Sarah Fishstrom
she/her
Assistant Professor
Special Education
Areas of Expertise
- Special Education and Disability Studies
Keywords
Learning Difficulties, Anxiety, Reading
Research Methodologies
- Qualitative Methods
- Quantitative Methods
Research Levels
- K–12
Research Overview
Dr. Sarah Fishstrom’s primary research agenda focuses on understanding the relation between anxiety and achievement for students with learning difficulties. More specifically, she is interested in better understanding the relation between reading difficulties and reading anxiety to support students who have persevering reading difficulties. She also seeks to understand how to better support classroom teachers with accessing and utilizing evidence- based practices including culturally responsive reading supports for diverse classrooms, including a range of English proficiency. Through considering social emotional supports (with a focus on anxiety) and culturally responsive practices as integral elements in instruction -and not separate from academic supports- she hopes to help students reach their academic potential.
- Fishstrom, S., Capin, P., Hamilton, B., Payne, S. B., Dahl-Leonard, K., Dille, J., Wang, H., & Vaughn, S. (2025). A meta-analysis of the effects of academic interventions on academic and academic anxiety outcomes in secondary students. Journal of School Psychology, 110, 101433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101433
- Martinez, L. R., Fishstrom, S., Vaughn, S., Capin, P., Carlson, C. D., Andress, T. T., & Francis, D. J. (2024). Supporting knowledge and language acquisition of secondary emergent bilinguals through social studies instruction. Reading Research Quarterly, 59(3), 349–370. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.541
- Fishstrom, S., Capin, P., Fall, A. M., Roberts, G., Grills, A. E., & Vaughn, S. (2024). Understanding the relation between reading and anxiety among upper elementary students with reading difficulties. Annals of Dyslexia, 74(1), 123–141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11881-024-00299-7
- Fishstrom, S., Wang, H. H., Bhat, B. H., Daniel, J., Dille, J., Capin, P., & Vaughn, S. (2022). A meta-analysis of the effects of academic interventions on academic achievement and academic anxiety outcomes in elementary school children. Journal of School Psychology, 92, 265–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2022.03.011
- Fishstrom, S. (2026, July). Inclusive reading instruction: Integrating high-leverage practices, quality environment and emotional supports. Masterclass, Successful Learning Conference 2026, University of Sydney, online.
- Fishstrom, S. (2026, June). Understanding the fine-grained nuances in anxiety-achievement relations. Keynote presentation, Successful Learning Conference 2026, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Fishstrom, S. (2026, June). Special and general educators’ perspectives on evidence-based instructional literacy practices in Hawaiʻi. Presentation at the International Association of Special Education Conference, Thimphu, Bhutan.
- Fishstrom, S., Schnakenberg, J., & Solis, M. (2026, June). Multi-tiered systems of support for adolescent literacy: Train the trainer. Four-day professional development institute, Hawaiʻi Department of Education, Honolulu, HI.
- Fishstrom, S., Cook, S. C., Schnakenberg, J., & Solis, M. (2025–2026). Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant Projects. Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant ($123,000 in project funding). Two funded initiatives: Hawaiʻi Reading Programs List and Technical Guide and statewide Adolescent Literacy Train-the-Trainer professional development.
- Fishstrom, S., & Simpson Steele, J. (2024–Current). Well-Being Module Development and Program Evaluation. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Developed, implemented, and evaluated well-being modules for teacher candidates across College of Education programs.
- Fishstrom, S., Payne, B., Chatzoglou, E., King, S. G., Haggerty, N., & Vaughn, S. (2024–Current). National multi-site focus group replication study examining special and general education teachers’ views of evidence-based instructional practices.
- International Association for Special Education (IASE)
- International MTSS Association (IMA)
- Editorial Board Member, Journal of School Psychology, 2026–Current
- Advisory Member, Well-Being Module Development, University of Utah, 2026–Current
- Consultant (2026–Current). MTSS Implementation. Hālau Kū Māna New Century Public Charter School, Honolulu, HI.
- Consultant (2023–Current). Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, Austin, TX.