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At an event honoring the 2022 winners of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education in New York City in November, Penn GSE announced the largest gift in the School’s history—a $16.25 million commitment from the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation, which will create a new center for educational leadership and continue its annual prize.

Amid a growing shortage, Penn GSE prepares and empowers future teachers to thrive—and persist—in the classroom.

Show your school pride with T-shirts, sweatshirts, phone cases, and other Penn GSE merchandise. 

His goal is to shift hiring and retention practices in higher ed through data, interventions, and conversations about racialized organizational dynamics.

Professors Sigal Ben-Porath and Andrea M. Kane discussed current challenges to free speech in K–12 and higher education with Dean Pam Grossman in front of alumni and friends. The challenges aren’t new, but they’re being amplified by increased polarization in our society.

Dean Pam Grossman says “grow your own” programs have been successful because if you recruit locally, people are more likely to stay.

It is not enough for students to learn information others have discovered; future workers in today’s knowledge economy need to become knowledge builders.

A list of tips and tricks for a stress-free holiday season from Diana Wildermuth.

Jonathan Zimmerman claims that most higher education institutions have not taken adequate steps to determine the impact of remote teaching on student learning, and this lack of effort is the real scandal.

Jonathan Supovitz explains why he isn’t surprised by Pennsylvania students’ continuing low scores on standardized tests.

The conference organized by Catalyst @ Penn GSE and the Centennial School District focused on innovative ways to encourage family and community engagement in schools. It attracted educators from 12 states.

An interdisciplinary scholar who studies racial inequality in academic careers and contexts using multiple methods and theories from organizational behavior and social psychology, White-Lewis will teach and conduct research in the school’s Policy, Organizations, Leadership, and Systems Division.

Raghu Krishnamoorthy, Ed.D., was named director of the Graduate School of Education’s Penn Chief Learning Officer (CLO) doctoral program in June 2022. He graduated the month before from the same CLO training program.

Amy Stornaiuolo shares that Reddit forums can serve as a “canary in the coal mine” for understanding the state of the teaching profession. The posts on Reddit, she said, reflect a mentality of: “The kids are not all right; I am not all right; something is happening here.”

L’Oréal Paris is honoring alum Rina Madhani as one of 10 “Women of Worth” finalists this month for her work promoting childhood literacy and educational equity. A former teacher, Madhani is the co-founder and executive director of Start Lighthouse.

What does Josh Shapiro's win mean for education in Pennsylvania? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently chatted with Penn GSE's Ericka Weathers and other experts about goals for the governor-elect.

Sigal Ben-Porath says that the vehemence of discourse on transgender issues makes sense given the hate speech and misapprehensions previously faced by trans people.

Roberto Gonzales spoke with the Los Angeles Times about frustrated DACA recipients who are choosing to leave the U.S.

Dean Pam Grossman hosted the School District of Philadelphia’s new superintendent, Tony B. Watlington, at a welcome reception on campus.

Michael Gottfried speaks on the ways districts can both recognize and support chronically absent students. Gottfried lists examples to both spot patterns of absenteeism and provide support systems in order to prevent it.

A profile celebrates the career of Dean Pam Grossman as she prepares to depart her position in June. Highlights include a first-time No. 1 ranking in U.S. News & World Report this year and the largest gift in GSE’s history from the Harold W. McGraw Jr. Family Foundation.

Matthew Hartley shares his expertise on how his research on the civic purposes of colleges and universities helps foster democracy. He emphasizes that universities can become part of a longstanding effort that expands opportunity and strengthens democracy.

More than 130 local educators came together at a recent writing conference co-hosted by the Philadelphia Writing Project.

Damani White-Lewis offers research-based recommendations on retaining Black faculty.

College sports are an integral part of the university experience. They help with recruiting and retention — and they help the bottom line. Penn GSE’s Karen Weaver teaches one of the country's only courses to prepare university presidents to manage the related complexities.

Michael Gottfried says that Philadelphia’s rise in unexcused absences is a sign of student disengagement triggered by a return from remote learning to an in-person classroom.

Sigal Ben-Porath discusses how hate speech intersects with First Amendment rights on college campuses.

James H. Lytle, argues that stuents in inner city high schools have significantly less time and engagement in school related activities compared to their counterparts in suburban or private schools. Lytle theorizes, what we call, the “achievement gap” between students is actually a “time gap.”

Zachary Herrmann reflects on the challenges and opportunities senior-level district leaders face, and how they can work, collaborative, and problem-solve together.

Colleagues from Penn GSE and the Netter Center were honored for being selected in the first cohort of the new Projects for Progress award.

The Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) recently recognized A. Brooks Bowden for her impressive contributions to education research.

Dr. Roy Pea’s work to enhance learning for people of all backgrounds and circumstances has been propelled by a spirit of innovation, impact and leadership lauded by the McGraw Prize.

Dr. Dunn is president of South Dakota State University, where he has worked to significantly increase programming and support for students from South Dakota’s nine tribal nations.

Dr. Logan's innovative leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic enabled Omaha Public Schools to be one of the first large, urban school districts in the nation to return to in-person learning in 2020.

Karen Weaver, sports finance expert, shares that Group of 5 schools use money games to supplement income instead of raising student athletic fees — which can be highly controversial, told Front Office Sports.

Jonathan Zimmerman discusses the opt-out option included in the guidelines for teaching sex education in schools and suggest similar compromises be applied to alleviate the polarized views on book bans.

Two Penn GSE students share their enriching experiences as interns in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pam Grossman and Richard Ingersoll speak on the potential drawbacks of waiving basic skills tests for teacher preparation programs.

Patrick Sexton says that procedures like the new guidelines in a suburban school district can disconnect students from their academics and from a necessary system of support.

A seven-year project shows that standards-based reform has not lived up to its promise, but it also provides a big-picture perspective of what worked — and didn’t work — in the implementation process. This knowledge holds lessons for education leaders as they undertake future reforms aimed at improving instruction and advancing student achievement.

La India Santos runs a social media profile called Flying Phirst Klass, which encourages young people to travel to less popular destinations and connect with local cultures.

Pushups. Pullups. Sprints. Rows. Thirty students and alumni went to America’s preeminent military academy to catch up with their classmates. Along the way, they tried to catch their breath.

Jonathan Zimmerman, expert on the history of education, discusses how Florida Governor Ron Desantis is making public schools a "national political project." Zimmerman explains that historically teachers get fired for differences in political idealogies that arise at a local or state level, but not any more.

Laura Perna, expert in college access, affordability, and success, takes a look at the budgetary costs and distributional impact of the U.S. President’s initiative.

Dean Pam Grossman travels to Norway this week to celebrate her acceptance of the Doctor Honoris Causa award from the University of Oslo. She is the sole recipient of the school’s educational doctorate, while other industry leaders will receive the award for their work in areas such as law, medicine, and mathematics.

How bad is the teacher shortage? The answer depends on where you live, according to an article in the New York Times. Jacey Fortin and Eliza Fawcett spoke with experts and educators from across the country, including Richard Ingersoll.

"I’ve spent my adult life studying the ways that human beings imagine education, across space and time," wrote Zimmerman, a leading historian of education. "In a diverse nation, what should kids learn? And who should decide that?"

Abby Reisman joins five other Philadelphia educators to discuss American history, equity and inclusion, critical race theory, and other hot-button issues schools and teachers face in 2022.

Ameena Ghaffar-Kucher reveals the “hidden curriculum” you get when you have a professor as a parent.