NERA Members: Please consider submitting your professional accomplishments to
The NERA Researcher for recognition! Submissions may include completing your degree, a new publication, a new job/position, etc. Please send your news
to
theneraresearcher@nera-education.org by
August 31, 2024 to be featured in the Fall 2024 edition.
The Center for Educational Assessment at UMass Amherst
presented at the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education Network Conference, focusing on stakeholder communication and receiving feedback on currently used testing practices and future plans for testing. Presenters included
April Zenisky, Kat Tremblay, Duy Pham, Jenn Lewis, Maura Maxfield, and Vafa Alakbarova.
Emily Hotz, M.A., LPCA, received the Graduate Student of the Year Award from the Connecticut Counseling Association on May 3. Furthermore, Emily Hotz was hired by the University of New Haven as an adjunct professor and will teach group counseling this summer for master-level students!
Shu Jen Chen-Worley, associate professor at Touro University, was reelected SIG officer Treasurer/Secretary for Survey Research in Education of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for the 20242025 term.
Samantha Harmon, associate professor at James Madison University, recently transitioned to Data Services Librarian at JMU and is dedicated to enhancing data literacy and management in academia. Leveraging her background in quantitative analysis, Samantha collaborates with stakeholders to tailor data services for all research and scholarly pursuits, empowering faculty and students in navigating research data complexities.
Tania N. Sutherland, MSEd, Sixth Year student at the University of Bridgeport, had her first research publication with Dr. Jeffrey Vance, Lift Every Black Voice and Shatter the Glass with an Inclusive CRE Music Education. This research investigates the history of music education influence from Europe and the development of music education in the United States of America. It also challenges curriculum authors to write culturally responsive curricula for practitioners to meet the needs of inner-city students. https://rise.bridgeport.edu/2024/pr esentations/lifting-every-blackvoice-to-singeducation/. Tania is also an award-winning musician and vocalist, to be specific in the reggae genre. Her passions are both education and music, which led her to her research—culturally responsive education in music education. There is a gap in the research for culturally responsive music education grounded in Critical Race Theory and Pragmatism. It is ongoing research; however, with the guidance of Dr. Vance, a piece of it was published at a major event, UB Rise. The objectives are to heighten student engagement and self-efficacy for Black students, highlight historical influences, and encourage researchers, policymakers, administrators, and educators to create and implement a culturally responsive arts education in the field of music education
A balance of research and practical advice,
Dr. Jakubowski, founder of CTJ Solutions, has provided a number of works designed for qualitative researchers, policy analysis on why teachers leave the profession, and a rural education focus. Books include:
- Thinking about teaching (EduMatch)
- A cog in the machine (EduMatch)
- Crush it from the start: 50 tips for new teachers (School Rubric)
- Getting to the Hearts of Teaching (EduMatch)
- Rural education history (Lexington)
