Brown University Department of Education

09/04/2026

Applications are open for 2027–28!

Advance your career in education with a master’s degree from Brown University:

🍎 Master of Arts in Teaching
📊 Master’s in Urban Education Policy

Join an upcoming info session to explore program details, career outcomes, and scholarship options.

✉️ Questions? Contact us at [email protected]
🔗 Register & Apply:

We prepare leaders in education who are committed to driving equity, innovation, and meaningful change in urban schools and systems.

08/26/2026

Two new Brown Summer High School (BSHS) after-school programs gave local high schoolers room to explore creative expression outside the traditional classroom this year. Digital Storytelling and Creative Writing, both funded by a grant from the Brown Arts Institute, let students spend their afternoons writing, filming and building projects entirely their own.

The grant ultimately allowed BSHS students creative freedom and access to new mediums by giving them the tools and confidence to tell their stories. In addition to these programs, the grant funded other resources for BSHS students such as materials for the science and English courses and special guest speakers.

Read more:

A grant from the Brown Arts Institute funded two new after-school offerings this summer, giving local high schoolers space to write, create and tell their own stories.

08/25/2026

Excited to share an upcoming panel hosted by the Cogut Institute for the Humanities!

On September 11, Professor Mahasan Chaney will join a distinguished panel of scholars, including specialists in history, religious studies, and the Dean of the College, for "Humanists on Education."

Education is the thread that connects us all at Brown. This event offers a unique look at how different fields define, challenge, and practice education to fuel discovery and purpose.

🗓 Friday, September 11 @ 1:00 PM ET

Education is what brings us all together at Brown, students and faculty alike. It’s our mission. It fills us with energy. It fuels our curiosity,...

08/13/2026

Congratulations to Ava Nemerovski, MAT’26, and Erin Lippitt, MAT’25, who were chosen by the Knowles Teacher Initiative as members of its 2026 Cohort of Teaching Fellows!

Ava will be a first-year teacher at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, Rhode Island, during the 2026-2027 school year, where they will teach 9th grade biology and 11th and 12th grade oceanography. Erin is currently teaching at The Greene School in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, where she teaches 11th grade physics and 9th grade field ecology.

Ava Nemerovski, MAT’26, and Erin Lippitt, MAT’25, were chosen by the Knowles Teacher Initiative as members of its 2026 Cohort of Teaching Fellows.

08/06/2026

The Education Department and Annenberg Institute at Brown University invite applications for two tenure-track positions (one open rank and one at the assistant professor level) in U.S. education policy, with 50-50 appointments in each unit. We define “policy” broadly and are eager to hire scholars from a
variety of disciplines who use a range of empirical approaches to complement our multi-disciplinary faculty. Applicants should be able to articulate the relevance of their work to educational policy and/or practice.

Find the full job description and apply here:

08/05/2026

Huge congratulations to Sam Weiner, MAT’25, for being named “Teacher of the Year” at City Arts and Leadership Academy in San Francisco (in her very first year of full-time teaching)! 🏆

Nominated by her peers, Sam credits her time in the MAT program, her role as principal of Brown Summer High School, and guidance from mentors like Dr. David Upegui and Dr. John Palella for shaping her approach to the classroom. By grounding her AP U.S. Government class in relationship-building, project-based learning, and agency, she’s created a learning environment where students thrive.

Read the full story to learn how Sam transitioned from student-teaching to leading a classroom of her own:

Sam is recognized for excellence in intellectual preparation, classroom management, and class environment in her first year as a classroom teacher.

07/31/2026

Alum Spotlight: Andrew MacMannis UEP'10

From UEP student to founding leader of Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts and Chief of External Affairs for the Rhode Island Education Collective, meet Andrew! 🎓✨

In our latest Alumni Spotlight, Andrew reflects on how his time in the Urban Education Policy program gave him the networking skills, data tools, and confidence to make a lasting impact on public education across Rhode Island over the last 15+ years.

"The UEP program prepared me to be a change agent, ready to engage deeply in advancing what’s best for students and families, while also developing the ability to adapt, interpret emerging research, and respond thoughtfully as the field continues to evolve."

🔗 Read his full story and advice for prospective applicants:

Andrew reflects on how the UEP program expanded his perspective on Rhode Island's education landscape through an eye-opening internship and a pivotal mentorship with Dr. Kenneth Wong that built his professional confidence. He emphasizes that the networking and policy analysis skills gained during hi...

07/23/2026

Capstone Spotlight: Ava Nemerovski MAT'26 🌟

In their capstone project, "What Questions Do You Have?: Developing Scientific Questioning Skills in Biology Students," Ava explored how to shift the classroom dynamic from passive listening to active scientific inquiry.

Ava’s methodology targeted two distinct pillars of student engagement:
- Quality: Training students to transform curiosity into "testable" scientific questions.
- Quantity: Ensuring every student felt empowered to voice their questions, regardless of their starting point.

Read more:

Ava’s project focused on developing scientific questioning skills in biology students.

07/21/2026

"Our greatest strength as a department is our people..."

After eight years of visionary leadership, Professor Tracy Steffes is stepping down as Chair of Brown University's Department of Education.

From leading major programmatic renewals to navigating an external review from national education leaders, Tracy’s tenure has been defined by one constant: collaborative, people-first stewardship.

As she prepares for a well-deserved sabbatical to dive back into her historical research on K-12 education, faculty and staff are reflecting on her impact:

"Tracy brought the faculty together to build our programs in exciting new ways... she made it collaborative." — Professor Andrea Flores
"She made sure staff had a voice in shaping the department's daily life." — Leah Meyer, Academic Department Manager
"She worked incredibly hard to help the Department grow and ensure that we continued to make progress towards our mission." — Professor John Papay

Please join us in celebrating Tracy’s eight years of service and wishing her the best! 📚✨

🔗 Read her full reflections, what's next for her scholarship, and the future of the department:

Celebrating Professor Steffes' tenure of strategic leadership, programmatic renewal, and dedication to Brown's Department of Education.

07/17/2026

What does it take to sustain a fulfilling, impactful teaching career for nearly five decades? 🍎

For Brown Education alum Bill Bucklin '71, the secret lies in a piece of wisdom from John Dewey: "If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow."

After 40 years in public school classrooms and 7 years in independent schools, Bill is sharing the profound moments that shaped his trajectory, from the halls of Brown to life-changing conversations during basic training in the Army.

His career offers powerful takeaways for today's students and education professionals alike:
✅ Travel to your students intellectually: Meet them where they are, rather than expecting them to automatically conform to your world.
✅ Master the "lesson plan dance": Choreograph your objectives, but leave room for the complicated, organic nature of a live classroom.
✅ Embrace the unexpected: Pivoting to a new grade level or teaching strategy is an opportunity to evolve and stay energized.

As Bill beautifully puts it: "There has never been a more blessed time to become a teacher."

📖 Read Bill’s full story and his invaluable advice for the next generation of educators:

Bill Bucklin reflects on how Brown's Education Department, a volunteer tutoring program, and a series of unexpected detours shaped his path to becoming a lifelong educator.