Academic degree originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Shannon O'Day received her bachelor's degree in humanities with a specialization in medieval literature from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. O'Day received her master's in reading education from California State Fullerton, where she was awarded outstanding graduate student. Her doctorate in language and literacy is from Georgia State University, and her work at Georgia State centered upon using creative drama as a literacy strategy.
Shannon's first book, Setting the Stage for Creative Writing, Plot Scaffolds for Beginning and Intermediate Writers is a combination of her love of myth, plays, and writing. This book won the International Association Book Club Award for August, 2006. Shannon has taught in elementary and middle school, including gifted education and adult literacy. She holds National Board Certification in English Language/Arts Early Adolescence. She also teaches online courses in literacy for both Capella University and the University of Phoenix.
Shannon has published articles on literacy scaffolds for Gifted Child Today and Primary Voices.