Biography and education
Dr. Porterfield brings more than 20 years of practitioner experience to her academic work. She has taught and supported children with high‑incidence disabilities in inclusive settings and has supervised special education teachers as a Director of Special Education in a public charter school system serving students in educationally underserved communities.
Her professional credentials include certification in both general and special education, certification as an educational diagnostician, and a master’s degree in teaching with an endorsement in special education. She earned her doctorate in special education—with an emphasis on learning disabilities and behavior disorders—from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Porterfield has extensive experience supervising, coaching, and mentoring special education teachers and related service providers across inclusive classrooms, resource settings, life skills programs, and behavior support programs.
Her professional credentials include certification in both general and special education, certification as an educational diagnostician, and a master’s degree in teaching with an endorsement in special education. She earned her doctorate in special education—with an emphasis on learning disabilities and behavior disorders—from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Porterfield has extensive experience supervising, coaching, and mentoring special education teachers and related service providers across inclusive classrooms, resource settings, life skills programs, and behavior support programs.
Featured grants
- O'Malley, Michael P (Principal), Coryell, Joellen E (Co-Principal), Ingram, Mitchell Dean (Co-Principal), Brooks, Maneka Deanna (Co-Principal), Porterfield, Jennifer Allison (Co-Principal). Accelerated Development of Aides into Professional Teachers (ADAPT), U.S. Department of Education, Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence, Federal, $2742217. (Funded: October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2029). Grant.
- Collins, Alyson Alexander, Ciullo, Stephen P, Porterfield, Jennifer Allison. Project LEAD: Learning and education for all with dyslexia, Preparation of Special Education, Related Services, and Early Intervention, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Federal, $1223265. (Funded: October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2028). Grant.
- Collins, Alyson Alexander, Porterfield, Jennifer Allison, Thomas, C N, Lasser, J. Partnering assessment and intervention responsiveness in interdisciplinary teams (PAIR-IT, Preparation of Special Education, Related Services, and Early Intervention, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Federal, $1208096. (Funded: November 1, 2019 - October 31, 2025). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Porterfield, J. A., & Thomas, C. (2020). Authentic Assignment. In In M. D. Elford, H. H. Smith, & S. James (Ed.), GET feedback: Giving, exhibiting, and teaching feedback in special education teacher preparation. SLACK.
- Bryant, B. R., Bryant, D. P., Porterfield, J. A., Dennis, M. S., Falcomata, T., Valentine, C., … Bell, K. (2016). The Effects of a Tier 3 Intervention on the Mathematics Performance of Second Grade Students With Severe Mathematics Difficulties. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 49(2), 176–188. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022219414538516
- Pfannenstiel, K. H., Bryant, D. P., Bryant, B. R., & Porterfield, J. A. (2015). Cognitive Strategy Instruction for Teaching Word Problems to Primary-Level Struggling Students. Intervention in School and Clinic, 50(5), 291–296. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451214560890
- Bryant, D. P., Bryant, B. R., Roberts, G., Vaughn, S., Pfannenstiel, K. H., Porterfield, J. A., & Gersten, R. (2011). Early numeracy intervention program for first-grade students with mathematics difficulties. Exceptional Children, 78(1), 7–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440291107800101
- Bryant, D. P., Bryant, B., Kathleen, H., & Porterfield, J. A. (2010). Evidence-based interventions for primary age students with mathematics challenges. In Mathematics for all: Instructional Strategies to assist students with special learning needs. Olney, Maryland, United States: Association for Childhood Education International Publications.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: What's Next? Charting Your Path: A Mid-Career Program, Texas State University Faculty Development. November 20, 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Nontenure Line Faculty Work Release 2024-2025, Faculty Senate and Non-tenure Line Faculty Committee. February 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: 2023 Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction. August 23, 2023 - December 2023
- Award / Honor Recipient: Non-Tenure Line Faculty Workload Reassignment - Spring 2023, Texas State University, College of Education. January 2023 - May 2023
Featured service activities
- Other
Library Commission of Buda, Texas
- Other
Associate and Assistant Deans and Directors of Texas
- Member
Teacher Education Council
- Member
Faculty Search Committee: Assistant Professor of Instruction – Elementary Education at Collin College Campus
- Member
Nu of Texas Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society