Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Archives - Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

ELPS Faculty Attend AERA in Toronto, Canada

April 23, 2019 by Jonah Hall

ELPS Faculty Attend AERA in Toronto, Canada

Mary Lynne Derrington, Sonya Hayes, and James Martinez attended the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada. The theme of this year’s meeting was “Leveraging Education Research in a “Post-Truth” Era: Multimodal Narratives to Democratize Evidence.”

Sonya Hayes presented a paper titled Using Improvement Science to (Re)design Leadership Preparation: Exploring PLEs Across 5 University Programs in a symposium on Improvement Science. She also facilitated the selection of the LTEL SIG’s Kottcamp award winner and presented the award at the LTEL SIG’s business meeting. Hayes attended both the DIV K planning meeting, where she is the Co-Chair for Section 10 Teacher Education Learning and Practice (she is on the DIV K planning committee for the 2020 AERA conference in San Antonio), and the DIV A newsletter editorial meeting, where she is one of the Associate Editors for DIV A.

Mary Lynne Derrington presented a paper titled Teachers and Principals: Allied or at Odds After Five Years of New Evaluation Policy Implementation. She also attended a SAGE Publishing reception for her recently published book Qualitative Longitudinal Methods: Researching Implementation and Change.

James Martinez was paired with Heather Hagenbuch (both pictured at right) as her mentor as part of the Boyd Mentorship Program that matches tenure-track professors with doctoral students across the U.S. Heather is a candidate in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Buffalo who is using longitudinal data from the same large National Center of Educational Statistics (NCES) database that he uses in his research. He will be mentoring her for the next year as she completes her doctoral studies in Educational Administration.

Nate Koerber Presents at AERA Annual Meeting in Toronto

April 12, 2019 by Jonah Hall

Nate Koerber Presents at AERA Annual Meeting in Toronto

Nate Koerber, a student in the Leadership Studies program, presented a paper, which he co-authored, titled Allies in Resistance: Black-White Mentorship for Engaging Post-Truth Narratives Within an Urban Teacher Program at the AERA annual meeting in Toronto, Canada, on April 8.

This study examines the mentoring relationship between two Black women professors and two White men working as graduate assistants (GAs) in an Urban Teacher Program (UTP). This work presents an example of mentoring, collaboration, and allyship in anti-racist teacher education that pushes back against “post-truth” and “fake news” as they manifest in narratives about urban schools in the conservative Appalachian region.

Instrumental case study methodology informed by Critical Whiteness Theory and tenets of CRT is used to analyze the relationship carefully crafted within this UTP by Black women professors mentoring White men GAs. Findings hold significance for future research on allyship, teacher education program design, and real-world education contexts P-16+, particularly within an urban education context.

Sonya Hayes Chosen as One of the New Editors for AERA Newsletter

March 4, 2019 by Jonah Hall

Sonya Hayes Chosen as One of the New Editors for AERA Newsletter

Sonya D. Hayes

Sonya D. Hayes, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, has been chosen as one of the new editors for AERA’s Division A newsletter. She will serve a two year appointment beginning in May.

Dean’s Staff Advisory Board Adds Warmth to Inskip Elementary

January 30, 2019 by Jonah Hall

Dean’s Staff Advisory Board Adds Warmth to Inskip Elementary

The children of Inskip Elementary School are a little warmer today thanks to the generous donations of the Dean’s Staff Advisory Board (DSAB) in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

Staff throughout the college gathered new and gently used coats, headbands, scarves, gloves and toboggan caps for the children of Inskip Elementary. Many times, these items are the extras that parents just can’t afford or items children have sometimes lost. The DSAB wanted to make things a little easier and ensure that their children could be warm throughout the chillier days.

The DSAB is comprised of a representative from each of the eight major departments and also includes representatives from centers, grants, and programs throughout the college. This is the second such donation of needed items that the board has gathered and donated to Inskip Elementary. In the past, the board has gathered office supplies and Christmas items for donation to South Knox Elementary School.

Representatives attending the donation today included Wade McGarity, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Kayla Jones, Board Chairperson, from the Dean’s Administrative Staff, and Bonnie Maples, Co-Chairperson, from the college’s Office of Marketing & Communications. The children who so joyfully helped us in receiving the items and being our models included: Elijah Walker, Aliyah Helms, Eliyah Newton & Roseanne Layne.

UTK Attends Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC

November 14, 2018 by Jonah Hall

UTK Attends Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC

More than 40 University of Tennessee Knoxville students (undergraduates and CSP – College Student Personnel), faculty, and Division of Student Life practitioner-educators recently attended the 2018 SACSA Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC (November 3-5, 2018). Below are several highlights from the annual conference.

Tanisha Jenkins (ELPS Doctoral Candidate; Director, UTK Office of Multicultural Student Life) presided over the 2018 conference serving as SACSA President.
Luke Sciuilli (Cohort 2019), Aaron Dixon, Karen Boyd, Talisha Adams, Kelly Phillips, Kerri Lovegrove, Abby Grogan, Danny Glassman, Lori Smith, and David Ndiaye presented at the conference.
Luke Sciulli (Cohort 2019) and Madison Merrifield (Cohort 2019) finished 1^st in the Case Study Competition. Each received a $150 award.
Karis Hill (Cohort 2020) and Olivia Stevens (Cohort 2020) finished 2^nd in the Case Study Competition. Each received a $100 award. (There were 13 teams in the case study competition).
Jheri Wills (Cohort 2019) was the first SACSA Presidential Intern and chaired the Graduate Student Symposium.
Dorian McCoy was awarded the SACSA/CAS Ted K. Miller Award for Excellence (to recognize outstanding accomplishments in advancing standards of practice and quality assurance in educational programs and services in higher education).
We had approximately 30 members of the Vol Nation attend dinner Sunday at the Flying Fish. Thanks to Abigail Brumfield for organizing. Tanisha Jenkins hosted a reception in the Presidential Suite after dinner (just for the Vol Nation).
Chris Ndiritu (Cohort 2018) chaired the Undergraduate Symposium.
The UT Baskets auctioned for $155. For the second consecutive year, the UT Baskets generated the most dollars for the SACSA Foundation. Basket 1 auctioned for $100 and Basket 2 auctioned for $55. Thanks Karis for “putting together” the baskets.

Angelle and McIntyre to Present at Annual UCEA Convention in Houston

November 12, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Angelle and McIntyre to Present at Annual UCEA Convention in Houston

Pamela Angelle and Jim McIntyre will jointly present a paper entitled “Aspiring Leader Internship Experiences in a Full Time and Online Internship” at the annual meeting of the University Council for Education Administration in Houston, Texas, on November 16, 2018. The paper explores the common elements of success between the non-traditional aspiring school leader internships offered by the University of Tennessee’s two prinicpal preparation programs, VOLS Lead and the Leadership Academy. (Pictured above are Rachel Hodges and Michelle Clayton, from the 2017-2018 Leadership Academy Cohort)

Ishitani and Flood Published in Research in Higher Education Journal

October 23, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Ishitani and Flood Published in Research in Higher Education Journal

Congratulations to Dr. Terry Ishitani, Associate Professor of Higher Education, and Lee D. Flood, Higher Education PhD student, whose article “Student Transfer-Out Behavior at Four-Year Institutions” is listed first in the November 2018 issue of Research in Higher Education, one of the leading journals in the Higher Education field.

Online Leadership Studies Program at The University of Tennessee – Knoxville made the ranking of 24th for Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership.

October 23, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Online Leadership Studies Program at The University of Tennessee – Knoxville made the ranking of 24th for Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership.

SR Education Group, a leading education research publisher founded in 2004, has just unveiled their 2019 rankings on GuidetoOnlineSchools.com.The new best online colleges lists are the first to offer all-encompassing rankings of online colleges using up-to-date alumni salary data from PayScale and tuition rates across degree level and program. Inclusion on this list shows high return on investment and commitment to affordability, two key factors for prospective students. The University of Tennessee – Knoxville made the ranking at 24th for Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership.

The full list is available here: https://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/degrees/educational-leadership#best-value-masters

The methodology for these rankings employs median mid-career salary data, as well as manually researched tuition rates. Since salaries differ by degree level and program, SR Education Group utilizes bachelor’s, master’s, and program specific salary data for the rankings. Manually collected tuition rates are also specific to degree level and program.

“We are excited to offer the most comprehensive and diverse collection of online school and program rankings. Our resources give prospective students transparent and accessible information to help them make important decisions about investments in their education and future career paths,” said Sung Rhee, CEO of SR Education Group.

Derrington Presents at COPIS Annual Conference

October 18, 2018 by Jonah Hall

Derrington Presents at COPIS Annual Conference

Mary Lynne Derrington, Associate Professor in Educational Administration, presented a paper titled, “Longitudinal Qualitative Research: A Method for Understanding Change in Teacher Evaluation and Supervision Practice and Perceptions” on October 13, 2018, at the annual conference of the Council of Professors of Instructional Supervision (COPIS), at The University of Maine. Membership in COPIS is by nomination and limited to 100 prominent national researchers in the field of supervision and instructional leadership.

UT Center for Educational Leadership Recognized with National Award

October 16, 2018 by Jonah Hall

UT Center for Educational Leadership Recognized with National Award

The National Rural Education Association (NREA) has recognized the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Center for Educational Leadership with the 2018 NREA Exemplary Practices Award for its Administrators Planning Innovation for Rural Education (AsPIRE) rural school leadership initiatve.

The NREA Exemplary Practices Award is given to an individual or organization for demonstrating exemplary practice in one or more of the following areas: curriculum or staff development to provide more equitable educational opportunities for rural children, enhancement of communications within and among local school districts, promotion and development of state and rural delivery systems, curriculum planning and/or instructional strategies to utilize effectively the rural environment, and financial efficiency in school operations.

The award was received at the annual NREA Convention on Friday, October 12, by public school principals Christie Amburn and Ginny McElhaney, both participants in AsPIRE. Amburn is the principal at Loudon Elementary School in Loudon County, Tennessee, and principal at the Washburn School in Grainger County, Tennessee.

AsPIRE is a unique collaborative effort to enhance rural school leadership in Tennessee,facilitated by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and funded by SCORE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The initiative was developed to address the challenges of rural school leaders, including a diverse array of responsibilities, limited quality learning opportunities, and the scarcity of mentoring and professional networks.

AsPIRE represents a groundbreaking principal-driven delivery system of collaborative professional learning experiences to support and develop exceptional rural school leadership. Participating principals have designed and are implementing a series of collaborative professional learning opportunities for their rural colleagues, including mastermind groups and a cohort learning experience.

“These collaborative learning experiences are bringing together small groups of rural principals to learn with and from each other,” said Jim McIntyre, director of the Center for Educational Leadership and facilitator of the AsPIRE initiative. “Through this innovative programming, rural school principals will explore and address shared problems of practice, enhance knowledge in critical areas, cooperatively problem solve, and develop strong professional support networks.”

The Center for Educational Leadership began in 2010 as a collaborative effort between UT’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and local school districts to grow and support the next generation of outstanding school principals and to meaningfully enhance educational leadership in Tennessee.

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CONTACT:

Jules Morris (julesmo@utk.edu, 865-719-7072)