Barbara Culatta, PhD, CCC-SLP, is an international expert and author on language and literacy interventions. She has been working with children in clinical and educational programs for 40 years. Dr. Culatta is renowned for creating a highly acclaimed language and literacy program (Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy) that utilizes the arts, representational play, and interactive hands-on activities as the basis for teaching language and literacy skills. She is well respected for her work in using scripted play, story enactments, and hands-on experiences as contexts for language and literacy instruction and intervention.

Dr. Culatta has written books Language and Literacy Instruction in the Classroom and Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy, chapters, and publications on language and literacy intervention. She directed federally-funded professional development and intervention projects that documented the effectiveness of innovative instructional approaches. Dr. Culatta’s research revolves around evaluating playful and personally-meaningful language and literacy interventions. She has conducted evidence-based language and literacy instruction in English- and Spanish-speaking settings. Dr. Culatta, professor of Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University, completed her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh and a postdoctoral fellowship from Johns Hopkins University.

Speaker Disclosure:

Financial: Barbara Culatta is a professor at Brigham Young University. She is the author of numerous chapters and articles and receives royalties from Plural Publishing. Dr. Culatta receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.

Non-financial: Barbara Culatta is the creator of the SEEL (Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy).