Brown University Department of Education

06/02/2026

Undergraduate Thesis Spotlight: Ava Bradley '26 🌟

For her senior thesis, newly graduated Education Studies concentrator Ava Bradley focused on students who are both multilingual learners and recipients of special education services. Her research, titled "A Spot at the Table," asked how educators, administrators, and school staff can meaningfully engage the families of these students, as well as the challenges with engagement.

Her central conclusion was that districts responding to this growing population cannot rely on one-size-fits-all engagement strategies. "The intersectional identities of dually identified students and their families entail specific and nuanced challenges," she shared, ones that call for approaches intentionally designed around their particular strengths and needs.

Read more in our latest article:

Ava's thesis explored how educators can better engage the families of dually identified students in a rapidly changing Rhode Island district.

05/27/2026

The rain couldn't dampen the incredible joy, pride, and celebration at this weekend's Commencement. Watching our MAT, UEP, and undergraduate students cross the stage alongside our dedicated faculty was the perfect reminder of why this community is so special.

Congratulations, graduates! We are so proud of you. 🎓❤️

05/21/2026

The 2026 Urban Education Policy Capstone Conference💡📊

Brown Urban Education Policy students transformed their yearlong internship experiences into policy recommendations during a recent conference-style event. Attended by a network of faculty, alumni, and local civic leaders—many of whom served as supervisors for the students in their internships—the event served as a platform for students to present the synthesis of their intensive coursework and their on-the-ground residency within partner organizations.

The UEP Capstone serves as a final project for each student’s time at UEP, and it is also a professional inquiry into the mechanics of change. Throughout the year, students leverage their new learnings about creating and evaluating policy, as well as training in economic analysis and quantitative methods, to address real-time issues faced by their internship sites. These projects move beyond abstract theory, offering high-level recommendations that are deeply informed by the lived experiences of urban students and families.

🔗 Check out our most recent article to learn more about the 2026 UEP cohort and their projects.

Graduate students in Brown’s UEP program presented capstone projects addressing key issues in urban education, sharing research-informed policy solutions shaped by their yearlong internships.

05/19/2026

2026 Master of Arts in Teaching Capstones 🍎 📚️

The MAT Capstone Project represents the intersection of scholarly research and classroom reality. As the final milestone of the Brown Master of Arts in Teaching program, this project challenges candidates to move beyond the role of "student" and step fully into the role of "reflective practitioner." Throughout their yearlong residency in Rhode Island’s secondary schools, MATs conduct a deep dive into their own teaching, using their daily interactions with students to drive a sustained cycle of instructional design and critical reflection.

Each candidate selects a pedagogical lens specific to their discipline, analyzes the latest educational research, and builds a standards-aligned unit from the ground up. By using a variety of assessment tools to track student growth, they are able to see exactly how their choices impact learning, allowing them to adapt and refine their approach in real-time.

Read more about our students and their projects in our latest article:

After a year of intensive residency, Brown’s MAT candidates share the research and instructional strategies that are shaping the future of local classrooms.

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Professor Christopher Cleveland, who received the NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship for his research, "Understanding Special Education at Scale." 🎉

The fellowship supports early-career scholars working in critical areas of education research. Through professional development, funding, and mentorship from senior scholars, it enhances the career and research opportunities of the fellow. As a highly competitive initiative, this fellowship annually identifies and supports 25 of the most exceptional researchers conducting postdoctoral studies relevant to education.

Read more about Professor Cleveland's project:

05/15/2026

Meg Henning, MAT '26, received the 2026 Master’s Award for Professional Excellence for her contributions to curriculum development, instructional leadership, and schoolwide collaboration.

Meg shared, "Receiving this award is a true honor and a reflection of the deep care and joy I’ve found working in Central Falls over the past year. My growth as a professional has been shaped by the remarkable people in this community, and I am grateful to be surrounded by those who inspire me to live out values of integrity, empathy and a strong commitment to the students and families we work with each day. The joy and purpose I find in this work continue to ground and motivate me during uncertain times."

Congratulations, Meg! 🎉

From supporting student-teacher colleagues in integrating curricular changes to stepping into full time classroom leadership, Meg Henning is being recognized for her impact as a secondary science educator-in-training.

05/06/2026

Student Spotlight: Faizaan Siddiqui UEP'26 🌟

Faizaan is turning his classroom experience into systemic change. As an intern at the Equity Institute, he is helping future teachers navigate the certification process and exploring the evolving role of AI in Rhode Island education.

When asked what excites him most about his post-graduation plans, Faizaan shared, "Honestly, being able to put all this experience and knowledge into practice! I've spent the last few years preparing for what feels like this moment. It is time to transition from theory into action."

Check out our latest student spotlight to hear about his journey and advice for the next UEP cohort.

Faizaan is a UEP student who is interning at The Equity Institute, where he is developing digital Praxis prep resources and research on the integration of Artificial Intelligence in Rhode Island classrooms. Drawing on his background as a chemistry teacher, he is leveraging Brown’s community and ca...

05/05/2026

This past weekend, UEP student Ash Horn took her commitment to Providence beyond the classroom, running the Providence Marathon in support of her internship site, Providence Promise. With her UEP cohort cheering her on from the sidelines, Ash and the PVD Promise team raised over $14,000 to support local students’ futures.

Congratulations, Ash! 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

05/04/2026

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎❤️

We want to give a special shoutout to the mentor teachers partnering with our MAT program. From co-planning lessons to navigating the classroom, these educators are the ultimate guides. Thank you for your commitment to our students and the profession!

Photo 1: (From MATs Evan and Elaina) Special shoutout to both Faith Jean and Amanda Izzi for an incredible year. Both were incredible mentors for us. Faith was our rock when things got tough and Amanda pushed us constantly to be the best teachers we could possibly be. Beyond that, both are incredible teachers. Faith leads with love and joy in a way we have never seen before. Her classrooms are a shining light that can be felt from all the way down the hall. Amanda is an unbelievably strong and talented teacher, disseminating information better than we've ever seen, while still being a warm presence. Amanda somehow balances being a state recognized AP teacher, improving EPHS's standing as a school, while also being a teacher that students come visit and hang out with when they have free time. Both Faith and Amanda are the best of the best and deserve all the love and recognition imaginable this teacher appreciation week!

Photo 2: (From MAT Molly) My mentor, Mrs. Stephanie Morrison is an incredibly cheerful, creative, well-organized teacher and patient, generous, supportive mentor. It’s been a joy to learn from and work alongside her!

Photo 3: (From MAT Sarath) My mentor Ethan Dimmock (former MAT) is literally the best mentor teacher I could ever ask for.

04/30/2026

Dr. Indira Gil, a key member of the Brown University Department of Education, has been honored with the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. This prestigious recognition is reserved for faculty who demonstrate sustained, exceptional commitment to teaching. Nominated by colleagues and students, Dr. Gil is celebrated as an educator whose impact resonates long after her students leave the classroom.

While her expertise is rooted in mathematics, Dr. Gil's heart remains with her students. “What truly keeps me passionate is the dedication of the undergraduate and MAT students I work with,” she says. “Their commitment to equity brings the spark and the joy to this field.”

Through her research, her mentorship, and her unwavering focus on the "human" side of the education system, Dr. Gil continues to prove that excellence in teaching is as much about the heart as it is about the mind.

Congratulations, Dr. Gil! 👏 🎉

Dr. Gil is recognized for her unwavering commitment to student-centered pedagogy and her transformative impact on the next generation of urban educators.