Department of Teacher Education and Leadership

🎒✨ And just like that… WE’RE BACK! 🐶
New classes, new memories, new opportunities and maybe a little caffeine to get us through it all. ☕📚😂
We’re so excited to see our Bulldogs back on campus and ready to take on a brand-new semester! Here’s to good friends, great memories, and lots of future teachers in the making. 🍎✏️
Welcome back, Bulldogs! Let’s make this semester a good one!
TEAL

‼️ALERT FREE SNACKS‼️We are so excited to have all students back on campus! Please stop by Allen Hall second floor for our “Snack to School” event. Hope to see you all there!!!

Congratulations to Dr. Leslie Burger on receiving the 2026 Regions Bank-DAFVM Superior Faculty Award in Teaching! 🏆 We are proud to see her recognized by MSU's Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Burger recently joined the College of Education from MSU's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture. We are so excited to have her as our new interim head of our Department of Teacher Education and Leadership.

📸: Angel Parrish, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

📣 Please join us in welcoming our new Interim Department Head!
The Department of Teacher Education and Leadership is excited to welcome Dr. Leslie Burger as our Interim Department Head!
Dr. Burger joins us from Mississippi State University’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and brings more than 18 years of experience serving the MSU community. Her wealth of leadership, knowledge, and commitment to student success will be a tremendous asset as she leads our department into this new chapter.
We are excited for the future under Dr. Burger’s leadership and look forward to the impact she will make on our students, faculty, staff, and partners.
Please help us give Dr. Burger a warm Bulldog welcome! 🐶❤️

So much fun presenting this morning at the NCTE-NCTM Conference in Charlotte!📚➗✖️

Dr. Sarah Salisbury and Dr. Kristin Javorsky shared a message we’re passionate about: it’s time to stop saying, “I’m just a math person” or “I’m just an ELA person.” The truth is, we’re all just people—and we all have the ability to learn, grow, and thrive when we set our minds to it
When we break down the barriers between subjects, we open the door to deeper learning, stronger problem-solving, and greater confidence for every student. Here’s to helping learners embrace every challenge with a growth mindset!

So excited for Dr. Hampshire and this amazing opportunity! She rocks!

Congratulations to the faculty selected for the 2026–2027 Faculty Leadership Program!

Today’s feature highlights Dr. Patricia Hampshire, along with her thoughts on what she hopes to gain from the program.

Sponsored by Mississippi State University's Office of Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Provost, the Faculty Leadership Program is designed to develop the next generation of academic leaders.

During the eight-month program, participants engage with university administrators and leadership experts while participating in sessions designed to strengthen their leadership knowledge and skills.

To see a list of 26-27 participants or to learn more about the Faculty Leadership Program, visit: www.ored.msstate.edu › faculty-leadership-development-program

Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Salisbury on successfully defending her dissertation yesterday!🥳👏🏼
Sarah’s research explored the teaching and learning of fractions, contributing valuable knowledge that will impact future educators and students alike. Her hard work, dedication, and passion for education were on full display, and she did an outstanding job!
We were proud to see the College of Education come together to support Sarah during this incredible milestone. Congratulations, Dr. Salisbury, we can’t wait to see the difference you’ll continue to make!🐾🍎

Our Special Education doctoral students are making an impact beyond the classroom!🍎
Last week, Jitka Elizarraras and Parmida Hadinezhad represented Mississippi State University's Department of Teacher Education and Leadership at the Time is Right Conference in Meridian, Mississippi.
Jitka's presentation focused on child-centered decision making in early intervention services, emphasizing the importance of family partnerships, cultural considerations, language preferences, and collaborative practices that support the growth and development of every child.
Parmida's presentation introduced Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in education, showcasing how these emerging technologies can be integrated into real classroom environments to enhance teaching, learning, and student engagement.
We are proud to see our doctoral students sharing their expertise, advancing the field of special education, and making meaningful contributions to educators and families across the state!!👏🏼✨🐾

So proud of the impact our faculty make on the community!! Go Ms. Cunningham!!!

Big congratulations to our special education student intern, Sophie Theobald, on receiving the Teacher’s Choice Award! 🍎✨

This award, presented by Mr. Charlie Plunkett of Modern Woodmen Financial, provides funding to help a future educator purchase supplies for their very first classroom. We are so proud to see Sophie recognized for her hard work, passion, and dedication to students.

The future is bright for this future teacher! ❤️📚