Students in the “Gender and Education” spring course at Washington University in St. Louis are examining issues surrounding gender and sexuality in education — issues like representation in curriculum, experiences of LGBTQ students and teachers and disciplinary policies ranging from dress codes to Title IX compliance. “In many ways, these are perennial issues in education,” said course instructor Lisa Gilbert, a lecturer in education in Arts & Sciences. “However, they’ve taken on increased urgency given the political activism on both sides of the issue in our current moment.”

St. Louis Public Radio | The initiative, known as the St. Louis School Research-Practice Collaborative, has brought together researchers from Washington University, Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, with educators from St. Louis Public Schools, Confluence Academies and KIPP St. Louis.

Recent research undertaken by Ph.D. student Rachel Martin, Dr. Andrew Butler, and Dr. Rowhea Elmesky in WashU’s Department of Education explores the connection between students’ perceptions of instructor care and their help-seeking behavior. They surveyed undergraduate students across campus in the spring semester of 2021 and asked: “How do you know when an instructor cares about you?”

Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. Ebony Duncan-Shippy, was quoted in The Christian Science Monitor's article discussing Critical Race Theory (CRT) in American schools.

Dr. Gilbert, an expert in social studies curriculum and instruction and in culturally responsive pedagogy, offers her perspective on how social studies education has changed over the last 20-30 years, why this has become such a polarizing issue and where schools should go from here.

Congratulations to Education department chair, Dr. Andrew Butler, for receiving an Emerson 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award!

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS, Departments of Education & African and African-American Studies – Tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor in Education Policy

Since 2014, University City High School has reduced suspensions by more than 40% and dramatically changed its school culture. Rowhea Elmesky, associate professor of education, and Olivia Marcucci, PhD ’19, helped make it happen.

Congratulations to Dr. Michelle Purdy as she has been chosen to receive a 2021 Arts & Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award!

The Department of Education congratulates Dr. Chris Rozek on being named a "Rising Star" by the Association for Psychological Science (APS).

The Department of Education's Major-Minor Welcome event was featured in the Ampersand. Michelle Purdy, associate professor of education and director of the undergraduate program in educational studies, shared, “I’m excited that the newly declared majors were able to meet upperclass students and hear about the different combinations of majors that students have in our department.”

In St. Louis Magazine, Andrew Butler, chair and associate professor of education at Washington University in St. Louis, suggests that parents and educators remain patient while interacting with students: “Their interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers are so important.” Butler adds that the extra downtime has at least one silver lining: more time to rest, with most kids spread too thin before the pandemic.