News

Baylor Moody School of Education and in partnership with three local school districts, is underway now at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor campus June 29 through July 23. Launched in 2016, MELA is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, led by founding director Dr. Sandi Cooper, professor of mathematics education. The four-week summer program for students ages 4 to 6 aims to establish a solid foundation in “number sense.”

Baylor’s Moody School of Education (SOE) recognized ten graduates as outstanding students at the annual Recognition Banquet on May 14, 2026. Graduating students were honored for their excellence in academics and fieldwork in education programs and for their readiness to impact the world. Along with Moody’s traditional awards, the School created a new award, the BearTEACH Impact Award for community service. Read all about these amazing graduates!

Dr. Kelly Johnston, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, received Baylor University’s 2026 Centennial Professor Award for her research project, the Baylor Educator-Scholar Collective. Johnston intends to explore ways to connect Baylor educators once they have left campus through a sustained intellectual and professional network. Johnston said her inspiration for the project arose from a recurring question she asks herself in the classroom: How will my students carry this forward?

Senior Garrison Fritts has already made his mark at Robinson ISD — before officially beginning his career as a certified teacher. Fritts is a Baylor senior majoring in middle grades mathematics education in the Moody School of Education. He is completing a yearlong teacher residency at Robinson Junior High School, where he currently teaches 7th‑grade advanced math. His impact has been so significant that he was named Staff of the Year at the school, becoming the first resident in the Baylor program to receive such an honor.

Thirty junior education majors at Baylor University’s Moody School of Education stepped beyond traditional classroom settings this month to participate in a hands-on leadership development experience at Baylor’s Eastland Lakes Team & Leadership Center. Through ropes courses and team-based activities, the future teachers explored how leadership skills can emerge through shared experiences. The experience was sponsored by Moody’s Department of Curriculum & Instruction, which partnered with Moody’s Department of Educational Leadership, and Baylor University’s Campus Recreation.

Dr. Lianne Jones, a 2024 PhD graduate in Curriculum and Teaching, received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) for her dissertation titled Coaching for Questioning: A Multiple Case Study of Middle and Secondary Preservice Mathematics Teachers. 

Jones, whose Baylor PhD studies focused on mathematics education, is currently assistant professor of elementary education at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Baylor's Moody School of Education has established a formal collaboration with Teach For America, creating new avenues for TFA educators and alumni to pursue graduate studies through Baylor’s online, hybrid, and residential programs. The agreement is one of several with educational organizations and school districts that are designed to expand access to advanced professional learning opportunities.

Dr. Karis Jones, assistant professor in the Moody School of Education's Department of Curriculum & Instruction, received the ELATE National Technology Leadership Award for her role in developing the #HackYourStack database. The project is a free resource for teachers, compiled of crowdsourced collections of mentor texts, tools, resources, and academic research focused on digital media and youth-centric contexts.

Bella Buncher, a May 2025 Baylor University graduate with a B.S.Ed. from the School of Education (SOE), has been honored as Clinical Teacher of the Year for the state of Texas for excellence in classroom teaching during her student-teaching experience while a senior at Baylor. Buncher is the seventh Baylor School of Education teacher-intern to receive this award in the last nine years it has been presented. Certified in elementary education, Buncher was a student teacher at Hillcrest Professional Development School in Waco ISD and taught in two third-grade classrooms.

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Harrelson Magill, a 2025 Baylor School of Education PhD graduate, received the Baylor University Graduate School’s 2024-25 Outstanding Dissertation Award for her groundbreaking doctoral research exploring a new approach to teaching K-12 history.

Magill earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in social studies education and is now a Clinical Assistant Professor and secondary certificate coordinator in Baylor’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

More than 100 rising middle school students are attending Baylor University’s nationally recognized iEngage Summer Civics Institute July 14-18 on the Baylor campus. Students learn about the structure of government and what it means to be an engaged citizen.

Founded in 2013 and the recipient of the 2022 Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education, Baylor’s iEngage Summer Civics Institute is led by iEngage co-cofounder Karon LeCompte, Ph.D., associate professor of curriculum and instruction in the School of Education. iEngage is co-directed by associate professor Kevin Magill, Ph.D.

Baylor University’s Mathematics for Early Learners Academy (MELA), sponsored by the Baylor School of Education (SOE), is underway now at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor campus through July 24 for students ages 4 to 6.

The four-week summer program, designed for students who have just finished PreK or Kindergarten and directed by Sandi Cooper, Ph.D., professor of mathematics education, aims to establish a solid foundation in “number sense,” especially for students who could benefit most from this summer experience in mathematics.

Baylor School of Education recognized nine new or soon-to-be graduates as outstanding students at the 40th annual Recognition Banquet on May 15, 2025. Students were honored for their excellence in academics and fieldwork in education programs and their readiness to impact the world. Newly added awards were given in all-level special education, ESL, gifted education, and the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Read all about these impressive future teachers — Navy Casady, Kaitlyn Genzer, Samantha Jones, Will McNierney, Amy Heick, Laura Workman, Anna Garner, Ellie Ramsey, Audrey Nolen.

The newest issue of Baylor Impact newsletter (Spring 2025) is now online. If you are an SOE graduate and did not receive a newsletter in the mail, please let us know by emailing BaylorImpact@baylor.edu. This issue features exciting news about SOE programs, faculty, students, and alumni who are making a difference. The cover story, Promising Futures shares how a School of Education’s scholarship program is removing barriers associated with income so that more high-ability students can participate in Baylor TIP (Talent Identification Program) through the Baylor Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development.

Dr. Tony Talbert, professor in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, was recognized with the Baylor Outstanding Teaching Award for Tenured Faculty. With a nearly 40-year career as a public school and higher education teaching scholar, Talbert has been and continues to be a significant influence in the lives of his students and on the success of learning communities. Talbert is known for his distinctive ability to bridge theory with practice, making complex ideas assessable and inspiring students to apply them in meaningful ways.

Dr. Sandi Cooper, School of Education (SOE) associate dean for undergraduate education and professor of mathematics education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, received the Baylor Outstanding Faculty Award for Significant Contributions to the Academic Community. Cooper has been at Baylor for 18 years and has spearheaded numerous initiatives ranging from a doctoral program whose oldest graduate is in her 80s to a summer math program for pre-kindergarten students.

Three School of Education (SOE) graduate students were honored with awards from the Baylor Graduate School. The Graduate School honored 14 students university wide with research, instruction, and dissertation awards.

Beatrice Ruiz, a PhD student in the Department of Educational Psychology received the Research Award for the Social Sciences. Maggie Bryant and Elizabeth (Liz) Harrelson Magill, both PhD students in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction, were honorees for their teaching. 

Caitlin Casassa, a senior at Baylor School of Education, received the 2025 Most Outstanding Clinical Teacher Award from the South Central Area Network for School-University Partnerships (SCANSUP).

Casassa is teaching in a third-grade classroom at Woodway Elementary in Midway ISD for her senior student-teaching year. The award recognizes her teaching skills, classroom strategies, and commitment to creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment for her students.

Two Baylor School of Education graduates were honored by the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA) at its fall conference. Dr. Ryann Shelton (PhD ’20) received the SSMA Early Career Scholar Award, and Dr. Melissa Donham (MA ’19, PhD ’23) received the Dissertation Award.

“The math education faculty are so proud of their work and impact in mathematics education,” said Dr. Trena Wilkerson, professor of mathematics education and chair of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at Baylor. “It is an honor to work with such amazing students.”

Baylor School of Education graduate Ashlyn Bergethon, BSEd ’24, has continued an impressive string of Baylor SOE student teachers being recognized with national and state honors. Bergethon was named National Student Teacher of the Year by Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, and the Association of Teacher Educators and Clinical Teacher of the Year for the State of Texas from the Texas Directors of Field Experience.

School of Education faculty Dr. Bill Sterrett, Dr. Rishi Sriram, and Dr. Sandi Cooper partnered with Baylor engineering and physics faculty to provide a 10-week summer experience for undergraduate students focused on collaborating with the Baylor Point-of-Needs Innovation (PONI) Center, Baylor’s Mayborn Museum, and regional partners.

Baylor University School of Education and Raise Your Hand Texas will host a transformative advocacy event, Own the Narrative, supporting public education and the role of teachers and other educational leaders. This event on Thursday, Sept. 26, is designed to equip educators and those who support public education, including parents and community leaders, with the tools and knowledge they need to become powerful Texas public education advocates.

Chris Asikis, a staff clinician at the Baylor Counseling Center, explained how to unlock the power of mindfulness in a presentation at Baylor School of Education’s School Safety and Wellness Summit, a professional learning seminar for seniors who are beginning a full year of student teaching. The program also included presentations from school district safety officers and inspiration from author Adam Sáenz.

As summer comes to an end – earlier than ever, it seems – parents and children are getting ready for the new school year. For younger children, making the transition from a relaxed summer schedule to the routine of school can be jarring. Veteran teacher and Baylor University School of Education faculty member Gae Connally, M.S.Ed., offers five practical ideas to help make the start of the new school year less stressful, especially for younger students.

After 37 years in service and leadership in the Baylor School of Education and beyond, Dr. Doug Rogers retired in May 2024. An expert in educational technology, Rogers served as interim dean, associate dean, technology director, and faculty member in the SOE. At his retirement reception, Curriculum & Instruction interim chair Dr. Trena Wilkerson commended Roger’s leadership and vision for the SOE.

Nearly 80 rising middle school students will attend Baylor University’s nationally recognized iEngage Summer Civics Institute July 22-26, with campers on the Baylor campus daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. iEngage is a nationally recognized program that includes iCivics online games for teaching civics concepts to middle school students.

Baylor University’s Mathematics for Early Learners Academy, sponsored by the Baylor School of Education, is being held at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor campus through July 25 for students ages 4 to 6. The four-week summer program, directed by Sandi Cooper, Ph.D., professor of mathematics education, aims to establish a solid foundation in “number sense” for the young students.

The spring issue of Baylor Impact, the newsletter of the School of Education, is now online. The cover story celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities. Updates from the SOE's Center for School Leadership and Baylor TIP are also in this issue, along with faculty, student, and program accolades. Don't miss the big news about paid internships for student teachers.

Baylor  School of Education is hosting the second year of STEM+ Camp Launch, a week-long day camp focused on rocket science, for rising fifth graders from three Transformation Waco schools. The program is funded by a grant from Waco’s Cooper Foundation and held at Baylor’s Mayborn Museum. STEM+ Camp Launch includes two week-long camp sessions running Monday through Friday the weeks of June 3 and June 10. 

Newly minted Baylor School of Education graduate Jordan Nguyen was honored with the Student Employment Award by Baylor University for his time as a student employee in the School of Education. Nguyen worked as a Learning Resources Center (LRC) Assistant for the School of Education. Nguyen is returning as a graduate student in curriculum and instruction.

Baylor School of Education (SOE) recognized seven seniors as outstanding students at the 39th annual Senior Recognition Banquet in late April. Seniors were honored for their excellence in academics and fieldwork in education programs and their readiness to impact the world. Baylor SOE senior award recipients (biographies below) for 2024 are Genesis Santos, Hannah Hensarling, Lexi Whitney, Jessica Best, Ashlyn Bergethon, Cailyn Riordan, and Vanessa Mendez.

Baylor School of Education staff member Dr. Lacy K. Crocker Papadakis received the 2024 Baylor Distinguished Staff Leadership Award. Papadakis serves as Director of the Research and Writing Development Center (RDWC) in the EdD in Learning and Organizational Change program.

School of Education teacher-education graduates are heading into the work force better equipped because of a new School of Education (SOE) seminar for future teachers, and it received statewide recognition for its innovation.

School of Education professors Dr. Jon Eckert, Dr. Erik Carter, and Dr. Kelly Johnston led discussions with graduating seniors this spring, adding to the senior job prep seminar to share how seniors can live out their faith in the classroom. A key theme was the imperative to reach and support each student individually.

Baylor education expert Dr. Suzanne Nesmith offers tips on how to enjoy the eclipse with children — On April 8, 2024, something miraculous will happen across the United States, a total solar eclipse with Waco right in a prime viewing location for the path of totality. SOE associate professor, Suzanne Nesmith, Ph.D., who specializes in elementary science education, shares some great ways to prepare your family, especially children, beforehand to get the most out of the experience.

Baylor School of Education hosted hundreds of invited guests for SOEclipse Education, an educational event for Baylor students, staff, and faculty to prepare them to teach others, especially children, about the upcoming solar eclipse. Waco is in the direct path for optimal effect of the eclipse this spring. The event offered educational tips and lesson demonstrations for those who will teach and prepare children prior to the phenomenon on Monday, April 8.

Dr. Annmarie Crum, a December 2022 graduate of the EdD Learning and Organizational Change online program at Baylor University, was awarded Baylor’s Outstanding Dissertation Award for her work exploring inequities in STEM education.

Dr. Alicia Briancon, EdD ’23, instructor at College of Southern Nevada (CSN), a community college in Clark County, Nevada, received the Outstanding Research Paper Award for the Southeastern Universities Graduate Research Symposium (SUGRS).

Nearly 60 rising middle school students are attending Baylor University’s nationally recognized iEngage Summer Civics Institute. Led by SOE associate professor Dr. Karon LeCompte, also the program's co-founder, the camp teaches students how to advocate for community change.

Featured:
Dr. Trena Wilkerson, professor of mathematics education

Dr. Wilkerson is quoted in this national story, in which she notes the importance of viewing mathematics from its connectedness to help students, as well as teachers, understand more deeply.

Excerpt:
“It’s about access and equity in mathematics. You can’t wait for geometry and statistics until students get to high school, or only a select few can take it,” Wilkerson, the Baylor University professor, said. “You have to integrate the geometry, the statistics, etcetera, from pre-K through elementary and middle school, so that students are getting a deep understanding of what they need in order to be able to make choices about the mathematics that they take in high school and that they pursue post-high school.”

Waco Tribune-Herald

Featured:
Dr. Sandi Cooper, professor of mathematics education
MELA (Math for Early Learners Academy)
Baylor athletes

The School of Education's MELA program has measurably helped young students ages 4-6 achieve or exceed grade-level expectations in early math skills and number fluency.

Baylor University’s Mathematics for Early Learners Academy (MELA), sponsored by the Baylor School of Education (SOE), will be held at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor campus July 5-28 for students ages 4 to 6.

The summer program, designed for students who have just finished PreK or Kindergarten and directed by Sandi Cooper, Ph.D., professor of mathematics education, aims to establish a solid foundation in “number sense,” especially for students who could benefit most from this summer experience in mathematics.