About

J. Scott Baker, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Secondary Education, has been in the Department of Teacher Development at St. Cloud State University since 2021. Previously, he taught in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L) from 2015-2021. He earned his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and holds teaching licenses in both Texas and Wisconsin in English and Speech Communication (grades 6-12).

Dr. Baker’s research focuses on voice and social justice advocacy in education, investigated from a variety of perspectives, namely arts-based inquiry, poetic inquiry, speech & debate education, LGBTIQ+ identities, and undergraduate research. His work also focuses on teacher identity and the formation of identity based on lived experiences - individual and as a society.

Dr. Baker previously taught high school English, debate, and speech for 18 years in urban settings in Houston (Cypress Creek HS, Cypress Ridge HS, Jersey Village HS) and Ft. Worth, Texas (Haltom HS), coaching local, state, and national winners. He also competed in high school and college. Dr. Baker was recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in 2017 with its highest single honor for Speech, Debate & Theatre education, and has earned his Third Diamond with the National Speech & Debate Association. He regularly helps coordinate and facilitate contests and professional development for the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association, much as he did for the University Interscholastic League and Texas Speech Communication Association, as well as serving as secretary of the Texas Forensic Association. Currently, Dr. Baker serves as an equity officer for numerous speech and debate interscholastic competitions.

Dr. Baker and his husband, Adam J. Jacobi, are members of the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for LGBTIQ+ equality. They have three adult sons.