When thinking about all the exciting things taking place across our School of Education, it’s not easy to decide what to highlight.
That’s a wonderful “problem” to have.
In this issue of Learning Connections, the cover story spotlights our innovative efforts to support the Wisconsin teacher workforce. There has never been a more critical time to address the educator shortage, and our donor-funded, UW–Madison School of Education Wisconsin Teacher Pledge program is doing just that.
Since the fall of 2020, 641 undergraduate and graduate students have taken the Teacher Pledge. This past spring, Teacher Pledge alumni were working in Wisconsin classrooms in 65 public school districts and 11 private schools. By September, those numbers will grow and more than 350 Teacher Pledge alumni will be teaching in Wisconsin schools.
A single issue of Learning Connections can only note a fraction of the important work taking place across our 10 departments and various units. But as you page through this edition, I hope you get a sense of the array of efforts across the arts, health, and education that make our School such a special place. For example:
- Several of our faculty members, led by Katie Eklund with the Department of Educational Psychology, are working locally to help address the national mental health crisis. The team received a $6 million grant to expand mental health services in the Madison Schools by preparing a new generation of school psychologists.
- A new Bucky on Parade statue painted by Art Department Professor John Hitchcock and student Kaylee Hermann — “Honor the Air, Land, and Water” — made its debut at the Memorial Union on July 26 to help campus kick off UW–Madison’s 175th anniversary celebration. The statue features iconography that represents the university’s past, present, and future.
- Our School ranked No. 3 in U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Graduate Schools rankings — marking the 10th straight year we’ve been rated among the top five (out of more than 450 schools granting doctoral education degrees). These rankings spotlight the range of outstanding programs across our School. This spring, 10 graduate programs were ranked by U.S. News — including the No. 1 Rehabilitation Counseling program.
The amazing support we receive from our engaged alumni and friends is vital in so much of what we do. Thank you — and I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish next.
— Diana Hess