She has a diverse research and teaching background with major focuses in social studies, literacy, ESL, early childhood, and arts-integration practices. Some of her research is focused on educational practices in Belize. She started her current position at LSU after teaching for five years at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. Before teaching in higher education, she was a bilingual kindergarten and 1st grade teacher in the Houston Independent School District for six years and a kindergarten teacher in Tangipahoa Parish School District for 2 years. She has served as a board member for the National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators for two years. She is a reviewer for the Journal of Research in Childhood Education. She can be emailed at ecasey@lsu.edu.