Meet Dena

Greetings! I am Dr. Dena Moss Moten, an educator and school leader with over 20 years of experience across public, private, and charter school settings. Throughout my career, I've served as an academic interventionist, a lead teacher, and in administration. In each of these roles, I've had the privilege of guiding student growth, mentoring teachers, and helping schools build strong partnerships with families and communities.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that all students have the capacity to master learning when effective mediation is provided by the instructor. I am a strong advocate of Mediated Learning Experience (MLE), an approach that emphasizes the teacher’s role as a guide who intentionally shapes the learning experience through dialogue, questioning, and structured support. Rather than simply delivering information, the teacher guides students in developing the cognitive tools they need to process, reflect, and apply knowledge meaningfully.

As a lead teacher, I taught students from first through fifth grade, as well as high school English. My focus in the elementary grades was building strong literacy foundations through phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Trained in the Science of Reading, I have implemented interventions using HillRAP (95 RAP), HD Word, and the University of Kansas Reading Program. Currently, I support MTSS by analyzing assessment data and delivering targeted reading interventions to elementary and middle school students.

I hold a Doctor of Education and a Master of Divinity in Counseling from Southeastern Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from North Carolina Central University, where I graduated magna cum laude. I've also had the opportunity to expand my cultural perspective through travel to Kenya, Egypt, and Israel. Most importantly, my husband Randolph and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage in December.

I am passionate about equipping young learners with the tools they need to become confident, independent readers. My goal is always to create learning environments where students feel seen, challenged, and empowered to reach their full potential.