Brown University Department of Education

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:

Apply - Interfolio

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 Weiner, MAT'25, Named Teacher of the Year at City Arts and Leadership Academy Sam is recognized for excellence in intellectual preparation, classroom management, and class environment in her first year as a classroom teacher.

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:

Alum Spotlight: Andrew MacMannis UEP'10 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...

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:

Capstone Spotlight: Ava Nemerovski MAT'26 Ava’s project focused on developing scientific questioning skills in biology students.

"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:

A Period of Vision and Growth: Eight Years of Tracy Steffes’ Leadership as Chair of Brown's Department of Education Celebrating Professor Steffes' tenure of strategic leadership, programmatic renewal, and dedication to Brown's Department of Education.

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:

Alum Spotlight: Bill Bucklin '71 on a Nearly 50-Year Teaching Career Shaped by Brown and Beyond 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.

We are pleased to announce the promotions of two faculty members, Lindsay Page and John Papay. Lindsay has been promoted to Annenberg Professor of Education Policy and taken on the role of Chair of the Brown Department of Education. John has been promoted to Walter and Leonore Annenberg Professor of Education Policy.

Congratulations, Lindsay and John! 🎉👏

Brown Education Department Announces Faculty Promotions Lindsay Page has been promoted to Annenberg Professor of Education Policy and is the new Chair of the Brown Department of Education, and John Papay has been promoted to Walter and Leonore Annenberg Professor of Education Policy.

Meet Brown Summer High School Principals Conor Mynahan, Eliana Lopez, and Angel Arrazola MAT'26

As Brown Summer High School (BSHS) kicks off another exciting summer of learning, three familiar faces are stepping into vital leadership roles. Alums Conor Mynahan, Eliana Lopez, and Angel Arrazola MAT'26 are serving as the program's principals, guiding day-to-day operations and supporting the newest cohort of Master of Arts in Teaching students.

The summer program serves as the official launchpad for incoming MATs, who dive into hands-on teaching through morning enrichment classes for local high schoolers. Instead of navigating this introduction alone, the new teachers are backed by a deep support network of faculty, staff, veteran mentor teachers, and alumni principals who just walked in their shoes.

For this year’s leadership team, returning to BSHS is a true full-circle moment. "BSHS was where I first started to truly imagine what kind of high school teacher I wanted to be," says Eliana, a Pawtucket native who oversees the morning program alongside Conor. "I wanted to help build the same encouraging environment that launched my amazing experience in the MAT program." 🍎🏫

Meet Brown Summer High School Principals Conor Mynahan, Eliana Lopez, and Angel Arrazola MAT'26 MAT alums bring their expertise back to BSHS.

The Sustainable Education Research Initiative (SustainableED) recently held its inaugural conference on Brown University’s campus, bringing together attendees from universities, nonprofits, and policy organizations across the country. The event marked a major milestone for the initiative, which launched less than a year ago with a mission to advance rigorous, policy-relevant research at the intersection of education and climate change. 🌎 🏫

“We have already begun to hear back from attendees about new collaborations that have emerged from the conference," said Matthew Kraft, SustainableED Founder and Professor of Education and Economics at Brown. "Research that helps schools to adapt to increasing climate and environmental pressures and contributes to collective efforts to create a more sustainable future is essential. SustainableED aims to be a core catalyst for cutting-edge research in this field.”

SustainableED Hosts Inaugural Conference on Education and Climate Change Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners gathered on Brown’s campus for a day of cross-sector conversation on building climate-smart schools.

Capstone Spotlight: Liz Pelletier UEP'26 🌟

In the Central Falls School District (CFSD), policy isn’t just about compliance; it’s about community. With a diverse population of 2,600 students, 46% of whom are Multilingual Learners, the district’s five-year strategic plan is rooted in equity and empowerment. To meet new state regulations, Liz Pelletier, UEP '26, helped CFSD architect an Artificial Intelligence policy for the 2026-2027 academic year for her capstone project.

In her capstone, “AI and Public Good: Crafting Policy through Collective Stakeholder Input,” Liz moved beyond technical jargon to center the lived experiences of the community. Her work involved navigating complex ideological beliefs and balancing federal regulations with local needs.

Read more:

Capstone Spotlight: Liz Pelletier UEP'26 Liz’s project focused on AI and public good.