Leah Zimmermann has extensive experience teaching (and learning from) students with reading difficulties. She held several teaching positions in the District of Columbia Public Schools, serving as a middle school English language arts teacher and English learner teacher. Leah also has experience as a literacy coach and an education consultant, specializing in curriculum development. Leah served as a graduate student assistant at the IRRC for three years, during which she coordinated research projects, conducted literature reviews, and developed literacy resources for Iowa educators and families, and was a research coordinator at the IRRC in 2020.

Prior to entering the doctoral program in special education program at the University of Iowa College of Education, Leah earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa and a master of education degree in elementary education from Marymount University. Her research interests include effective reading interventions and instruction for students with reading difficulties.