Educational Leadership | Instant Impact

August 25, 2021
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Dr. Rishi Sriram Selected Editor of Research Journal [08/25/2021]

Baylor School of Education associate professor Dr. Rishi Sriram has been selected as editor of the Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, a semiannual academic journal publishing research about the first year of college and other student transition experiences, such as transferring colleges. Sriram’s appointment is for a renewable three-year term, which began July 1, 2021.

As a researcher in this field, Sriram said he is fascinated by the outsized role that the college experience can play in a person’s life. “Colleges and universities can have a positive or detrimental effect through their policies, programs, places, and people,” he said. “Research in the field can equip institutions to understand and implement programs that are most conducive to helping college students flourish.”

The peer-reviewed journal seeks to blend research and practice in higher education, intentionally catering to two audiences — academic researchers studying higher education and also practitioners who are “living on the front lines” as administrators on college campuses. Continue Reading →

June 28, 2021
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Baylor EdD Student in K12 Leadership Receives National Recognition [06/28/2021]

Heather Williams, a Baylor doctoral student, was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal (one of only 24) by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). She had already received the award for 2021 Arkansas Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year from the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. Williams will be recognized in July at the National Principal Conference of NAESP in Chicago.

Williams has been assistant principal for two years at Warren Dupree Elementary in Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, northeast of Little Rock. She is an EdD student in the K12 Educational Leadership program in Baylor School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership. A member of Cohort Four, Williams began the program in 2020.

Dr. John Wilson, clinical professor and founding director of the K12 EdD program, said that these recognitions at the state and national level illustrate how highly respected Williams is throughout the state of Arkansas. “Heather is a very conscientious, hard-working school administrator,” Wilson said. “Her leadership skills are evident in her doctoral cohort as well as on her school campus.” Continue Reading →

June 16, 2021
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Impact Newsletter Online [06/16/2021]

The spring 2021 issue of Baylor Impact newsletter is now online and in the mail to alumni. If you do not receive a newsletter in the mail soon, please let us know by emailing BaylorImpact@baylor.edu. To make sure you don’t miss any future communications, you can also update your information online at this link: Update Your Information

The Spring Impact issue features the work of faculty, students, and alumni who are making a difference through education. This issue is notable for the number of award-winning faculty and students we are celebrating — people you’ll want to know about!

Read about exciting and impactful new grants helping children with developmental disabilities like autism and their families and teachers, new leaders in K12 education, national professional roles for faculty, and so much more!

Great news includes:

• The cover story shares the work of Dr. Stephanie Gerow, who has received a prestigious national grant to design a system to help agencies provide effective behavior interventions for children with developmental disabilities.

• SOE faculty members received three of the university’s Outstanding Faculty accolades this spring.

• Dr. Trena Wilkerson is serving is a significant national role as president of NCTM, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, working to bring equity in math education.

• New graduates in the K12 Educational Leadership program are making an impact in schools and districts from Texas to Washington, D.C.

• In our alumni profile, Isaac Gittens, MSEd ’16, tells what it’s like to work in the NFL and how to land a job there.

• SOE news briefs share new books and other news, awards for doctoral students, significant new grants, and a multi-faceted science education project.

• And find out how scholarships are helping future teachers like Lana Brady make their vocational dreams come true.

April 15, 2021
by Baylor Instant Impact
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SOE Celebrating Alumni Week and Giving Day [04/15/2021]

Baylor SOE Alumni Week video “The Heart of a Baylor Educator” features (l-r) Dr. Shanna Hagan-Burke, Dr. Brooke Blevins, Dr. Tonya Davis, Dr. Jon Eckert

Baylor School of Education is celebrating Alumni Week and Giving Day this week. The SOE’s “Lunch & Learn” video for Alumni Week is available on demand now at this link:

“The Heart of a Baylor Educator” On Demand Video

The video features messages from:

Dr. Shanna Hagan-Burke, Dean
Dr. Brooke Blevins, chair of Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Tonya Davis, professor of Educational Psychology
Dr. Jon Eckert, professor of Educational Leadership

During Giving Day on April 14, the School of Education reached its goal of 100 donors, unlocking a challenge gift from Bobby Nail, 1976 graduate of Baylor School of Education. The challenge gift provides $20,000 in student scholarship funds, in addition to the $5,825 raised from 111 gifts on Giving Day.

Thank you, Baylor Family, for your generosity.

You can always access SOE giving links here:
Make a Gift to Baylor SOE

February 2, 2021
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Baylor School of Education’s Center Updates Name [02/02/2021]

The Winter Leadership Seminar, held Jan. 30, 2020, was the last in-person education event for the newly renamed Baylor Center for School Leadership. Switching to virtual events in March, the Center provided webinars for more than 800 school leaders in 2020. Virtual institutes in 2021 are already serving more than 100 leaders per month.

Baylor School of Education’s Center for Christian Education has changed its name to the Baylor Center for School Leadership (BCSL) to better reflect its mission to serve school leaders.

Dr. Matt Thomas, speaking at the 2019 Academy for Teaching and Learning

Dr. Matt Thomas, Executive Director of the Center for School Leadership, said the name change does not reflect any change in the Center’s mission. “Be assured our mission and aim will not change, nor will the centrality of the Christian faith be diminished in any way,” he said. “In fact, this name change will enhance our ability to serve Christian schools and Christian leaders.”

The Center serves Christian independent schools and their leaders and also offers programming for Christians serving in any type of school in the U.S. and abroad. Its programs include conferences, symposia, and field-based consultative services aimed at all levels of school leadership. Recent offerings have provided professional and leadership development opportunities for teachers (organized by grade and subject level), heads of independent schools, financial leaders and board members for independent schools, and those in public education settings. Continue Reading →

November 23, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Fall 2020 Issue of Impact Newsletter is Online [11/23/2020]

The fall 2020 issue of Baylor Impact newsletter is now online. This issue is online only, and alumni should have received an email with the newsletter today. If you did not receive an email with the newsletter, please let us know by emailing BaylorImpact@baylor.edu. To make sure you don’t miss any future communications, you can also update your information online at this link: Update Your Information

The Fall Impact issue features the work of faculty, students, and alumni who are making a difference through education. Read about exciting new academic programs, how our faculty are serving educators, and how student teachers are succeeding in the midst of a global pandemic.

Great news includes:

• CCE Answers the Call — How the Center for Christian Education made the most of cancelled in-person workshops to reach thousands more in virtual settings.

• Teacher Education in Challenging Times — SOE faculty and students are adjusting and succeeding on the Baylor campus and in local schools.

• School Psychology Degree in Dallas — The SOE has extended its reach to the Metroplex, offering the EdS degree at the campus of Baylor’s Nursing School.

There’s more inspiration in the story of globe-trotting teacher and PhD student Kenley Bailey Ritter, BSEd ’06, and the heart-warming profile of Baylor supporters Jim and Kaye Patterson. news about the new MA in School Leadership and more.

July 23, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Dr. Rishi Sriram Elected to Azusa Pacific Board [07/22/2020]

Dr. Rishi Sriram, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership in Baylor School of Education, was elected unanimously as a member of the Board of Trustees of Azusa Pacific University. Azusa officials spent six months vetting Sriram for the position, which was announced on May 29. Considered one of the top Christian colleges in the country, Azusa is a private, evangelical Christian university in Azusa, California. As an alumnus of the university, having earned his Ph.D. in higher education from Azusa in 2010, Sriram kept in contact with the university post-graduation, serving as a guest speaker at several events and even as a visiting professor for higher education classes.

Sriram said he was honored by the fact that he was even considered for the position, let alone appointed. His appointment began May 29.

“It’s not a role I ever thought I’d be considered for,” said Sriram. “The reason they approached me is because they wanted someone who believed in their mission and was also an expert in higher education.” Continue Reading →

July 2, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Spring/Summer Issue of “Baylor Impact” is Online . . . Only [07/02/2020]

Meet the new SOE dean, learn about faculty research, and find out about new programs in Baylor School of Education in the Spring/Summer 2020 issue of Baylor Impact newsletter. This issue of Impact is online only. If you are a graduate of Baylor SOE and did not receive an email with the newsletter, please let us know by emailing BaylorImpact@baylor.edu. You can also update your information online at this link: Update Your Information

In this issue, you get two deans for the price of one! Read all about the SOE’s new Dean, Dr. Shanna Hagan-Burke, who arrived July 1, and see the farewell message from Dr. Terrill Saxon, who has been SOE Interim Dean for three years.

This issue features research profiles on faculty members in each SOE department:
• Curriculum & Instruction: Dr. Sandi Cooper’s early mathematics program leads to student success.
• Educational Leadership: Dr. Bradley Carpenter and Dr. Jon Eckert bring new research focus to K-12 leadership studies.
• Educational Psychology: Dr. Nick Benson’s research on assessments makes “testing” a good thing.

Don’t miss an inspiring Q&A with Baylor SOE alumna Lisa Fuentes ’96, whose Focus Behavioral clinic is helping hundreds of children with autism and their families. And there’s more inspiration from Baylor supporters Ryan and Karen Liles, who know that investing in a teacher’s education helps the education of many others. Plus, all sorts of exciting news about awards and new programs is tucked into the SOE news briefs.

Thank you for keeping in touch with Baylor SOE!

June 30, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Dr. Terrill Saxon Completes Term as SOE’s Longest Serving Interim Dean [06/30/2020]

Tuesday, June 30, marks the final day of Dr. Terrill Saxon’s service as Interim Dean of the Baylor School of Education. He has served for three years and is the longest serving Interim in the School’s history, with a tenure that equals or exceeds two of the School’s permanent deans. On July 1, Baylor SOE will welcome Dr. Shanna Hagan-Burke as its 15^th dean (including interims).

Saxon joined the Baylor faculty in 1995 and is also Professor of Educational Psychology and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education. He earned his BA in psychology and MSEd in educational psychology from Baylor and his PhD in educational psychology at the University of Kansas. Continue Reading →

June 18, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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K-12 EdD Program Celebrates First Graduates [06/18/2020]

Cohort One of the EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership started in 2017.

As the nation and the field of K-12 education face unprecedented challenges, Baylor School of Education was proud to celebrate the first graduates in the SOE’s EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership in May 2020.

“Cohort One, including the program’s first seven graduates, is an extraordinary team of students who carried a positive vision of completing their Doctor of Education degree in K-12 Educational Leadership,” said Dr. John Wilson, Clinical Professor and Program Director. “Children and education will be better with the high character and leadership skills possessed by these May 2020 graduates, many of whom have already moved forward in their careers with advancements and greater responsibilities in their current or new school districts. We are very proud of these seven graduates and their accomplishments.”

The Baylor Doctor of Education (EdD) in K-12 Educational Leadership is a cohort-based practitioner-oriented program for leaders of schools, educational systems, and agencies. Designed for the dedicated working education professional with weekend scheduling, the program prepares highly qualified practitioners to lead K-12 education institutions, while refining skills for executive positions. A new cohort begins each year in June, and Cohort Four began this year. The EdD program also includes preparation for the Texas superintendent certification exam, and all graduates who chose to take the exam passed it.

Hear from the SOE’s May 2020 EdD Graduates: Continue Reading →

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