Jan Burkins

Dr. Jan Burkins is a nationally respected literacy expert, author, and consultant with more than 30 years of experience in education. Her career includes a wide range of roles, including classroom teacher, literacy coach, district literacy coordinator, and regional consultant. She is especially known for helping educators bridge the gap between balanced literacy and the science of reading.

Dr. Burkins has co-authored several influential books that have shaped modern literacy instruction. Her most notable works include Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom (with Kari Yates), Who’s Doing the Work? How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More (with Kim Yaris), and Preventing Misguided Reading (with Melody Croft). These books are widely used by educators seeking to refine their teaching methods and empower young readers.

Her academic background is equally distinguished. Dr. Burkins holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Birmingham-Southern College, a master’s degree from the University of Alabama, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction with a focus on reading from the University of Kansas. Her doctoral research—a meta-analysis of phonemic awareness—received recognition as Dissertation of the Year and was a finalist for an international literacy award.

Today, Dr. Burkins continues to support educators through consulting, professional development, and writing, with a focus on aligning instruction with current research while honoring the practical realities of the classroom. She lives in Athens, Georgia, with her family.