Laura M. Kuti
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Profile
Dr. Kuti’s knowledge and experience stem from language learning education and span the fields of world language, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and assessment. She has spent over fifteen years in the classroom as well as administration teaching language learners and their teachers, including preschool through college classes. She has expertise reviewing and writing statewide ESL curriculum and connecting instruction and assessment.
Dr. Kuti’s work with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as the ESL Assessment Specialist awarded her valuable knowledge about and experience with English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments, particularly assessment design, item writing, and level descriptions. Dr. Kuti was also responsible for processing the results of ELP assessments at the state level and assisting school divisions with using those results to meet requirements of No Child Left Behind as well as to inform instruction. She then joined with a national research firm for which she conducted research and provided support services to states around the country and in Puerto Rico related to standards and assessments for English language learners. Dr. Kuti extended her expertise of policy, instruction and assessment to a school district with almost 4,000 English language learners where she was in charge of the Title III Grant and ESOL program for the district.
She completed a Ph.D. program in Education at Virginia Commonwealth University where she specialized in her degree in Special Education for Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Learners. She began teaching as an adjunct professor graduate in-person and online courses at the University of Richmond for an ESL endorsement program for which she assisted in writing the application to the VDOE. In 2016 she joined the University of Richmond as the Assistant Chair of the Master in Education in Curriculum and Instruction Program and later in 2018 was retitled as the Assistant Chair of Teacher Education. She oversees both the Master in Education in Curriculum and Instruction program as well as the Master of Teaching program.
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Presentations
Kuti, L. (2010). Processes and best practices for educators of English language learners with suspected disabilities. Virginia Department of Education website.
Kuti, L. (2010). Examination of English language proficiency standards across states: A structure and protocol for review. Presentation at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education Research Colloquium. Richmond, Va.
Scarcella, R., Bailey, A., Lisboa, R., & Kuti, L. (2009). Defining academic English. Presentation at the National Conference on Student Assessment, Council of Chief State School Officers. Los Angeles, Calif.
Waring, S., Staehr Fenner, D., & Kuti, L. (2009). The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition. Presentation at the 43rd Annual TESOL Convention and Exhibit. Denver, Colo.
Xu, Y., Reed, E., Kuti, L., & Ivey, C. (2009). Teaching English language learners within the framework of Universal Design for Learning. Presentation at The Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children 25th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and their Families. Albuquerque, N.M.
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Memberships
TESOL International Association
VACTE: Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
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Professional Experience
Assistant Chair (2016-Present)
Teacher Education, University of Richmond, Va.
Specialist (2011-2016)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Chesterfield County Public Schools, Va.
Associate and Specialist (2008-2011)
English as a Second Language, edCount LLC, Washington, D.C.
ESL Specialist (2007-2008)
Virginia Literacy Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
Adjunct Instructor (2005-2007)
John Tyler Community College, Richmond, Va.
Adjunct Instructor (2005)
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.
Innovation Project Manager (2000)
Innovation Focus, Inc., Lancaster, Pa.
Spanish Interpreter/Translator (1999-2000)
Translations America, Lancaster, Pa.
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Certifications
Virginia Teaching Certification: Spanish & ESL
New Jersey Teaching Certification: TESOL
Pennsylvania Teaching Certification: Spanish Education
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Community Service
Outside reader on dissertation committees for doctoral candidates, Virginia Commonwealth University
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Presentations
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Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Kuti, L. & Xu, Y. (2012). Accommodations for English language learners on statewide English language proficiency assessment. Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship, 1(1).
Additional PublicationsStaehr Fenner, D. & Kuti, L. (2009). Evaluation of state and local implementation of Title III standards, assessments, and accountability systems. Annotated Bibliography. edCount, LCC, Washington, D.C.