Amy J. Heineke

Amy J. Heineke, PhD, is a professor in the School of Education at Loyola University Chicago, where she specializes in multilingual teaching and learning and prepares educators to work with culturally and linguistically diverse students, particularly emergent bilingual learners. Her research focuses on teacher education for culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms, including linguistically responsive pedagogy, language policy in practice, and instructional supports that integrate students’ language development with disciplinary learning.

Heineke began her career as a classroom teacher in Phoenix, Arizona, working with primarily Mexican immigrant students labeled as English learners, experience that continues to shape her work in teacher education and professional development for PK–12 schools. She has authored multiple books and numerous peer‑reviewed articles and chapters on educator preparation and curriculum design for multilingual learners, including Using Understanding by Design in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classroom, co‑authored with Jay McTighe.