As parents, students, and educators prepare for the 2025-26 academic year, experts from UW–Madison’s No. 1 ranked School of Education are ready to share their insights on some of the biggest issues facing education with members of the media.
Supporting student mental health
Katie Eklund is co-director of the School Mental Health Collaborative, a center focused on conducting research that informs policy and practice to promote the social-emotional and behavioral success of all students. She can speak about children’s mental health, school safety, universal screening, and social emotional learning.
Contact: katie.eklund@wisc.edu
Addressing the teacher shortage
As the teacher shortage continues in Wisconsin and nationwide, Tom Owenby, the School of Education’s associate dean for teacher education and director of the Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center, is available to talk about UW–Madison’s innovative program aimed at combating the problem. The UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge — which was recently extended through the 2029-30 academic year — is a donor-funded program that’s designed to help bolster the teacher workforce.
Contact: owenby@wisc.edu
Learning more about 4K programs
Eric Grodsky, director of the Madison Education Partnership (MEP) and a professor of sociology and educational policy studies, examined the performance of the Madison Metropolitan School District’s full-day 4K program in its first and second year. He can speak about the goals, benefits, and challenges of 4K in Madison and beyond.
Contact: grodsky@wisc.edu
Navigating politics in the classroom
Jeremy Stoddard studies how political polarization is impacting young people and civic education in K-12 schools. Stoddard says building a better understanding of how polarization is changing classrooms is more important now than ever. He can speak about innovative ways teachers are approaching this sometimes difficult subject.
Contact: jdstoddard@wisc.edu
Creating better coaches
Peter Miller studies sports leadership and what makes a great, effective coach — on and off the field. His podcast, Sport and the Growing Good, has featured insights from coaches including NBA Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, the Badgers’ Barry Alvarez, and the Packers’ Matt LaFleur. Miller is also the principal investigator for the Wisconsin Coaching Project, a multi-year study that gathers and disseminates coaching best practices across Wisconsin and beyond.
Contact: pmmiller2@wisc.edu
Have another education-related story in mind? Members of the media are encouraged to contact Laurel White, the School of Education’s communications associate director, at laurel.white@wisc.edu with any additional questions or interview requests.