Alicia Stewart Kitten

Alicia Stewart Kitten is an Assistant Professor in the Reading and Elementary Education Department. Prior to joining UNC Charlotte, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education and Interventions at Central Connecticut State University.

Kitten earned her Ph.D. in special education at the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on learning disabilities and behavioral disorders. Before earning her Ph.D., she served as a middle and high school special education teacher in California, where she worked collaboratively with content area teachers across disciplines. Her research interests involve effective reading instruction for students with behaviors that interfere with learning, specifically students with high levels of inattention. In addition, she is interested in identifying ways to support pre-service and in-service teachers in developing the skills needed to implement effective reading practices across content areas with the goal of improving students’ reading comprehension. Kitten has experience teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses in reading methods and assessment.

CV

Education

Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 2019
M.A. in Special Education, California State University Channel Islands
B.A. in Sociology, California State University Channel Islands

Research Interests/Areas of Expertise

Teacher professional development
Reading comprehension
Reading instruction for students with inattention

Awards & Honors

2026 Cato College of Education Excellence in Research Award

2021 Honor Roll Faculty Award, Central Connecticut State University

2020 Graduate Capstone Advisor of the Year for the 2019-2020 Academic Year, Central Connecticut State University

Selected Publications

Stewart, A. A., Scammacca, N. K., Lee, Y. R., Cappelli, P. (2025). Exploring Differences Between Cognition, Reading, Math, and Attention Scores in Students with Disabilities: A Systematic Review. Learning Disabilities Quarterly, 41(1), 39–53. https://doi.org/10.1177/07319487251318352

Filderman, M. J., Stewart, A. A., Cramer, A., Hughes Berheim, S., Swanson, E. (2024). Intensification of a Reading Comprehension Intervention using Student Data: A Pilot Study. Remedial and Special Education, 46(5), 382–394.  https://doi.org/10.1177/07419325241249767

Stevens, E. A., Stewart, A. A., Lee, Y. R., Swanson, E.A., & Vaughn, S. V. (2024). Effects tier 2 reading comprehension intervention aligned to tier 1 instruction for fourth graders with inattention and reading difficulties. Journal of School Psychology, 105(2024), 101320, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101320

Stewart, A. A., Vaughn, S., Scammacca, N. K., & Swanson, E. (2022). Evidence-based instruction on the reading outcomes of students with inattention: A pilot study. Remedial and Special Education, 44(4), 294–307  https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932522111729