Biography

Dr. Shawn Datchuk is a Professor of Special Education at the University of Iowa. Previously, he was the Director of the Iowa Reading Research Center, a K-12 special education teacher, elementary teacher, and academic director. He received his PhD in Special Education from Pennsylvania State University. He researches evidence-based methods to improve the writing and related literacy skills of K-12 students with and without disabilities. He has over 30 peer-reviewed publications, has delivered 70+ conference presentations, and has helped secure and manage over $16 million in federal and state funding. He serves on the editorial boards of eight peer-reviewed journals and is the chair of the research committee of the Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children.

Media Appearances

Interviewed, Fox News (2026, January) regarding research on cursive handwriting. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6387542775112

Interviewed, The Washington Post (2026, January) regarding research on cursive handwriting. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/01/03/cursive-writing-school-clubs

Interviewed, Iowa Magazine (2026, January) regarding research on cursive handwriting. https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=2594

Interviewed, Progressively Incorrect podcast (2025, August) on writing instruction research. https://educationrickshaw.com/2025/08/10/s4e39-shawn-datchuk-on-teaching-sentence-construction-with-precision/

Interviewed, Radio Iowa (2025, July) on new handwriting applications. https://www.radioiowa.com/2025/07/31/ui-rolls-out-new-tool-to-help-kids-learn-to-write-in-cursive/

Interviewed, KCRG Everyday Iowa (2024, July) regarding handwriting instruction. https://www.kcrg.com/video/2024/07/23/everyday-iowa-iowa-reading-research-center/

Interviewed, Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa (2024, June) regarding early literacy practices (2024). https://www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/talk-of-iowa/2024-05-21/reading-center-education-reel-hope-project-families-foster-adoption

Interviewed, The Gazette Cedar Rapids (2024, July) regarding importance of handwriting instruction. https://www.thegazette.com/higher-education/university-of-iowa-researchers-hopeful-for-reading-gains-from-state-cursive-standards/

Interviewed, The Literacy View podcast (2024, July) regarding literacy interventions for handwriting and sentence writing. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/85-lifting-literacy-through-handwriting-instruction/id1614519794?i=1000663391717

Interviewed, the Triple R Teaching podcast (2024, July) regarding handwriting instruction. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-again-answers-to-all-your-questions-about-teaching/id1498200908?i=1000721461382