School of Education

School of Education
Students with hands raised with the Washington Monument in the background.
See More

Explore More

The American University School of Education is currently accepting graduate applications!

Admissions

Raise Your Hand for Equity in Education

1:01

Teacher shortages, lack of diversity, outdated policies, inequitable access - learn how to be a part of the evolution of the education system at the American University School of Education.

"The EPL program has benefitted me in so many ways as a professional and helped me to broaden my impact as an education leader. The program gave me priceless insight into our country's education systems and the laws and policies that impact access to quality education. It taught me how to effectively build comprehensive data systems to track goals and communicate outcomes. I use the skills and knowledge that were shared with me daily."



 

Luis Paredes Alvizurez was born in the District of Columbia and grew up in nearby Maryland, returning to DC high school in his freshman year, where he graduated in 2023. “Choosing American University was an easy decision,” Paredes said. “I applied to twelve colleges, but AU was the one that most caught my eye because of the area and how lovely the campus is. I’ve always had a passion for helping others and sharing knowledge,” he said. “I had some incredible teachers that made learning fun and engaging, but others weren’t as engaging, and I would like to change that. Becoming an educator will allow me to make a positive impact on the lives of others.”

A Conversation on School Violence and Safety

In an era marked by increasing concerns about the safety and well-being of students and educators, this intimate conversation provides a platform to explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities facing our educational institutions. From understanding the root causes of school violence to examining strategies for prevention and intervention, our guest expert will delve into the complex dynamics shaping the landscape of school safety in today's society. Dr. kecia hayes will moderate.

Learn More

Celebrating our Fall Graduates


SOE graduated fifty-nine EdD and master's degree students in December. Read about the experiences of new alumni, watch MEd graduate Jermaine Gassaway's address, view the full SOE Commencement Ceremony, and check out the photographs from the ceremony and reception here

Read More

Education in Authoritarian Times: The Third Annual Charles Tesconi Lecture

Register Now

Webinar Promo Graphic

Immigrants' Educational Rights: Peril or Promise

Watch this insightful webinar today!

Watch the Video

Student in colorful water alone

Combat Religious Harassment

Read the guide for school leaders to protect Arab and Muslim students and this related piece in Education Week.

Read the Guide

SOE's New 23-24 Faculty and Staff

New Faculty and Staff

Jasmine Brown, Dr. Madeleine Grumet, Elshadai Melkam, LeeChel Moersch, Kim Slavik, and Dr. Gayle Warmbrodt

Learn More

AERA's 2024 Annual Meeting

Going to AERA?

Watch SOE students and faculty present at the American Educational Research Association's (AERA) 2024 Annual Meeting.

See the Sessions

School of Education Students in Senegal

Students Travel to Senegal to Study the Impact of Racism

Exploring Community and Decolonization in Africa

Read More

Learn about SOE Accomplishments

  • Watch this 60-second video where SOE Provost Associate Professor Dr. Brian McGowan weighs in on his research about how minorities experience education. [December 18, 2023]
  • Professor Dr. Bridget Trogden co-authored the chapter, "Beyond the Blocks: Promoting Chemistry Agency with Infusion of Global Challenges Throughout the General Education Curriculum," for the ACS (American Chemical Society) Publications bookChemistry in General Education, discussing how an improved approach to general education through incorporating multi-disciplinary global challenges allows for the infusion of chemistry education. [December 18, 2023]
  • Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Antonio Ellis had a scholarship named in his honor by the Alpha Charitable and Scholarship Foundation of Montgomery County, MD, established by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. The Dr. Antonio L. Ellis Diverse Abilities Scholarship will award $1,000 annually to a high school senior with a disability to attend a 2-year trade school or a 4-year university. [December 18, 2023]
  • Dean Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy was a featured panelist for a discussion on concerns about educational equity at the Suburban Schools, Urban Realities: Policy and Possibility on the Urban Fringe Conference, a two-day event at the John Hopkins University Bloomberg Center which convened twenty-five of the nation’s most highly regarded thinkers examining the urban realities of suburban life. [December 18, 2023]
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Moya Malcolm gave the talk, "Our Migration Narrative: How Immigrant Capital Paves a Path to Higher Education for 1.5 Generation Students," at the forty-ninth Annual ASHE (Association for the Study of Higher Education) Conference, which highlighted research from her 2022 dissertation. [December 18, 2023]
  • Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Phelton Moss spoke at the Bowie State University screening event for the documentaryThe Right to Read, which follows Oakland NAACP activist Kareem Weaver, who believes that literacy is one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time. Moss also hosted eighth graders from Georgetown Day Middle School at SOE for a policy workshop on affirmative action in higher education. [December 18, 2023]
  • Dr. Deepa Srikantaiah, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, spoke at AERA's Invited Speaker Series for the Holistic Education SIG 135 event. Her presentation, “Exploring the ‘Holistic’ in Math Education,” discussed the historical development of mathematical concepts, with a specific focus on fractions, within the context of holistic education and contemplative studies. [December 18, 2023]
  • Professor Dr. Sarah Irvine Belson and Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Carolyn Parker gave a talk to an AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) special education affinity group about SOE's Making Special Education Affordable through the RETL (new Residency for Excellence in Teaching and Learning) project. [December 18, 2023]
  • Dr. Amaarah DeCuir, senior professorial lecturer, published this guide to responding to religious harassement in schools in Muslim Matters, and this piece in Education Week about how they must support their Arab and Muslim students. [Oct 22, 2023]
  • Dr. Jennifer Steele, professor, spoke with USA Today about the increasing partisanship in the U.S. on education issues in the segment "‘Quantum-Leap Change’: How School Choice, Book Bans and Student Loans Are Taking Center Stage in 2024." [Oct 22, 2023]
  • Dr. Antonio Ellis, scholar-in-residence and director of the Institute for Education Equity and Justice in the School of Education, co-authored an article in Diverse: Issues In Higher Education about how accessibility and belonging are cornerstones of diversity, equity and inclusion in education. [Oct 22, 2023]
  • Professor Dr. Jennifer L. Steele wrote “Which College Types Increase Earnings? Estimates from Geographic Proximity,” in Education Economics. [Oct 13, 2023]
  • Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Antonio L. Ellis published "Black Scholarship in a White Academy: Perseverance in the Face of Injustice" about the experience of Black scholarship and faculty in a predominantly White academic spaces. [Oct 7, 2023]
  • Professor Dr. Jennifer L. Steele wrote an article in Fast Company about how AI may impact economic inequality. [Oct 6, 2023]
  • Director of the EdD Program and Professorial Lecturer Dr. William N. Thomas IV, Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Samantha Cohen, and Adjunct Professorial Lecturer Dr. Cheyenne Batista '23 co-presented "Co-Teaching as an opportunity to enact social justice and create humanizing communities" at the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate's 2023 Convening in Florida. [Oct 5, 2023] 
  • Dr. Eugene Pringle, Jr., Senior Professorial Lecturer, wrote this opinion piece in The Hechinger Report on why educators must be on the front line of social activism, emphasized during teacher training. [Sep 25, 2023]
  • Acting Co-Dean Corbin M. Campbell's research was cited in this The Chronicle of Higher Education article on the value of "good teaching." [Sep 20, 2023]
  • Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Antonio L. Ellis published an op-ed in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education about the role of the Black church in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. [Sep 14, 2023]
  • Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Phelton Moss was featured in this (paid access only) piece in Financial Times about how students and college are reacting to the affirmative action ruling. [Sep 7, 2023]
  • Dr. Eugene Pringle, Jr., Senior Professorial Lecturer, delivered the keynote address at the Community Action Organization of Western New York's school year kickoff.  The address titled "The Race" provided inspiration and practical strategies for a successful year in efforts to build with intentionality, engage community and families, and engage in purposeful self-care. [Aug 25, 2023]
  • There is hope from the Biden-Harris administration to continue to build a diverse student body, says Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Phelton Moss in this Inside Higher Ed opinion. [Aug 21, 2023]
  • Professor Dr. Jennifer L. Steele was interviewed on CGTN America about how inflation is affecting families during back-to-school shopping season. [Aug 17, 2023]
  • Read or listen to this EdSurge podcast where Dean Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy offered her opinion on why the time has come to reset college legacy admissions practices. [Aug 1, 2023] 
  • Nearly 15% of children are special education students—a 46-year high. SOE Adjunct Professor Brandi Smith was highlighted in an Education Week article about the impact of a good individualized education program (IEP). [July 27, 2023]
  • Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Phelton Cortez Moss weighed in on solving the Black male teacher shortage in this piece by ABC News. [July 24, 2003]
  • Professor Dr. Jennifer L. Steele published an op-ed on teaching students to do what ChatGTP cannot in The Hill. [July 20, 2023]
  • Dean Dr. Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy took part in this panel you can watch on what the Affirmative Action decision by SCOTUS may mean in higher education. [July 13, 2023]
  • Adjunct Professor Dr. Cheyenne Batista ’22 was highlighted for her award-winning dissertation in the AU Alumni news. [July 6, 2023]
  • SOE’s Associate Dean Corbin Campbell was highlighted in this Chronicle of Higher Education article about her participation as lead researcher in a new advisory panel to define, support, and elevate college teaching. [July 6, 2023]

VIEW ADDITIONAL FACULTY AND STAFF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Education Policy and Leadership MEd alumna Regina Wesley is now working as a Management Analyst for Workforce Development and Enhancement at the Division of Early Learning for DC's Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). [Feb 10, 2024]
  • Education Policy and Leadership MEd alumna Katy Mullins was accepted into a doctoral program in education at Johns Hopkins, where her research will focus on the intersection of technology and language arts education. [Feb 9, 2024]
  • Alum Jimmy Sarakatsannis, MAT ’07, was awarded the Chajes Family Distinguished Honors Alumni Award by the University of Delaware for his work in education. A senior partner at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, his work focuses on how technology can transform teaching and learning from pre-K-12 to higher education. [December 18, 2023]
  • The Center for Teaching, Research & Learning (CTRL) Student Partners are AU undergraduate students who work directly with CTRL staff to bring their voices and perspectives to conversations about teaching and learning at AU, and integrate the student experience in CTRL’s work. SOE's CTRL student partners - Marie DionedaQudsia SaeedAlli Sattler, and Nathaniel Smith - will present their work on a panel at AU's Ann Ferren Conference in January. [December 18, 2023]
  • Elementary education major and SOE Undergraduate Council President Shayna Caruso was quoted in an article in AU’s The Eagle, "Students Grapple with the Impact and Confusion of Student Loan Forgiveness," about how a federal loan forgiveness program encourages students to work in low-income school districts. [December 18, 2023]
  • Secondary education major Joy Schleicher was quoted by AU's The Eagle for the article, "Comedian Jordan Klepper Brings Humor and Advice to KPU’s Final 2023 Event," about comedian Jordan Klepper’s political humor and recent visit to AU. [December 18, 2023]
  • EdD students Magen Barnett '21, Dylan Ravdin '23, and Randi Stone '24 presented to audiences in Columbus and Philadelphia on dyslexia and instructional methods. [Oct 14, 2023]
  • EdD student Aneesah Blount was a runner-up for Washington, DC Teacher of the Year. She is a kindergarten teacher at Van Ness Elementary School. [Oct 14, 2023]
  • EdD Class of 2023 graduate and Adjunct Professorial Lecturer Dr. Cheyenne Batista, along with Director of the EdD Program and Professorial Lecturer Dr. William N. Thomas IV, and Senior Professorial Lecturer Dr. Samantha Cohen, co-presented "Co-Teaching as an opportunity to enact social justice and create humanizing communities" at the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate's 2023 Convening in Florida. [Oct 5, 2023] 
  • The Carnegie Project on Education Doctorate (CPED) recognized Dr. Francesca Smith ’23 EdD as the 2023 CPED Dissertation in Practice Award winner for her dissertation, "Asset-Based Biliteracy: Recentering Emergent Bilingual Students in Dual Language English Reading Instruction." [Sep 11, 2023]
  • Dr. Amanda Tatum ’22 was featured in the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) journal Impacting Education talking about the exploration of teachers' well-being through compassion, the focus of her dissertation. [Aug. 7, 2023]
  • Dr. Cheyenne Batista ’22 was highlighted for her award-winning dissertation in the AU Alumni news. [July 6, 2023]
  • Dr. Gary Deshun Hamilton EdD ’23 gave a rousing graduate student speech, "The Bold Promise of Tomorrow" at SOE's Spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony. [May 17, 2023]
  • Education Policy and Leadership (EPL) MEd program student Bailey Haines will serve as President of SOE's Graduate Student Council, alongside fellow EPL students Angeliki Paper-Kosiori (Vice President), Kissiah Valle (Dir. of Finance), Derrick Brown (Dir. of Communications), and others. [May 17, 2023]
  • AU education alum Florence Elizabeth Carmichael Adams will turn 100 this August. Read her grandson Jason Campbell's fascinating Washington Post op-ed, "My Grandma Has Always Made the Hardest Things Seem Simple — Even Living to 100." [May 17, 2023]
  • SOE secondary education majors Alli Sattler and Nathaniel Smith presented research projects virtually in conjunction with AU's Center for Teaching, Research, and Learning (CTRL) Student Partners program. Sattler presented "Increasing Inclusivity in STEM Classrooms" and Smith presented "Varying Means of Participation to Support All Learners." [May 17, 2023]
  • Emily Warshaw, a student in the Master of Arts in Special Education program, was quoted in an article about her taking part in the Future of Work Institute that took place in April. [May 17, 2023]
  • Amanda Muniz as the AU Recipient of the Maryland Association of Teacher Educators - Distinguished Teacher Candidate Award for 22-23. [May 17, 2023]
  • EdD 2022 alum Dr. Cheyenne Batista was awarded the 2023 Division A Outstanding Dissertation Award at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) annual meeting in Chicago. [April 15, 2023]
  • Shareen Fernanders (EdD '23), Gary Hamilton (EdD, '23), and SOE faculty contributed chapters to the bookCritical Literacy and Its Impact on Black Boys’ Reading Readiness. [April 15, 2023]
  • Dr. Cheyenne Batista (EdD ’22) was awarded the prestigious American Education Research Association (AERA) Division A 2023 Award for Outstanding Dissertation for her dissertation, “‘I Am Not Scary. I Am Strong. There’s a Difference.’ Disrupting Misogynoir and Transforming Interpersonal Conflict for Black Women Education Leaders: A Multiple Case Study.” [March 17, 2023]
  • Lynne Brenner Ganek, SOE Advisory Board member and adjunct faculty member, presented to the Producing Multi-Platform Content class at Canisius College. Students explored and produced an episode of an original podcast series, a video trailer for the podcast series, and related social media content. [March 17, 2023]
  • Students Francesca Smith (EdD '23) and Madelyn Smith (MEd '25) presented at the March 2023 Council for Exceptional Children Convention and Expo. Francesca presented the poster, "Leveraging Biliteracy for Equitable Outcomes in Dual Language English Reading Instruction." Madelyn presented the paper, "Supporting Literacy Identity through Culturally Responsive Practices in Reading Intervention.” [March 17, 2023]
  • In March, the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Conference included SOE ITEP program alum Adam Medadi (MA '22) and faculty Dr. Elizabeth A. Worden, Dr. Michael Gibbons, Dr. Jisun Jeong, and as members of its planning committee and as presenters and participants. [March 17, 2023]
  • Listen to Apple's Science of Reading podcast, "Celebrating Many Meanings: Language Comprehension and Bidialectal Students," featuring Jasmine Rogers (EdD '23). [February 15, 2023]

  • SOE Advisory Board member Tiffany Williams (MA, SPA '07) became the President and CEO of Martha’s Table, a DC-based nonprofit organization focused on developing strong children, strong families and strong communities. [February 15, 2023]

  • Dr. Shayna Cook (EdD '22/MEd '14) was recently appointed to Assistant State Superintendent for the Maryland State Department of Education's Division of Early Childhood. [February 15, 2023]

  • Dr. Afie Mirshah-Nayar (MAT-ESOL), Principal of Paint Branch High School (MCPS), is a finalist for the Mark Mann award, annually presented to exceptional Montgomery County Public Schools administrators. [February 15, 2023]

  • Taylor Myers (MEd '22) attended a Future of Work event sponsored by Deloitte and was interviewed about his experience. [January 18, 2023]

  • Our Future Teacher Tutors program, a partnership with DC Public Schools that seeks to boost below-grade-level readers, was featured in a headline article by The 74 Million. Quoting student Isabel Chae and SOE faculty and staff, it highlights that amid labor shortages, hiring from teacher prep programs like ours could add half a million new tutor candidates nationally. [January 18, 2023]

  • Ann Friedman MAT '98 received the President's Circle Lead Changemaker Award, recognizing her as both a role model and a powerful example of an AU Changemaker for her impactful work in the arena of literacy. She is the founder and CEO of Planet Word, a language arts museum where words and literacy come to life. Read a story about her amazing career and an American University Magazine article about how important words are to her. [November 17, 2022]

  • Dr. Cheyenne E. Batista ’22 won the '2022 CPED Dissertation in Practice of the Year' award. Read more. [September 26, 2022]
  • Students with Education Minor Win DHS Award. AU students and alum created tools to prevent targeted violence. Read more. [July 1, 2022]

SUBMIT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT HERE