Around the College
Bevan edits new book on research-practice partnerships
Bronwyn Bevan, senior research scientist, is co-editor of the new book "Connecting Research and Practice for Educational Improvement: Ethical and Equitable Approaches." The volume presents powerful arguments for how more collaborative relationships between researchers and educators can yield more relevant research that impacts practice.
Bevan and Philip Bell co-authored, with two others, the chapter “Learning, Generalizing, and Local Sense-Making in Research-Practice Partnerships.”
“Connecting Research and Practice for Educational Improvement” presents powerful arguments and richly illustrated cases for how more collaborative relationships between researchers and educators can yield more relevant research that impacts practice. This book can be useful for anyone teaching or learning about research–practice partnerships, in both school and out-of-school settings. The chapters highlight the different dispositions and skills needed to cultivate ethical relationships and promote equity through partnerships and provide rich frameworks for guiding future work.
Play and youths’ views of natural world
What do young children from diverse cultural communities think about the natural world? Professor Megan Bang is co-author of a new article in the Journal of Cognition and Development exploring that question: “Children’s Play with a Forest Diorama as a Window into Ecological Cognition.”
New articles explore ‘Snack Talk,’ using mobile tech to communicate with parents
Faculty members Ariane Gauvreau and Susan Sandall recently published “Using Mobile Technologies to Communicate With Parents and Caregivers” in the journal Young Exceptional Children. In their article, the UW researchers share findings on how educators can communicate and connect with all families in a meaningful way.
Gauvreau also had her article “Using “Snack Talk” to Support Social Communication in Inclusive Preschool Classrooms” published in the same journal.
Resources on Next Gen Science & Engineering Practices in Education
Philip Bell, Shauna C. Larson Chair in Learning Sciences, recently shared thoughts and resources related to science and engineering practices in K-12 education under the NRC Framework and Next Generation Science Standards in a Twitter Moment.
Advice and resources for establishing instructional leadership teams
What are the characteristics and key actions of instructional leadership teams, and what does growth in practice look like over time? In a recent blog post from the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership, project director Sandy Austin and her co-authors describe a partnership between CEL and the Florida Association of School Administrators, Florida Department of Education and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Parker joins Justice Sotomayor in civic education summit
Professor Walter Parker recently met with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and others at a Washington State Civic Education summit on Wednesday at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. Justice Sotomayor called for more robust civic education in Washington schools. Before Sotomayor addressed the group, Parker moderated a panel that included Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykda, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Superintendent Kevin McKay of Sunnyside School District.
Lott appointed to Gates Open Research Advisory Board
Professor Joe Lott has been appointed to a two-year term on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Open Research Advisory Board. The board provides strategic guidance and thought leadership in support of the Gates Open Research publishing platform. Board members act as ambassadors and advocates of the publishing platform and engage major stakeholders involved in research communication.
Bell on promoting equity across systems of science education
Philip Bell, Shauna C. Larson Chair in Learning Sciences, with Ellen Ebert, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, engaged the Washington State Board of Education in an interactive session “Promoting equity and justice through science standards implementation” on how to promote equity across systems of science education in January. View slides of their presentation.
Fink to present at the California CISC Leadership Symposium
On February 22, Executive Director Stephen Fink will share what the UW Center for Educational Leadership is learning about creating systemwide support for principals in a presentation at the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association’s 2018 CISC Leadership Symposium. Learn more about Fink’s session.
Faculty receive new grants
College of Education faculty receiving awards for new grants and competing renewals in January 2018 were: Filiberto Barajas- López, Ana Elfers, Angel Fettig, Meredith Honig, Ann Ishimaru, Gail Joseph, Kristie Kauerz, Margaret Plecki, Lydia Rainey, Janet Soderberg, Min Sun.
New Awards
PI: Ana Elfers
Co-Investigators: Margaret Plecki
Title: TPEP’s Influence and Impact on Instructional Leadership, Professional Learning and Workload for School Leaders
Sponsor: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Amount awarded: $200,000
PI: Angel Fettig
Title: Development and Testing of the Family Behavior Support App
Sponsor: Vanderbilt University (Originating Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences)
Amount awarded: $57,194 (Year 1 of 2)
PI: Meredith Honig
Co-Investigators: Lydia Rainey
Title: Leaders at the Center: A research-practice partnership for advancing school district central office research, leadership practice and systems
Sponsor: Spencer Foundation
Amount awarded: $400,000
PI: Ann Ishimaru
Co-Investigators: Filiberto Barajas- López & Min Sun
Title: Collaborating to Build School and Systems Capacity for Racial Equity
Sponsor: Spencer Foundation
Amount awarded: $400,000
PI: Gail Joseph
Co-Investigators: Janet Soderberg
Title: Seattle PS Program Evaluation
Sponsor: City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning
Amount awarded: $287,255
PI: Kristie Kauerz
Title: Inside P-3: Researching and Leading for System Perspectives
Sponsor: The Heising-Simons Foundation
Amount awarded: $227,490
Student News
Kristy Herrmann, a first-year master’s student in instructional leadership and teacher in Seattle Public Schools, testified in front of the Washington State House Early Learning & Human Services Committee, on behalf of HB 2659: Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. Watch her testimony starting at 32:48.
Alumni News
UW College of Education faculty members Kenneth Zeichner and John Bransford, along with alumni Gloria Ladson-Billings (MA ‘72) and Tyrone Howard (PhD '98), are listed among the nation's most influential scholars shaping educational practice and policy in the 2018 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings.