Alumni News

As a third grader, Veronica Whitley (MEd '17) didn't think of herself as "good" at school.

Needing extra support in reading and writing, Whitley's teacher, Mr. Leonard, was one of her first mentors.

"He showed me that school could be fun and also really believed in me," Whitley said.

Thanks to Mr. Leonard's mentorship, Whitley found herself transforming from a struggling student into a confident, eager learner.

As an undergraduate, Sue Feldman (PhD ‘10) fell in love with the study of learning.

That passion led her to teaching in an elementary classroom, where she’d be able to engage with student learning on a daily basis.

Soon after entering the profession, however, Feldman started observing the social factors that can make a significant impact on student learning. Seeing the negative effects of bias in classrooms and schools was an eye-opening experience.

In diverse schools, creating a sense of belonging for students and faculty of all backgrounds can be a challenge that directly impacts one’s ability to learn and succeed.

University of Utah professor Irene Yoon (PhD ‘11) is familiar with the feeling of being an outsider after having lived in urban and rural places on both coasts. She understands the experience of learning new cultures while adjusting to various resources and relationships.

By harnessing the power of data, Michelle Zimmerman (MEd '07, PhD '11) is helping set the standard for how educators can use technology as a tool to empower kids’ learning.

The innovative approach to teaching and learning taken by Zimmerman, the nationally-recognized director of Renton Prep, was sparked by watching her mother, a special education teacher who enjoyed bringing new practices into her classroom.

In the midst of Seattle’s booming economy, many citizens find themselves struggling with a widening socioeconomic gap. Sheila Edwards Lange (PhD '06) is working to create education and career opportunities for those whose future in the city is at risk.

Since her appointment as president of Seattle Central College in 2015, Lange’s focus is making sure that all Seattle residents have access to education, earn a living wage and contribute to a vibrant community.

Boring. Stressful. Humiliating.

For many students, those are the feelings most commonly associated with math class.

Tracy Zager (MIT ‘02) grew up loving to solve puzzles and riddles, but by high school a series of bad experiences put her on the brink of giving up math altogether. One of Zager’s family friends made her promise to give it another try in college, however, and her experience in an experimental, project-based calculus class changed her perspective forever.

Immigration. Gun control. Abortion. Gay rights. Religion. Are these and other polarizing topics too controversial to be discussed in today’s high school classrooms?

According to Diana Hess (PhD '98), co-winner of the 2017 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Education, teachers should encourage conversations about difficult political issues because that’s the very nature of a democratic education and those discussions help students understand diverse points of view and become more politically engaged adults.

Gary Cohn (PhD '99), superintendent of Everett Public Schools since 2009, has been named 2017 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).

Cohn, who earned his doctorate in education and superintendent leadership credentials from the University of Washington College of Education, was honored for his leadership in Everett, which is recognized statewide and nationally for student achievement.