In the News

Jennifer Hoffman, associate professor of educational foundations, leadership and policy and faculty member in the Center for Leadership in Athletics, was quoted in a Diverse Issues in Higher Education article about the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo ― delayed last year due to COVID-19 ― and its connection to the stagnation of diversity in college sports. In addition to representing their country, many Olympic athletes also represent their chosen higher education institution and diversity within collegiate sports has plateaued. Hoffman shares that to create significant change, institutions and athletic boards need to make a conscious effort to hire a "critical mass" of diverse persons in leadership roles like coaching and expand their reach into youth programs to eliminate barriers tied to cost and location prohibitions. For low-income students to make to the collegiate level and beyond, they need access to role models they can relate to as well as good nutrition and training. "The system as it is doesn't support [underserved student-athletes] with the athletic training they need to perform at a high level," Hoffman shares.

The UW Dream Project, co-sponsored by the College of Education and Undergraduate Academic Affairs to improve college access, presents its "Live the Dream" scholarships to area high school students.

Associate professor of Educational Foundations, Leadership & Policy and director of the Education Policy Analytics Lab (EPAL) Min Sun is featured in an article in Education Week titled “Paraprofessionals: As the ‘Backbones’ of the Classroom, They Get Low Pay, Little Support.” In the article, Min commented that more districts are starting to realize that supporting paraprofessionals can be one pathway toward diversifying the teaching profession and that paraprofessionals as a group are much more likely to be racially diverse than teachers. Min also noted that going through the teacher certification process shouldn’t be the only form of professional growth for paraeducators, and that many are happy where they are.

Professor Nancy Beadie discusses the UW College of Education's approach to helping future teachers understand the contexts in which they'll be working.

Professor Ken Zeichner discusses potential problems in the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the lowering of standards for teachers (at 31 minute mark of program).

Alumna Elizabeth Walsh (PhD '12) appeared on NPR's Science Friday to discuss challenges and approaches to teaching climate change science in the classroom.

Mary Fertakis (MEP '13) and her work on behalf of marginalized populations, including more than two decades of service on the Tukwila School Board, are profiled.

Tom Halverson, director of the UW Master's in Education Policy program, comments on why some military families choose to homeschool their children.

Professor Megan Bang discusses her work with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, native communities and cultural identity.

Professor Holly Schindler discusses a program in which low-income fathers film their everyday moments with their children as a way to help them strengthen their parenting skills.