Dr. Gail Tompkins passed away on November 1, 2017.
Dr. Tompins was a professor for the LEBSE department from 1989-2004 and served as San Joaquin Valley Writing Project director from 1992-2005. She was a prolific and influential writer about literacy and influenced the practices of many people.
Dr. Tompkins authored three books published by Merrill/Prentice Hall: Teaching Writing: Balancing Process and Product, 3rd ed. (2000), 50 Literacy Strategies (1998), and Language Arts: Content and Teaching Strategies, 4th ed. (1998). She has also written numerous articles related to reading and language arts that have appeared in The Reading Teacher, Language Arts, and other professional journals.
She had many accomplishments throughout her life. In 1986 Dr. Tompkins taught at the University of Oklahoma and received the Regents’ Award for Superior Teaching. In 2000, she was awarded the prestigious Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at California State University, Fresno. Dr. Tompkins was also inducted into the California Reading Association’s Reading Hall of Fame in recognition of her publications and other accomplishments in the field of reading.
She will be greatly missed.
Kremen School News 