Dr. Jessica Hardy

Assistant Professor
Pod 6, 608-C, CEPS Complex
256-782-5092
jlcannon@jsu.edu 

Dr. Jessica Hardy (Cannon) is an Assistant Professor at Jacksonville State University, where she is in her third year preparing future educators in early childhood and elementary literacy. Dr. Hardy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University in 2007 and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University in 2008. She continued her graduate studies at the University of West Alabama, earning an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Elementary Education in 2012. In 2021, she earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
Dr. Hardy brings more than 18 years of experience in education, including eight years as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher and eight years as an instructional coach in a large school district. As an instructional coach, she specialized in early literacy and language development, the Science of Reading, number sense development, assessment and data collection, and using data to inform school-wide, grade-level, and classroom improvement. She also supported schools in implementing MTSS and RTI and utilized student-centered coaching to build teacher capacity and improve outcomes for students. Her professional experience also includes training in Conscious Discipline and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for K–5 classrooms. In addition, she has experience with screening and intervention for dyslexia and dysgraphia, giving her a strong understanding of the importance of early identification and targeted intervention for students with learning difficulties.
Dr. Hardy’s research interests include early literacy development, early intervention, best practices in early childhood education, and the well-being of both students and educators.