Skip to main content

Faculty | B.A. in Liberal Studies, Elementary Education

Luciano Cid

  • Interim Director of Elementary Education
  • Assistant Professor

    Luciano Cid grew up in Argentina until he was thirteen years of age. It was then when his parents made the complex decision to immigrate to the United States in search of a better life for their children. At the beginning, Cid struggled both socially and academically, which was something he had never experienced before. With time, he began to be able to communicate using his second language...

    Research Interests

    • Examining the interactions that exist between neurology, psychology, education, and spirituality/religion.
    • Investigating, designing, and implementing redemptive classroom management systems, investigating how teachers can parallel the ways in which the Judeo-Christian God has chosen to disciple rather than simply just discipline or punish His creation.
    • The role of empathy and grace in maintaining a child’s ability to develop well balanced interpersonal, intrapersonal, academic, and professional lives.
    • The lack of gender, ethnic, and multilingual diversity within the teaching staff of schools (in particular pre-schools and elementary schools), the impact that this lack of diversity has on students, and how policy could provide solutions for it.
    • The necessity to add a third dimension (i.e., appropriate pedagogical techniques) to the two-dimensional model introduced by Anderson, Krathwohl, et. al (2001) during their revision of Bloom’s taxonomy.

    View Full Profile

Dennis Eastman

  • Director of Secondary Education

  • Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
  • M.A., Biola University
  • B.A., Biola University

Dennis Eastman spent 15 years serving in multiple roles in the field of education (Social Studies teacher, coach, Athletic Director and Director of Faculty Induction) before becoming the principal of Nova Academy Early College High School, in Santa Ana, California. During his tenure as principal, U.S. News and World Report recognized Nova Academy with a Bronze Medal ranking as one of the most...

Courses

  • LEDU301 Introduction to Teaching - Secondary
  • SEED514/SEED515 Secondary Student Teaching I/II 
  • SEED539/LEDU438 Secondary Curriculum, Design, and Assessment 
  • SEED563/LEDU363 Teaching Students with Mild Disabilities

Research Interests

  • Promoting inclusive strategies for general education teachers
  • Creating active learning environments for all students
  • Creating and developing effective teaching and learning strategies in diverse cultures

View Full Profile

Joyce Yang

    Lorelei Coddington

    • Liberal Studies Chair
    • Associate Professor

    • Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
    • M.S., California State University, Fullerton
    • B.A., Biola University

    Lorelei Coddington has served in numerous roles such as professor, classroom teacher, researcher, and curriculum consultant, which have enabled her to support teacher development through coursework taught at Biola University, Claremont Graduate University and Whittier College. She received her Doctor of Education from Claremont Graduate University in 2014. Coddington’s research examines teacher...

    Courses

    • Educational inquiry
    • Mathematical discourse in the context of the Common Core
    • Models and strategies for teaching and learning
    • Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics in Early Childhood Education
    • Multiple Subject Curriculum & Pedagogy: Mathematics and Science
    • Learning and Learners
    • Multiple Subject Curriculum & Pedagogy: Language Arts with History-Social Science and visual and performing arts
    • Second Language Acquisition Theory and Methodology
    • Literacy Development in the Elementary Classroom
    • Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives in Education

    Research Interests

    • Teaching and learning contexts
    • Teacher cognition and identity — teacher knowledge, reflection and practice
    • Innovative designs for preservice teacher education and teacher professional development

    View Full Profile

    June Hetzel

    • Dean, School of Education
    • Professor
    • Interim Director of Early Childhood Education

    • Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
    • M.A., Talbot School of Theology
    • M.S., California State University, Fullerton
    • B.A., Biola University

    June Hetzel specializes in literacy processes, curriculum development, and spiritual formation. Hetzel has served in the roles of teacher, curriculum specialist, principal, writer, editor, consultant, and professor before becoming Dean of Biola's School of Education. She has served at school, district, and county levels, including four summer teaching overseas. Recent projects include...

    Courses

    • SEED 504 Advanced Curriculum and Instruction (M.A.Ed. course)
    • SEED 520 Elementary Reading/Language Arts (for teachers of grades K-8)
    • SEED 530 Reading Processes and Approaches (for teachers of grades K-12)
    • SEED 531 Writing Processes and Approaches (for teachers of grades K-12)
    • SEED 537 Elementary History-Social Studies Methods (for teachers of grades K-6)
    • SEED 550 Multicultural Children’s Literature (for teachers of grades K-8)
    • SEED 554 Professional Writing (M.A.Ed. course)
    • SEED 571 Grant Writing, Book Proposals, and Textbooks (M.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Publication course)
    • SEED 573 Curriculum Practicum (M.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Publication course)
    • SEED 576 Textbook Writing (M.S. Curriculum, Instruction, and Publication course)
    • SEED 596 Professional Development Module (M.A.Ed. course)
    • SEED 599 Master’s Thesis (capstone)
    • Student Teacher Supervision
    • GNST 102 Freshmen Seminar
    • BBST 465 Philosophy of Christian Education
    • LEDU 420 Elementary Reading/Language Arts (for teachers of grades K-6)
    • LEDU 337 Elementary History-Social Studies Methods (for teachers of grades K-6)

    Research Interests

    • Spiritual formation
    • Literacy
    • Reading/writing processes
    • English language learners
    • Curriculum and instruction
    • Values education
    • Home schooling
    • Gifted education
    • Differentiated learning

    View Full Profile

    Robin LaBarbera

      Carolina Serna

      • Associate Professor

        Carolina Serna began her teaching career in 1991 in the Culver City Unified School District as a third grade bilingual teacher. Her teaching experience at the elementary level in rural, inner city and suburban settings, and at the university level continue to inform her teaching and research.

        Her areas of research include literacy development in sociocultural contexts, teacher preparation and...

        Courses

        • SEED520/LEDU420 English Language Arts/Reading
        • SEED549/LEDU380 Children's Literature
        • SEED535/LEDU335 Child Development: Birth to Adolescence 
        • SEED541/LEDU341 Methods of Teaching Linguistically Diverse Children

        Research Interests

        • Literacy/Biliteracy
        • Indigenous Students
        • Bilingual Education
        • Teacher Preparation
        • Education Policy

        View Full Profile

      Lorena Vidaurre

        Jenna Canillas

        • Associate Professor

        • Ph.D., University of California Riverside
        • M.A., Biola University
        • B.A., Bethel College

        Jenna Canillas specializes in the area of English learners and second language acquisition. Her professional roles have included professor, classroom teacher, District ELD Coach, Program Specialist for District English Learner Programs, Program Specialist for Gifted and Talented Education, and new teacher mentor as a BTSA support provider and academy instructor. Canillas holds a M.A. in Applied...

        Research Interests

        • Second language acquisition
        • Long-term English learners
        • Content area literacy
        • Technology in education
        • Strengths-based education
        • Gifted education

        View Full Profile

        Mickie Wong-Lo

        • Director of Special Education
        • Associate Professor

        • Ph.D., University of North Texas
        • M.Ed., University of Houston
        • B.S., University of Houston

        Mickie Wong-Lo is an associate professor and the Director of Special Education in the School of Education at Biola University. Dr. Wong-Lo, a board certified behavior analyst, completed her doctoral studies in special education with the emphasis in emotional and behavioral disorders and juvenile delinquency at the University of North Texas. Prior to entering the field of higher education, she...

        Research Interests

        • Cyberbullying: Behavior analysis in digital culture, peer relationships in social media
        • Juvenile Delinquency: Gang crime analysis, violence in schools
        • Mental Health: Trauma, resiliency in victimization
        • Disproportionality: Over and underrepresentation
        • Behavior Analysis: Behavioral assessment and function-based intervention

        View Full Profile

        You may also be interested in

        B.A. in Early Childhood

        School of Education

        B.A. in English

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        B.A. in History

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        B.A. in Psychology

        Rosemead School of Psychology

        B.A. in Sociology

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        B.A. in Spanish

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        Minor in English

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        Minor in History

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        Minor in Psychology

        Rosemead School of Psychology

        Minor in Secondary Education

        School of Education

        Minor in Sociology

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        Minor in Spanish

        School of Humanities and Social Sciences

        Minor in Special Education

        School of Education