Dr. Lindy J. Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Foundations & Social Advocacy Department at SUNY Cortland. 

Guided by a dis/ability critical race (DisCrit) theoretical framework, Lindy's research examines the intersections of language, literacy, and assessments. Using both critical quantitative (QuantCrit) and qualitative approaches, she investigates how structural inequity and systemic oppressions such as racism and ableism impact educational assessments. Her work aims to understand how these factors shape the lives of students who are marginalized by the educational system. The goal of her research is to promote social justice and expand equitable learning opportunities for students by examining current special education policies and practices, developing partnerships between schools and communities, and envisioning assessment practices that are equitable for all students. Specifically, her work centers students who use varieties of American English, examining how assessment practices penalize linguistic variation and what more equitable alternatives might look like. 

Before starting her doctoral degree, Lindy worked in the Michigan public schools as an elementary teacher and reading interventionist for over 10 years. She served on the school’s MTSS team, provided staff training in reading assessment, and built relationships with families. She is a proud first-generation college graduate, earning her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Calvin University, her Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) in psychology from Central Michigan University, and PhD in special education from Michigan State University. When she is not teaching or writing, Lindy enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time with her children – both the two in college and the two feline ones.