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Sarah McCarthey to Receive AACTE National Award for Distinguished Research in Teacher Education

AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) today announced Sarah McCarthey, Ph.D., as the recipient of the 2024 Margaret B. Lindsey Award for Distinguished Research in Teacher Education. McCarthey is the Sheila M. Miller Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and interim associate dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

This award recognizes distinguished achievements in research over the last decade that has significantly impacted the field of educator preparation. Lindsey was a longtime professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, whose writing and research had a tremendous and lasting impact on the field. McCarthey will be presented with the award during AACTE’s 2024 Annual Meeting Feb. 16–18, 2024, in Aurora/Denver, Colo.

“Professor McCarthey’s scholarly work has made a major impact on the field of teachers’ writing instruction within current policy contexts,” said Chrystalla Mouza, Ed.D., dean and Gutgsell Professor of the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Throughout her career, she has distinguished herself as an outstanding scholar who has exercised exceptional influence in teacher education.”

A scholar and teacher educator for over three decades, McCarthey specializes in researching teachers’ writing instruction within contemporary policy frameworks and is at the forefront of publishing literacy research when she was the co-editor of Research in the Teaching of English alongside Mark Dressman and Paul Prior. McCarthey’s leadership in the University of Illinois Writing Project has forged connections between the College of Education, local schools, writing studies, and the National Writing Project.

McCarthey’s current focus is research on preparing teachers to teach writing in K-12 schools within global contexts, including Greece, Hong Kong and Singapore. Her past studies explored professional development’s impact on teachers’ writing instruction, emphasizing the need for high-quality training.  Additionally, McCarthey is president of the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation, founded by McCarthey and Dressman in 2000. The foundation bestows grants to teachers for projects and initiatives demonstrating substantial potential to enhance educational experiences for youth of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and national origins.

“It is my pleasure to present the Margaret B. Lindsey Award for Distinguished Research in Teacher Education this year to Dr. Sarah McCarthey for her visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to literacy research,” said Lynn M. Gangone, AACTE president and CEO. “This recognition underscores the profound impact her research has on the field of educator preparation and shaping the future of education.”

About AACTE

Established in 1948, AACTE is the leading voice in educator preparation. AACTE’s member institutions and programs prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and college faculty. These professional educators are prepared for careers in PK-12 classrooms, colleges and universities, state and governmental agencies, policy institutes, and non-profit organizations. The AACTE alliance of colleges and universities and educator preparation programs collaborates with members and partners to advance the field of education by prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and engaging in research-based inquiry, advocacy, and innovative practice. Learn more at aacte.org.


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