Feature Stories
VCU School of Education marks 60th anniversary – and is still adapting to the times
In the early 1960s, as many as 50% of Virginia public school teachers were being prepared out of state. During the past academic year, our School of Education marked our 60th anniversary, with faculty, staff and students both past and present celebrating its long history of building knowledge and service in Virginia.
In 1964, Richmond Professional Institute, VCU’s predecessor, opened the school to address the need for more teacher preparation programs in the state. And it continues to respond to the modern day.
Staff members’ feelings of preparedness to support student mental health varies
With student mental health needs in PK-12 schools on the rise, a new study by a partnership of Richmond-area school districts and our VCU School of Education investigated how prepared local school employees feel to meet those needs. Conducted by the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium, “PK-12 Faculty and Staff Capacity to Support Student Mental Health” found that professional capacity to provide support can vary across positions and school contexts.
While respondents across all positions professed feeling similar levels of personal and professional responsibility to meet student mental health needs, certain personnel – including mental and behavioral health support and school administrators – rated themselves higher on their level of preparation than teachers and other personnel, suggesting “a gap between the desire to provide support and the ability to do so,” said David Naff, Ph.D., director of MERC.
Debunking Classroom Myths
Research associate professor Elizabeth Edmondson, Ph.D., and curriculum specialist Suzanne Kirk, both in the Department of Teaching and Learning, teach a course that explores “lessons” we may have learned – and how we might adjust our thinking. They shared some insights from their course Debunking Classroom Myths: How and Why Do We Learn Ideas Incorrectly?
Safeguarding students from school employee sexual misconduct requires systemwide approach
Charol Shakeshaft has been studying equity in schools for more than four decades. Her latest book, “Organizational Betrayal: How Schools Enable Sexual Misconduct and How to Stop It,” presents data from over 200 cases of school employee sexual misconduct toward a student, and it examines school cultures, decisions and practices – all with the goal of preventing the abuse of students by school employees.
“The majority of abusers are employees who don’t start out thinking they will have sex with a minor or a student,” said Shakeshaft, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership. “These are people who cross one boundary, and then another and then another, without anyone intervening.”
Dyslexia Symposium focuses on empowering underserved students
The School of Education’s annual Dyslexia Symposium in November focused on challenges faced by underrepresented minorities with dyslexia. The event featured a keynote by Winifred A. Winston, founder of Dyslexia Advocation, and a series of expert-led breakout sessions.
Funded by the Ruth Harris Professorship in Dyslexia Studies, the symposium continues to advance the understanding and support of individuals with dyslexia, particularly within minority communities.
During the national campaign season, politics and education can become a surprising mix
Public education and politics have long been in the electoral spotlight – often at the state and local levels, where legislatures and school boards wield considerable influence. But presidential elections can bring the two together as well.
During the 2024 campaign, those topics included Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee who formerly worked as a schoolteacher; cultural debates on topics such as school bathrooms and library books; and lasting impact of the COVID pandemic casting a long shadow over issues including student test scores and absenteeism.
At the VCU School of Education, Jonathan Becker, J.D., Ph.D., associate professor of educational leadership, has taught courses on politics and education. He provided context on the intersection of those subjects.
What is the impact of cellphones in schools? The answer requires dialing into the details.
As technology, including artificial intelligence, continues to expand, the role of cellphones in schools intersects strongly with other issues in education – including pressure on teachers, expectations of parents and, of course, how to best educate today’s students amid the long shadows of the pandemic.
VCU researcher Jesse Senechal, Ph.D., executive director of the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation, outlined complexities in the debate – and the importance of teachers’ voices.
VCU scholars bring life to stories from the field
A new book co-edited by three VCU educators provides practical insights into how researchers and educators can work together for student success. In the field of education, RPPs – research-practice partnerships – are crucial collaborations that help test methods, in real-world settings, that can improve student outcomes and shape education policy.
VCU School of Education faculty members Jesse Senechal, David Naff and Hillary Parkhouse recently brought together their wide-ranging expertise to serve as co-editors of "Navigating Issues of Equity in Schools Through Research-Practice Partnerships," a book that explores case studies from across the nation and presents a framework for incorporating equity in the design of RPPs.
With school segregation persisting, education professor urges a multifaceted, concerted effort to fix it
Research has shown that all students gain wide-ranging benefits from racially and socioeconomically integrated schools, which foster success through improved academic achievement, social mobility, civic engagement, and empathy and understanding. So why does school segregation persist?
VCU professor Genevieve Siegel-Hawley said it starts with a lack of deliberate response from policymakers.
Richmond preschoolers are powered by STEAM in VCU project
The tools of the trade might have seemed odd – some vinegar, a bit of food coloring, a few balloons – but the lesson was clear: It’s never too early to STEAM ahead.
Developed by our VCU School of Education, Project STEAM embodies the spirit of learning for all ages and all stages: It aims to strengthen the skills of Richmond preschoolers – and prepare them for elementary school and beyond – by sparking interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Pioneering educational researcher Charol Shakeshaft retires
Coming out of college, Charol Shakeshaft was sure of one thing: She didn’t want to teach.
In 1972, when she received her bachelor’s degree, becoming a teacher was among the limited options for many women entering the workforce. Although she had been a high-achieving student, Shakeshaft had grown up in an era when “nobody ever said, ‘What do you want to do?’” she said. “Including my parents.”
But after not finding a different job, she indeed turned to education. To her surprise, “I found out I liked it,” said Shakeshaft, Ph.D., who retired after more than 40 years at the front of the classroom – and 18 of them as a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership.
Education team reaches finals of Global Sustainability Challenge
A VCU School of Education team, along with international partners, was named a finalist in the 2024 Global Sustainability Challenge, a competition designed to inspire and empower students to tackle the impact of climate change within their local and global communities.
John Fife, Ph.D., director of the Center for Innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education and associate professor of STEM education, and doctoral student Margaret Gatongi partnered with colleagues from São Paulo State University in Brazil and Colorado State University-Pueblo to submit a proposal that focused on coastal ecosystems, emphasizing community engagement and project-based research.
Arizona State President Michael M. Crow gives inaugural educational leadership talk
Throughout his career, Michael M. Crow has dedicated himself to innovation in higher education. The Arizona State University president shared his vision for the future as the inaugural guest speaker in a lecture series created by the Department of Educational Leadership.
The Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series, which will be held monthly during the fall and spring semesters, aims to bring together leaders in education, leadership and policy to foster dialogue and bridge the gap between universities and their communities.
VCU Institute for Women’s Health awarded $3.8M to advance gender diversity in STEMM
VCU’s Institute for Women’s Health is the sole recipient of a five-year grant that aims to enhance gender equity initiatives in the science, technology, engineering, math and medicine workforce. Titled the VCU National Coordinating Center for Advancing Gender Inclusive Excellence, the $3.8 million grant will support the creation of a national repository of resources and strategies to overcome systemic gender-based inequities impacting the biomedical sciences academic and research workforce.
The grant brings together experts from the VCU School of Medicine, College of Engineering, VCU School of Education and Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research.
VCU’s inclusive ACE-IT in College earns first-in-Virginia accreditation
VCUs ACE-IT in College has become the first accredited college program in Virginia – and third nationally – for students with intellectual disability. Students in the two-year certificate program offered, through the VCU School of Education and its Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, take VCU classes and participate in campus activities and work experiences that align with career goals and interests.
The accreditation was conducted recently by the Inclusive Higher Education Accreditation Council, an independent agency that assesses university initiatives and promotes standards-based quality programming for students with ID.
From the Amazon warehouse to the VCU campus, adult learner Catrinna Garrett is extending her academic journey
Catrinna Garrett always planned to finish her bachelor’s degree – and since she started nearly 15 years ago, she figured it could wait further, until her two school-age children were grown.
But the 32-year-old single mother learned about a benefit from her work at an Amazon warehouse in Dinwiddie County. VCU participates in the Amazon Career Choice program, which helps fund educational pursuits for employees as they continue to work.
“Amazon accommodated my schedule, so I was able to take a full-time courseload and work full time to receive the full benefits,” said Garrett, who has worked for Amazon for nine years – currently as a problem solver in the fulfillment center – and hopes to pivot to teaching primary school.
By studying grief, Diaz hopes to transform ‘pain into purpose’
Diane Diaz says that her experiences, which have included personal grief, cultural displacement and military life, have formed the foundation of her academic interests.
Diaz, a doctoral student with a concentration in counselor education and supervision, uses that background to spur her research into issues related to grief and trauma experienced by those in the military and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) populations. Diaz, who has a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a post-master’s certificate in addiction counseling, believes that “rigorous research can still be profoundly compassionate.”
Doctorate comes before driver’s license for Lindai Xie
After graduating with a degree in psychology in her native China, Lindai Xie came to VCU and didn’t know quite what to expect. But while navigating early language and cultural barriers, she found the resources – and the community – that she needed to thrive. First, in 2021, Xie earned her master’s degree in counselor education from VCU’s School of Education. And in May, she received her doctorate after defending her dissertation, a compilation of three papers that examine support for sexual assault survivors.
Throughout her time at VCU, Xie utilized resources such as the International Educational Studies Center, part of the School of Education, which allows faculty and students on campus and across the globe to work and learn together inside and outside the classroom.
Father-daughter duo relishes family ties – and together time – on campus
For most students, almost nothing is more emblematic of the college experience than an extended study session with friends. Whether it’s meeting up at the local coffee shop for some midday cramming or spending an all-nighter in the library, everyone has been there. VCU senior Laila Hendricks was no different. It’s just her study buddy who’s unique.
In May, Laila, a graphic design major in the School of the Arts, graduated alongside her dad, Jason, a student in the School of Education’s master’s program in leadership studies.
Jackson made her mark as VCU student, instructor and advisor
After arriving in Richmond in 2009 to begin her career in higher education, Lauren Jackson soon learned about great work and “wanted to be part of that great work.
In December, Jackson received her doctorate from VCU’s School of Education after successfully defending her dissertation, which highlights the assets, contributions and impact of Black women in senior leadership roles at historically white institutions. She also created a leadership development course for women of color.
VCU School of Education Celebrates Doctoral Student Achievements at Annual Dinner and Discourse Gathering
In May, more than 50 faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of VCU School of Education came together at Brambly Park, united by a shared sense of community, for the annual Dinner and Discourse event. A vibrant celebration of doctoral student accomplishments, supported by generous donors and the VCU Alumni Relations Office, highlighted the impactful work of Ph.D. and Ed.D. students during the 2024-25 academic year.
Nationally recognized school superintendent among VCU Alumni 10 Under 10 Award recipients
Melanie Kay-Wyatt, Ed.D., often runs into former students who tell her that something she told them or a lesson she taught changed their lives. “If you have one of those experiences in your career — just one — you’ve done your job,” said Kay-Wyatt, who who earned her Doctor of Education here in 2014, is now superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools.
She was among three School of Education-affiliated alums who received VCU’s 10 Under 10 Award, which honors notable alumni who have earned their first VCU degree within the past 10 years.
- Tamara Dias, E.D. (Cert.’21) is founder of Good Soil Education and executive director of African American Teaching Fellows.
- Katelynn Jarrells, an Ed.D. candidate in the Department of Educational Leadership (EDLP), was honored for her ongoing contributions to educational leadership and her work to elevate K-12 education practices.
Professor and former student reunite as Education School colleagues
Years before Paul C. Harris joined the VCU School of Education faculty, he began his career at Warwick High School in Newport News, cutting his teeth in the school’s counseling office and getting on-the-ground experience in a real school, surrounded by real students.
Though his time in Newport News didn’t last long – he left after one year to pursue his doctorate – the year he spent there has served as the foundation for his career. It also introduced him to lasting connections, including Krystal Andrews, who was a student when they first met and is now a colleague at VCU.
Harris, Ph.D., now an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Special Education, and Andrews, Ph.D., the school’s director of student success, marked their lasting connection at the May Commencement, posing for a photo with another former Warwick student, Isaiah Moore, who earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy and Justice.