The Transformative Power of Grammar Education: Meet Dr. Jennifer Roach ’21
Written by Amanda Mathis
Dr. Jennifer Roach ’21‘s journey began with a love of learning at a young age. Her sights were set on the classroom after college graduation, as she began her career as a teacher, then transitioned to an administrator, and now serves as the Principal of Riverside Middle School in Pendleton, SC.
Yet, she began to see a lack of focus on grammar education and grew concerned about the potential negative effects of this trend. In the realm of education, there’s an undeniable truth: effective communication is the foundation of success.
“When I started my career, teaching grammar was discouraged and was not a focus or priority in most classrooms,” said Roach. “However, I felt that we should be teaching all students how to understand the structure of the English language so that they can utilize it as readers and writers.”
Driven by determination, Dr. Roach earned her Doctorate in the Professional Leadership (EdD) program alongside her mother, Wanda Cody. “We were the first mother-daughter graduates of the program,” reflected Roach. Together, they became pioneers, breaking barriers and demonstrating that dedication leads to high achievements.
“Pursuing a doctoral degree is the aspiring goal, and it is often challenging to juggle personal, professional, and life in general as a researcher.”
Dr. Keshia Jackson Gilliam
“Pursuing a doctoral degree is the aspiring goal, and it is often challenging to juggle personal, professional, and life in general as a researcher,” said Keshia Jackson Gilliam, EdD, Associate Vice President Director of Human Resources. “Jennifer was part of our first cohort and was the model graduate student. Her work was exemplary; she persevered through many obstacles to present a phenomenal dissertation with a panel of authors and content experts that further validated her remarkable ability to support her research!”
While at Converse, Dr. Roach worked on her dissertation, “The Effect of Systematic Grammar Instruction on Academic Ability,” which she successfully defended to the Graduate School of Converse University in May 2021. She continued her research to prove her theory that grammar has a strong place in the classroom. Her high-quality work earned her recognition when she received the Thomas McDaniel Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation, a prestigious award in the field of education. It was then that she realized that something special, such as her simple love for grammar, needed to be turned into a resource for teachers; “I decided to turn my thesis into a tool to help educators,” she said.
“I decided to turn my thesis into a tool to help educators.”
Dr. Jennifer Roach
Thus, her book, Getting the Gist of the English Language, Using Systematic Grammar Instruction to Improve Academic Writing Ability, was born.
Determined to make a change, Dr. Roach dedicated her evenings and weekends to researching and developing innovative teaching methods for grammar instruction. Her work culminated in the compilation of her findings into a comprehensive book, which introduces the innovative GIST model, emphasizing inquiry-based learning and viewing grammar as a dynamic, interconnected system. The text incorporates four-level sentence analysis, plans grammar instruction in units, modernizes instruction beyond skill-and-drill worksheets by incorporating online resources and artificial intelligence tools, and integrates grammar instruction into writing instruction. Additionally, the book provides key tools for educators, including a glossary of grammatical terms, a vertical alignment plan, and sample lesson plans to enhance their teaching and inspire student success while also shedding light on the historical challenges of grammar education.
“Working with her as a student and observing her impressive career path has influenced me to work even harder to improve Converse’s doctoral program so that it can meet the needs of all professionals who have a plan that needs the opportunity afforded by a doctorate that lets them do research in a variety of fields and from a variety of perspectives,” said Dr. Lienne Medford, Dean of the Graduate School. “Jennifer is one of our first and finest, and it has been a privilege to teach and know her as a person.”
“Dr. Roach’s commitment was clear: every student is worthy of the opportunity to communicate effectively and confidently.”
The impact of her work isn’t confined to the pages of her book; it has sparked a movement. What began as Dr. Roach’s mission quickly spread beyond her school. The book advocates for high expectations for all students, regardless of their background, and has caught the attention of educational leaders in the area, leading to workshops and seminars on grammar instruction. This spring, Dr. Roach presented at the William & Mary Center for Gifted Education’s Gifted and Talented National Curriculum Networking Conference.
Dr. Roach’s commitment was clear: every student is worthy of the opportunity to communicate effectively and confidently. Her work of integrating modern resources and approaches while highlighting the past enables educators to cultivate a love for language in all students, empowering learners to excel.