Amy Maples is a clinical assistant professor of elementary education in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to this role, Maples was a second grade teacher for six years. After completing her PhD program in 2022, she became a post-doctoral research associate in the Center for Enhancing Education in Mathematics and Sciences (CEEMS), where she took part in research and efforts focused on community engagement and supporting preservice and inservice teachers in various areas of STEM and literacy instruction. Her research focuses on a range of topics within areas of children’s literature, STEM education, and educator professional learning. Maples is also an affiliated faculty member of the Tennessee Reading Research Center (TRRC).