Rate My Professor Betty Coneway

Dr. Betty Coneway, Ph.D., serves as Department Head and Professor of Education in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences at West Texas A&M University. She also holds the endowed position of Dr. Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Sciences, appointed in 2021 to advance scholarship, research, and instruction. Additionally, she is Program Chair for Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in Literacy Education and Early Childhood, and oversees the Reading Specialist Certification program. Coneway joined West Texas A&M University in 2007 as a part-time instructor in early childhood education, following a career as a classroom teacher and administrator in the Hereford Independent School District. She earned a B.S. in Education from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, along with degrees from West Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. Her teaching certifications include generalist, reading specialist, English as a Second Language, and elementary education. Coneway's research focuses on early identification of dyslexia, supporting families of students with dyslexia, early childhood intervention, and early writing development. She is a member of the West Texas A&M University Center for Learning Disabilities and has contributed to investigations on culturally and linguistically diverse learners.

Coneway has published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Applied Research on Children, Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education, Texas Journal of Literacy Education, and the European Journal of Education Sciences. Notable publications include 'The Unique Challenges and Best Practices for Rural School Principals: Attracting and Retaining Skilled Teachers in Small Communities' (2023, co-authored with Ray Barbosa Jr.) and 'A Mixed Methods Investigation of Cross-Age Reading Tutoring' (2021, co-authored with Kathi Haynes and Audrey Meador). Her scholarly work also appears in outlets addressing preparation of preservice teachers with children's literature and parents' perspectives on academic interventions. Among her honors, Coneway was inducted into The Texas A&M University System's Chancellor’s Academy of Teacher Educators in the 2020-21 cohort, receiving a $1,000 stipend, medallion, and certificate for her excellence in teacher preparation. As department head, she leads efforts in educator preparation, including scholarships for future teachers and professional development initiatives.