VCU School of Education

📖 Big congratulations to Dr. Phelton Moss, assistant professor of educational leadership, whose research was just published in the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership! 🎉

Dr. Moss spent a year documenting a remarkable story out of Jefferson County, Mississippi: Superintendent Dr. Adrian D. Hammitte returned home to lead his own community's school district — and helped drive real, sustained gains in third-grade reading.

What made the difference? A strategy centered on investing in school leaders and building strong professional learning systems. This small, rural, majority-Black district has now been recognized by the state for closing equity gaps and getting more students reading on grade level, year after year.

"A community, a leader, and a plan coming together to change outcomes for kids." That's the story — and we're proud one of our faculty got to tell it.

Read the full case study 👉 https://ow.ly/Ijhn50Zy2fB

🎉 Welcome to the 2026-2027 academic year, School of Education students! Whether you're brand new or returning, your new era starts with our Weeks of Welcome (WoW)!

📅 Save these dates:

🎓 New Graduate Student Orientation — Wednesday, Aug 12 | 3-6 PM | ALC 2100/2104

🧊 WoW Kickoff Block Party — Thursday, Aug 20 | 2-3:30 PM | SOE Courtyard
Free popsicles, popcorn, lawn games & prizes! Complete your Resource Fair passport to pop a balloon on our prize wall — win VCU socks, bags, or lunch with the Dean! 🎈

💻 Student Organizations Fair — Thusday, Sep 3 | 12-1 PM | Zoom
Find your people, your leadership niche, and your professional community.

🤝 Graduate Student Mixer: Speed Networking — Thursday, Sep 10
Virtual: 12-1 PM on Zoom | In-person: 3-4 PM in Oliver 3064 (light refreshments!)

🎤 SOE Unscripted: Faculty Panel & Q&A — Wednesday, Sep 16 | 12 PM | Hybrid: Oliver Hall 3064 & Zoom

🌎 International Student Mixer — Tuesday, Sep 22 | Oliver Hall Student Lounge (2126)

🔗 Join all virtual events at bit.ly/soewow26

Tag a classmate you'll bring along! 👇

🎉 Exciting news from the VCU School of Education!

Associate Professor Paul Harris has been awarded the VCU Thriving Communities Research Pilot Grant ($25,000) for his proposal, "Strengthening Mental Health in Faith Communities."

Building on prior su***de prevention training, this pilot project will collaboratively develop and evaluate a strengths-oriented mental health support model — grounded in the values of Saint Paul's Baptist Church and the broader Richmond community.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Harris! 👏

Learn more about the VCU School of Education - https://soe.vcu.edu
Learn more about Dr. Paul Harris - https://soe.vcu.edu/about-us/directory/full-directory/paul-c-harris-phd.html
Learn more about the Thriving Communities Research Pilot Grant - https://community.vcu.edu/resources/grants/thriving-communities-pilot-grant/

🎉 Registration is now open for the VCU Dyslexia Symposium!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 🔗 Register: bit.ly/DyslexiaVCU

Don't miss this dynamic day of in-person learning, networking, and 4 hours of professional development — hosted by VCU School of Education, VCU T/TAC, and VBIDA

🎤 Keynote: Structured Multiliteracy: The Bridge to Equity
Featuring Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D. — President of the Valley Speech Language and Learning Center, leading researcher, current Chairperson of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities, and accomplished author.

✅ Inspiring keynote, breakout sessions, and vendor tables
✅ Lunch and networking with peers
✅ Free video recordings of select presentations post-event

Funded by the Ruth Harris Professorship — open to students, educators, advocates, and the public. FREE for all VCU students!

Seats won't last — register today: bit.ly/DyslexiaVCU

Exciting News! We're thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for the 2026 Dyslexia Symposium: Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, EdD.

As President of the Valley Speech Language and Learning Center, a leading researcher, current Chairperson of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities, and an accomplished author with widely recognized contributions to the field, Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan brings exceptional expertise and insight to empower those who support students with dyslexia.

Join us on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Virginia Commonwealth University's Monroe Park Campus (301 West Main, Richmond, VA 23284). Hosted by VCU School of Education and VCU T/TAC in partnership with VBIDA this event includes lunch, breakout sessions, vendor tables, networking, and 4 hours of professional development—all funded by the Ruth Harris Professorship. This year’s event is in-person, and video recordings of some of the presentations will be available at no charge after the event.

Open to students, educators, advocates, families, and the public. Dive into research, resources, and strategies for dyslexia and language disorders!

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Registration opens July 1: bit.ly/DyslexiaVCU

Don't miss this unique opportunity!

SAVE THE DATE!
Mark your calendars now for our annual Dyslexia Symposium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, on VCU's Monroe Park campus at 301 West Main, Richmond, VA 23284.

Hosted by the VCU School of Education and T/TAC, attendees will enjoy a keynote speaker, lunch, breakout sessions, vendor tables, and networking—plus 4 hours of professional development!

This annual symposium, funded by the Ruth Harris Professorship and open to students, educators, advocates, and the general public, provides research and resources to support students with dyslexia. The Dyslexia Symposium is a unique opportunity for families, early career and veteran professionals, and students to come together and delve into dyslexia and language disorders. Whether you attend in person or virtually, you can look forward to a day filled with valuable insights and learning.

More details coming soon: bit.ly/DyslexiaVCU

SOE’s Tomika Ferguson Receives 2026 PACME Awards
PLEASE JOIN US in congratulating Tomika Ferguson, Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Community Engagement, for being a recipient of the Academic and Administrative Leadership Award at the Monday night’s Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME) ceremony. Ferguson also received the Riese-Melton Award, recognizing contributions that advance cross-cultural relations.

The PACME Awards recognize VCU and VCU Health System individuals and groups who have made exemplary contributions with regard to promoting civility, building community, establishing cross-cultural initiatives, advocating equity, and nurturing a welcoming and inclusively excellent environment throughout the university and area communities.

READ MORE: bit.ly/2026-PACME-Honors

CLASS OF 2026: Linda Le
Linda Le’s high school science teachers did more than instruct her. They supported her and inspired her to think about her future. Soon, as a newly minted Earth science teacher, Linda Le will carry forward that spirit of curiosity to her own students. With two VCU degrees – including her new master’s in teaching (with a concentration in science education) from the School of Education – Linda will bring her classroom passion to new generations.

“I was drawn to the idea of helping students make sense of the world around them and see the relevance of science in their everyday lives,” said Le, who will teach Earth science after graduating in May. “I wanted to create a classroom where students feel curious, capable and excited to explore how Earth’s systems are connected.”

From the Lorton area of Fairfax County, Virginia, Le chose to attend VCU based on its diverse student body, strong education program, urban setting and vibrant culture.

READ MORE: bit.ly/Class2026-LindaLe

VCU School of Education moves up 5 spots in latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The School of Education is ranked No. 19 (No. 11 among public institutions) in U.S. News' 2026 Best Education Schools rankings. Perennially ranked among the nation's best schools of education, the latest ranking places the school among the top 10% of ranked schools of education.
“This recognition affirms the work of our faculty, staff, and students and the impact of our programs, our research, and our partnerships with the communities we serve,” said School of Education dean Kelli Feldman.

READ MORE: bit.ly/EducationRankings2026