About Candy Dawson Boyd

Dr. Candy Dawson Boyd is a Professor in the School of Education at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. Dr. Boyd holds a B.A. in Education from Northeastern Illinois University, a M.A. in Reading Education, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of California, Berkeley. While at Saint Mary's, Dr. Boyd directed both the Elementary Education Basic Credential Program and the Special Education Credential and Masters Programs. She founded, and currently directs, the Masters and Specialist Credential and Certificate Programs in Reading/Language Arts. Dr. Boyd has lectured nationwide as both an award-winning children's author and a K-12 reading educator, emphasizing literature and culturally diverse learning. She has been a national keynote speaker for the California Reading Association, the International Reading Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. Her award-winning books for young people include Circle of Gold, Charlie Pippin, and Chevrolet Saturdays. Dr. Boyd specializes in working with low performing urban schools. As founder of Common Literacy Culture, she is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading and writing for urban children, and has successfully worked with schools in crisis across the nation.