She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in reading from the University of Texas-Austin. She teaches courses in higher order thinking as well as developmental and remedial reading for students of all ages. She has published articles in a variety of educational journals, including Reading Research Quarterly, the Journal of Reading Behavior, and The Reading Teacher. In addition, she has made presentations at national and state meetings including the International Reading Association and the National Reading Conference. Dr. Fortner has also served as a consultant to public school districts, governmental agencies, and educational publishing companies.