Kleinsasser, Rios named AED Scholars

Francisco Rios & Audrey Kleinsasser

    The Seattle-based Institute for Educational Inquiry (IEI) has named two University of Wyoming College of Education faculty members to its inaugural class of Agenda for Education in a Democracy (AED) scholars.
    UW's AED scholars are Francisco Rios, professor of educational studies, and Audrey Kleinsasser, executive director of the Wyoming School-University Partnership (WSUP).
   The designation recognizes Rios' research on the infusion of democracy principles in to foundational courses for preservice teachers.
    "Being part of a distinguished group of scholars, who are also connected with an organization that is committed to democratic, justice and equity issues in society (broadly) and in schools (specifically) will provide an opportunity for me to learn from them, to think more deeply and reflectively about the implications of my work, and to develop a network of colleagues with whom to engage in joint activity," Rios says. "It also means that what I will be able to bring back to the UW what I learn and do, as part of the AED scholar group, with the hopes that our students and my colleagues with whom I interact will also benefit indirectly. I hope the collective AED scholars group will be able to generate ideas and practices that serve the role of fostering the principles of the NNER in schools and communities."
  Kleinsasser was honored for her work, through WSUP, to strengthen relationships among educators in the arts and sciences, professional education and P-12 schools.
   "For me, this designation just deepens a commitment that began over 10 years ago when I first worked with John Goodlad and others affiliated with the Institute for Education Inquiry," Kleinsasser says. "The philosophical and moral groundings of the Agenda continue to affect the way I think about the scholarship of teaching and learning, classroom-based inquiry, and professional development and guides my work."
   The 30 AED scholars include professors and administrators from colleges of education and arts and sciences. It also includes principals and school district superintendents, as well as leaders of school-university partnerships and state educational improvement initiatives.
   In addition to continuing their individual work, AED scholars will counsel the IEI on mission-related issues. They also may be called upon to reflect on topics related to their individual areas of specialization.
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Posted on Monday, September 24, 2007