Dr. Donna Jurich has been involved in teacher preparation in three states: California, Illinois and Arizona. She received both her Bachelor of Arts in English and her Masters of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language from San Francisco State University (S.F.S.U.). Dr. Jurich worked as an assistant director at the American Language Institute (A.L.I.). She directed the composition program at the A.L.I. and worked mentoring new teachers. She presented and published on the use of personal narrative in the development of writing skills for English language learners. With a colleague, Donna created the English Fluency Program through S.F.S.U. Extension, which focused on developing the English language skills of professionals in the Bay Area.
Dr. Jurich returned to her own education at the University of Arizona where she completed her Ph.D. Dr. Jurich worked with Dr. Kathy Carter focusing teacher narratives as a means of constructing knowledge about classrooms and teachers’ identities. She also worked with Dr. Heckman on school reform and school-community relationships and with Dr. Gary Griffin on school reform initiatives, specifically those funded through the NEA.
Dr. Jurich then received tenure as an Associate Professor at Knox College in Illinois. At Knox College, Dr. Jurich presented on the use of technology in elementary classrooms through a collaboration with elementary schools and teacher candidates. Dr. Jurich also worked with the Galesburg Unified School District to create a district-college collaboration focusing on site-based teacher preparation.
At the University of Arizona, Dr. Jurich directs the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Programs. She has served on the board of the Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children. She is working on creating partnerships and collaborations with local school districts and community colleges.