About

Scholar. Practitioner. Educator.
Dr. Teyuna T. Darris is a certified Elementary Educator, Academic Intervention Specialist, and Communication Scholar. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication from Liberty University and a Master of Arts in Communications Management from Webster University. Her professional practice operates at the intersection of evidence-based primary instruction, family engagement, and community literacy.

Her work operates at the intersection of Academic Theory and Professional Practice:

Scholar
Dr. Darris’s doctoral research, “African American Parents’ Perceptions of How Their Digital Practices Affect the Parent-Child Relationship,” examined the complex impact of digital media on family dynamics and communication patterns. In an educational setting, this advanced research directly informs her ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with families, ensuring academic continuity between the classroom and the home.

Educator
A holder of the Missouri Career Professional Certificate (CPC) for elementary education, Dr. Darris possesses deep expertise in foundational literacy and numeracy intervention. Grounded in the Science of Reading (LETRS) and structured mathematics (Kansas Math Project), her classroom practice focuses on building cognitive stamina and independent critical thinking. She has served as a certified classroom teacher and standards-based curriculum writer, designing rigorous, accessible frameworks that bridge the gap between educational research and daily classroom instruction.

Practitioner
Drawing upon a robust background as a former strategic communications consultant, Dr. Darris now directs her extensive expertise in public relations, grant writing, and digital media entirely toward educational advocacy. Today, she leverages these high-level communication skills to build and manage her own initiatives focused on foundational literacy, numeracy, and instructional design. Additionally, she remains committed to community empowerment by providing pro-bono strategic communications support to select local nonprofits and grassroots entrepreneurs.

Curator
A passionate advocate for the literary arts, Dr. Darris is the founder of Stanza & Story, a literary platform and publishing house dedicated to exploring the intersection of literature and culture. She also leads Cadence & Verge, a cultural journalism initiative documenting regional identity. Her work captures regional narratives—including the “Cornbread Chronicles”—and curates poetry and prose, reinforcing her deep commitment to literacy and the preservation of the written word.

Civic Leadership
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Darris is committed to equitable community advocacy. She is a graduate of the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows Program and has served as an appointed Trustee for the Ferguson Municipal Public Library Board, helping to guide one of the region’s most vital educational and community institutions.