Bill Penuel has been elected to聽join the , which advances high quality education research and its use in policy and practice, the Academy announced this month.聽
Penuel came to CU Boulder in 2011 as a professor in learning science and human development, and he is the Director of the . His research focuses on teacher learning and organizational processes that shape the implementation of educational policies, school curricula and afterschool programs, and he analyzes learning and development from sociocultural, institutional and complex social systems perspectives. One line of Penuel鈥檚 work focuses on how curriculum and professional development can support teacher learning surrounding new science聽standards, and another line focuses on how research-practice partnerships support educational decision making.聽
鈥淎s a leading scholar in learning sciences, Professor Penuel has dedicated his career to designing and implementing educational policies, professional learning programs聽and curricula for a more just and equitable educational system,鈥� said Dean Kathy Schultz.聽
鈥淏ill is a pioneer in the development of research-practice partnerships, and he聽has contributed immeasurably to their growth across the country.聽He often shines the brightest spotlight on the important work of his school and district partners. We are so pleased to see Bill and his work recognized in this way, and we know he will be a wonderful contributor to the work of the Academy.鈥�
Several CU Boulder scholars have been elected members in the Academy, including Lorrie Shepard who is an NAEd member and former NAEd president. Penuel joins who will be inducted during the 2019 NAEd Annual Meeting in November.
NAEd members are elected on the basis of outstanding scholarship related to education and their valuable education聽research and policy聽contributions.聽Nominations are submitted by individual Academy members once a year for review and election by the organization鈥檚 membership. In addition to serving on expert study panels that address pressing issues in education, members are also deeply engaged in the organization鈥檚 professional development programs such as the NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and the NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program.
鈥淭his diverse group of scholars are being recognized for their extraordinary contributions to education research and policy,鈥� NAEd President Gloria Ladson-Billings said in a . 鈥淭hese leaders are at the forefront of those helping to improve the lives of students in the United States and abroad.鈥�
Penuel, humbled by the recognition, said 鈥渢hese moments are really reminders of all the people who helped you get where you are and who continue to support you and move you into becoming a better scholar.鈥�