R., Hardin-Simmons, Connally, G., Daub, A., Ashmore, B., & Talley, S. (2023, October). EPPs Recognized for Their First-Time Pass Rates in ELAR Share Practices and Resources that have Contributed to Their Successes. The Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education. San Marcos, TX.

Sanchez, L. & Núñez, M. (2023, November) Reconceptualizing Expertise: Centering Local and Community Knowledges in Language and Literacy Learning. Literacy Research Association. Atlanta, GA.

Stewart, M.A., Hansen-Thomas, H., Flint, P., Nuñez, M., Figueroa, J., Anderson, P., & Lozada, V. (2022, July) Translingual disciplinary literacies: A framework for teaching multilingual students. European Conference on Literacy. Dublin, Ireland.

Núñez, M. (2022, November). Adolescent newcomers' literacy development through critical semiotic mediation: An interactive symbiotic model of agency and space. Literacy Research Association. Phoenix, AZ.

Babino, A., Duran, Y., Gau, H., Mojica, Z., Núñez, M., Song, K., Stewart, M. A., Qiu, T. (2022, November). Literacy research across borders: Countering English hegemony in literacy research spaces. Literacy Research Association. Phoenix, AZ.

Nuñez, M. (2022, May). Creating Inclusive Spaces for Indigenous Youth. San Antonio Area Association of Bilingual Educators Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Brewer, A, & Núñez, M. (2021, November). Pre-service teachers’ perceptions on disciplinary writing and culturally and linguistically diverse students. Association of Literacy Educators & Researchers, Hilton Head, SC.

Núñez, M, Duran, Y. & Mojica, Z. (2021, April). Recognizing and sustaining Latinx Indigenous identities in classrooms through culturally relevant texts. National Association of Bilingual Educators, Houston, TX.

 

UIW Grants:

2023 Faculty Research Awards, Workload Release for project Literacy Development Through Critical Semiotic Mediation.

Leadership Roles:
Literacy Research Association

  • 2024-2025 ICG Outgoing Chair, Multilingual and Transnational ICG
  • 2022-2024 ICG Co-Chair, Multilingual and Transnational ICG
  • 2020-2022 Social Media Co-Chair, Multilingual and Transnational ICG

Active Memberships:
Literacy Research Association

  • Multilingual and Transnational ICG

International Literacy Association
American Educational Research Association

Honorable Mention Outstanding Dissertation Award, 2021  
National Association for Bilingual Education 

Service to the Profession:
Member, Literacy Research Association, Multilingual and Transnational ICG
Advocacy Working Group
Reviewer, Journal of Literacy Research, Literacy Research Association
Reviewer, Texas Journal of Literacy Education, Texas Association for Literacy Education 

Service to the Community:
Catholic Charities of San Antonio, TX 

Service to the University (2021-Present):
Kappa Delta Phi Education Honor Society, sponsor
Faculty Development Funds Committee, member
Faculty Library Advisory Council, member
Honors Council, member