UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1245 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 1245

Submission ID: 20821

Submission UUID: 93ce7a97-90e1-4f79-a734-2438fe63897f

Submission URI: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal

Submission Update: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?token=6JO7uh34L0hfC3krK1DIiTh2NJaNIjgu1LjY3I9Wvf4

Created: Mon, 08/18/2025 - 10:24 AM

Completed: Mon, 08/18/2025 - 02:37 PM

Changed: Tue, 09/02/2025 - 08:59 AM

Remote IP address: 76.140.134.181

Submitted by: Anonymous

Language: English

Is draft: No

Webform: UROP Project Proposal Portal

Submitted to: UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal

Research Mentor Information

Primary Research Mentor Name Shaylyn King-St.Remy

Research Mentor Preferred Pronouns she/her/hers

When potential research assistants are reaching out via email, what is your preferred honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) sk10n@fsu.edu

Position Title Graduate Student

Faculty Advisor Name Dr. Lakeisha Johnson

Faculty Advisor's FSU Email lrjohnson@fsu.edu

FSU College (if applicable) Communication and Information

FSU Department or Non-FSU Organization Affiliation School of Communication Science & Disorders

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Additional Research Mentor(s)

Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from above) {Empty}

Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Pronouns {Empty}

Research Assistant Supervisor Preferred Honorific? {Empty}

Contact Email (FSU Email if affiliated) {Empty}

Name of Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) (if applicable) {Empty}

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Other Faculty/Collaborator(s) Preferred Honorific? {Empty}

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Overall Project Details

Title of the Project Bridging the Gap: Paraprofessionals’ Roles and Training Needs in Emergent Literacy Support

Project Keywords Paraprofessionals, Reading, Preschool, Teachers, Opinions

Are you currently looking for research assistants? Yes

Number of Research Assistants Needed 2

Relevant Research Assistant Major(s) Speech-Language, Education, SPED, Psychology, Social Work, and Family-Child.

Project Location: On FSU Main Campus

If the project location is off campus, does the research assistant(s) need to provide their own transportation? No, the project is remote

Please select the choice that most accurately describes your expectations for the research assistant(s): Fully Remote

Approximately how many hours a week would the research assistant(s) need to work? 5

Roughly what time frame do you expect research assistant(s) to work? Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)

Overall Research Project Description This qualitative (non-numerical information to understand people’s experiences, opinions, and behaviors) study explores how paraprofessionals perceive their role in supporting early literacy development in preschool settings. Despite being essential members of the early childhood education workforce, many paraprofessionals lack adequate training to implement effective literacy practices. Through interviews, surveys, and thematic analysis, this research aims to identify barriers paraprofessionals face, evaluate their current knowledge and confidence levels, and assess their professional development needs. Findings will inform the design of targeted training programs to enhance literacy outcomes for young learners. Research assistants will assist with data collection, transcription, survey analysis, and coding of qualitative data.

Research Tasks Research assistants will need to: (1) meet regularly with the researcher (2) participate in initial and ongoing training. (3) code interview data with the primary investigator to establish reliability and fidelity. Research assistants will also support the project by conducting literature reviews, assist with participant recruitment and communication (i.e-drafting of emails or flyers), during data collection they may help schedule focus groups and transcribe interview recordings, and lastly support quantitative data entry and analysis by summarizing survey results.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Research assistants should have strong communication, organization, and time management skills to support collaboration and keep tasks on track. Attention to detail is important for accurate transcription, data entry, and coding. A basic understanding of research methods, including qualitative (non-numerical information to understand people’s experiences, opinions, and behaviors) and quantitative analysis (collecting numerical data that can be measured and analyzed statistically), is helpful, along with comfort using tools like Google Drive, survey platforms, and transcription software.

Mentoring Philosophy Mentoring Philosophy
Shaylyn King-St.Remy’s
At the heart of my mentoring philosophy is a simple but profound belief: You belong here. This message is not conditional, nor is it symbolic—it is foundational. Every student, regardless of background, identity, or educational history, brings essential perspectives that enrich our learning environment.
I intentionally cultivate inclusive, equitable, and humanizing spaces where students can thrive as their full selves. This includes honoring the identities that each student brings to the classroom. I believe that education should not ask students to leave parts of themselves at the door, but rather invite them to bring their whole selves into the learning experience.
My goal as an educator is not only to transmit knowledge, but to co-create it with students in ways that are rigorous, relevant, and justice-oriented. I believe in holding high academic expectations alongside deep compassion. Learning is nonlinear and growth is continuous; mistakes are a necessary part of the process. I encourage my students to give themselves—and each other—grace, while remaining committed to honest self-reflection and mutual accountability.
I also see teaching as a reciprocal practice. I strive to remain open to feedback and flexible in my methods, always willing to adapt to better meet the needs of my students. If at any point students need something different from me—whether in terms of instruction, communication, or support—I encourage them to share that with me. I aim to model the kind of vulnerability, reflection, and adaptability I ask of my students.

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Are you interested in participating in the UROP Research Mentor Roundtable? Yes

Roundtable times and Zoom links {Empty}

Roundtable Info

Day: Friday, September 5
Start Time: 3:30
End Time: 4:00
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/91220284658
Day: Wednesday, September 3
Start Time: 4:00
End Time: 4:30
Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/93510925981

UROP Program Elements

Mentor Handbook, FAQs, and Communication Yes

UROP Performance Evaluation Yes

Materials Grant Yes

UROP Poster Presentation Yes

Faculty Advisor Confirmation Yes

Are you interested in attending in a UROP Research Mentor Workshop Series? Yes

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Year 2025

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