Patricia Wasley
Encyclopedia
Patricia Wasley, EdD, is the dean of the College of Education at the University of Washington
since 2000. Wasley has conducted a variety of research on student voice
, teacher education
and whole-school reform. She is the author of several books on school reform, including Teachers Who Lead and Stirring the Chalkdust, and is the co-author of Kids and School Reform.
degree in English at Western Washington University
in 1973. She earned her teaching certification in 1975 from WWU as well. She began her education career in 1975 as an English
and Social Studies
teacher in Perth, Australia
. In 1977 she became an English teacher at Nooksack Valley High School
in Everson, Washington
, serving in that capacity until 1982, when she became the curriculum
supervisor at Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver, Washington
. That year she completed her Master of Arts
Degree in English at WWU.
In 1984 Wasley became a Fulbright scholar. In 1985 Wasley became the assistant superintendent
of Educational Service District 112. In 1988 she was the Project Director for the Teacher Leadership Strand for the Puget Sound Educational Consortium in Seattle, and the following year she became the Senior Researcher for School Change with the Coalition of Essential Schools
and at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
. In 1989 she earned her Doctor of Education
In 1996 she began a four-year tenure as dean
of the Graduate School at Bank Street College of Education
in New York City
.
teaching by developing state-of-the art schools of education
. She has led the development of partnerships between the University of Washington and institutions in China, South Africa, and England.
Wasley also led a major study of Chicago’s small-schools initiative and is currently leading a
five-year national action project aimed at ensuring quality teachers. "Strengthening and
Sustaining Teachers" is a project that seeks to stem the high rate of teacher attrition by building a
continuum of support from preparation through the fifth year of teaching.
s and board of directors for several regional and national education-focused nonprofit organizations. They include the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
; the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board; the Scarsdale Teachers Institute; the University of Kansas
Institute for Academic Access; the Educational Video Center; the Teaching and Change Editorial Review Board; the Journal for a Just and Caring Education Editorial Review Board; the SoundOut advisory board; and as an ex officio member of the Foxfire Corporation Board of Directors.
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
since 2000. Wasley has conducted a variety of research on student voice
Student voice
Student voice describes the distinct perspectives and actions of young people throughout schools focused on education."Student voice is giving students the ability to influence learning to include policies, programs, contexts and principles."...
, teacher education
Teacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
and whole-school reform. She is the author of several books on school reform, including Teachers Who Lead and Stirring the Chalkdust, and is the co-author of Kids and School Reform.
Biography
Wasley earned her Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English at Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
in 1973. She earned her teaching certification in 1975 from WWU as well. She began her education career in 1975 as an English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and Social Studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
teacher in Perth, Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. In 1977 she became an English teacher at Nooksack Valley High School
Nooksack Valley High School
Nooksack Valley High is a high school in Everson, Washington. The school mascot is a Pioneer. School colors are purple and white. It is located just north of Nooksack at the junction of State Route 9 and State Route 546, and is on E. Badger Road....
in Everson, Washington
Everson, Washington
Everson is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,481 at the 2010 census.Everson and the nearby city of Nooksack lie near the foothills of the Cascade mountains in Northwest Washington. Located on the banks of the Nooksack River, the businesses support the...
, serving in that capacity until 1982, when she became the curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
supervisor at Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
. That year she completed her Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
Degree in English at WWU.
In 1984 Wasley became a Fulbright scholar. In 1985 Wasley became the assistant superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
of Educational Service District 112. In 1988 she was the Project Director for the Teacher Leadership Strand for the Puget Sound Educational Consortium in Seattle, and the following year she became the Senior Researcher for School Change with the Coalition of Essential Schools
Coalition of Essential Schools
The Coalition of Essential Schools is an organization created to further a type of whole-school reform originally envisioned by founder Ted Sizer in his book, Horace's Compromise. CES began in 1984 with twelve schools; it currently has 600 formal members.-Horace's Compromise:Horace's Compromise...
and at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. In 1989 she earned her Doctor of Education
Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education or Doctor in Education degree , in Latin, Doctor Educationis, is a research-oriented professional doctorate that prepares the student for academic, administrative, clinical, or research positions in educational, civil, and private organizations.-Differences between an Ed.D...
In 1996 she began a four-year tenure as dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Graduate School at Bank Street College of Education
Bank Street College of Education
Bank Street College of Education is located in Manhattan, New York City.-History:Bank Street was founded in 1916 by Lucy Sprague Mitchell as the "Bureau of Educational Experiments"....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
University of Washington
Wasley became the dean of the College of Education at the University of Washington in 2000. At the University of Washington, Wasley has become recognized as a national leader in education reform. She is the co-principal investigator for "Teachers for a New Era," a $5,000,000 grant awarded in 2003 to the University of Washington by the Carnegie Corporation that is aimed at strengthening preschool through twelfth gradeTwelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
teaching by developing state-of-the art schools of education
School of education
In the United States and Canada, a school of education is a division within a university that is devoted to scholarship in the field of education, which is an interdisciplinary branch of the social sciences encompassing sociology, psychology, linguistics, economics, political science, public...
. She has led the development of partnerships between the University of Washington and institutions in China, South Africa, and England.
Wasley also led a major study of Chicago’s small-schools initiative and is currently leading a
five-year national action project aimed at ensuring quality teachers. "Strengthening and
Sustaining Teachers" is a project that seeks to stem the high rate of teacher attrition by building a
continuum of support from preparation through the fifth year of teaching.
Community involvement
Wasley sits on advisory boardAdvisory board
An advisory board is a body that advises the board of directors and management of a corporation but does not have authority to vote on corporate matters, nor a legal fiduciary responsibility...
s and board of directors for several regional and national education-focused nonprofit organizations. They include the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in education. Founded in 1987, NBPTS improves teaching and student learning by enhancing overall educator effectiveness and recognizing and rewarding highly...
; the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board; the Scarsdale Teachers Institute; the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Institute for Academic Access; the Educational Video Center; the Teaching and Change Editorial Review Board; the Journal for a Just and Caring Education Editorial Review Board; the SoundOut advisory board; and as an ex officio member of the Foxfire Corporation Board of Directors.
Awards and honors
- (2000) Distinguished Graduate Award, University of Washington College of Education
- (1999) Distinguished lecturer, National Staff Development Council
- (1996) Invited address, American Educational Research AssociationAmerican Educational Research AssociationThe American Educational Research Association, or AERA, was founded in 1916 as a professional organization representing educational researchers in the United States and around the world....
- (1998) Invited scholar, University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
- (1984) Fulbright Scholar
Select bibliography
- (2003) "A Better Windmill: Teacher Education at the University of Washington," Educational Perspectives. (Spring/Summer)
- (2002) "Small Classes, Small Schools: The Time is Now," Educational Leadership (February)
- "In Search of Authentic Reform," Voices in Urban Education, and "Responsible Accountability and Teacher Learning," in Accountability Run Amok: Toward More Responsible Appraisal of Our Children and Their Schools. Sirotnik, K. (ed).
- (1997) Kids and School Reform. with Hampel, R. and Clark, R. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- (1994) Stirring the Chalkdust: Tales of Teachers Changing Classroom Practice. New York: Teachers College Press.
- (1991) Teachers Who Lead: The Rhetoric of Reform and the Realities of Practice. New York: Teachers College Press.