A former elementary teacher in Compton, California, Dr. Brassell has worked with students ranging from preschoolers in inner-city Los Angeles to graduate students at the University of Southern California taking English as a Second Language. Dr. James Flood is Professor of Literacy and Language in the School of Teacher Education at San Diego State University. He has taught at the preschool, elementary, middle, and secondary level in addition to his work with teachers in the College of Education at SDSU.