News
Nicole Sparapani Joins Faculty
Nicole Sparapani, PhD joined the School of Education faculty this summer as an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education. Sparapani, who earned her doctorate in Communication Science and Disorders at Florida State University, is a certified speech-language pathologist. She completed her postdoctoral studies on individualizing student instruction at Arizona State University and the Institute for the Science of Teaching and Learning.
Alumna Clare Wiley Honored at River City High School
Building Named in Memory of Much-Loved Teacher
Clare Wiley made a lasting impression on the students, staff and faculty of River City High School in the eight years she taught there as a science teacher. Clare’s passion for biology led her to transform her biology curriculum to be more interactive and student-centered. She also served as a mentor to students who were competing in science and technology competitions, started a biotechnology elective, and founded the PLTW Biomedical Sciences program, which now serves over 350 students per year.
Edward Haertel to Address Rethinking School Accountability for California
Featured Speaker, Distinguished Educational Thinker Speaker Series on March 9, 2016
With new achievement tests and new legislation at both the state and federal levels, California now has an extraordinary opportunity to rethink school accountability.
Call for Abstracts: 10th Annual UCSPEDDR
University of California Center for Research on Special Education, Disabilities, and Developmental Risk (UCSPEDDR): 10th Annual Conference
Location: Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Dates: January 22nd & 23rd, 2016
UPDATED: Abstract submission deadline: December 11
Welcome! We hope you find this page useful concerning information about our upcoming conference.
Reading Clinic Enrolling Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Help researchers learn how to improve children's reading comprehension
Do you or someone you know have a child with an autism spectrum disorder who also struggles with reading comprehension difficulties?
Alexis Patterson, PhD Joins Faculty
The School of Education welcomes our newest faculty member: Alexis Patterson, PhD, who joins us this fall as an Assistant Professor of Elementary Science Education.
Teen obesity screens may not help with weight loss
Eight states now screen their students for obesity and inform parents if their children have a high body mass index. But does screening students for obesity actually improve obesity rates? UC Davis Assistant Professor Kevin Gee’s new research indicates it may not.
Steven Athanases Honored with Faculty Citation Award
Steven Athanases, professor of education, has received a 2015 UC Davis Diversity and Principles of Community Faculty Citation Award in special recognition of career achievement and distinguished leadership and vision in advancing the equal opportunity and diversity objectives within the UC Davis community.
Why Colleges Should Care About the Common Core
Education Week Commentary
Dean Harold Levine and Michael Kirst, president of the California State Board of Education, co-wrote “Why Colleges Should Care About the Common Core” for Education Week.
In the piece, Levine and Kirst lay out their concerns that colleges and universities may not be prepared to educate the students who will soon be entering their institutions armed with a “more inquiry-based” and “collaborative problem-solving” approach to learning.
Author’s Tales Come Alive
Joseph Bruchac - Words Take Wing
Words Take Wing, featuring Native American children’s writer Joseph Bruchac, was featured in the Davis Enterprise on February 12, 2015.
“This is the kind of program I wish occurred in more places,” the author told The Enterprise. “As an inspiration to teachers and students, it is second to none. I can’t think of a more enthusiastic audience. You can see the excitement.” Read the full article by Jeff Hudson.
Obama’s Free College Plan Is No Panacea; Just Ask California
Op-Ed by Associate Professor Michal Kurlander and Jacob Jackson (PhD ’12)
Washington Post – January 28, 2014
President Obama’s proposal to make community colleges free is a valiant effort to address the rising demand for skilled workers throughout the nation and to improve college access for low-income students. As states consider his proposal, they would be wise to look to California. Our research in the state suggests that low tuition can put higher education within reach for many low-income students, but it is no panacea. Read more.
Michal Kurlaender is an associate professor of education and Chancellor’s Fellow at UC Davis. Jacob Jackson is a researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California.
Heidi Ballard Named a Chancellor’s Fellow
Heidi Ballard, associate professor of education, has been selected as a 2014-15 Chancellor’s Fellow. The Chancellor’s Fellows Program recognizes “the rising stars who shine as teachers and campus citizens, and whose scholarly work already puts them at the top of their fields — garnering attention far and wide.” It is one of the highest and most prestigious honors on this campus.
Student News Fall 2014
JaNay Brown-Wood
JaNay Brown-Wood (PhD) published her first children’s picture book, Imani’s Moon, in October. The book has been selected as the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Children’s Book of the Year and publisher Charlesbridge named it “Picture Book of the Month.”
Michal Kurlaender Named Co-Director of Leading Education Policy Organization
Associate Professor Michal Kurlaender has been named a co-director of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), an independent, nonpartisan research center based at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, the University of Southern California, and UC Davis.
PACE seeks to define and sustain a long-term strategy for comprehensive policy reform and continuous improvement in performance at all levels of California’s education system, from early childhood to postsecondary education and training. Learn more about PACE at http://www.edpolicyinca.org/.
Steven Athanases Named to UC Faculty Engagement Council for Education Partnerships
Professor Steven Athanases has been named to the Faculty Engagement Council for Education Partnerships at the University of California Office of the President.The Council is charged with engaging and connecting faculty and graduate students in the areas of educational access and diversity.
They meet twice a year to advise UC’s vice provost for education partnerships on ways to promote and support graduate student research, award seed grants to graduate students, and identify annual research foci as well as serve as a liaison between the Office of the President and campus.
Alumna Joanna Wong Begins Fellowship
New Doctoral Alumna Begins Fellowship for Research on Bilingual Elementary Student Writing
Joanna Wong (PhD ’14) begins a prestigious two-year mentoring program in the Scholars of Color program funded by the Research Foundation of the National Council of Teachers of English.
“Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards: How Your Classroom Is Framed Is as Important as What You Do in It”
NSTA Blog - November 10, 2014
Cindy Passmore, associate professor of science education, wrote a guest entry on the National Science Teachers Association’s NSTA Blog on November 10, 2014.
First-Year Teaching Alumna Nominated for Award by Her Fourth Grade Student
Michelle (Benjamin) Crisp (Credential ‘13, MA ‘14), just finished her first year of teaching fourth grade at Main Ave. Elementary in Sacramento, Calif. A milestone worth celebrating in itself. But, to her great surprise, Crisp also received a Teacher of the Year award from a local dentist’s office when one of her students, Adrian Flores, nominated her.
School of Education Donor Named UC Alumni Regent
July 2014
Rod Davis (BA ‘71) has been named alumni regent on the University of California Board of Regents. Mr. Davis and his wife Susan Davis (Credential ‘73) have established the Susan Davis Award, an endowed scholarship fund to support students studying to be elementary school teachers in the UC Davis School of Education. The first award will be made in fall 2015.
