First published in the July 28 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
Jerell Hill, dean of the school of education and human development at Pacific Oaks College, was recently named an Impact Academy fellow through the national nonprofit Deans for Impact. Hill joins a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to improving educator preparation rooted in equity.
Education programs today face complex challenges as they prepare teachers and K-12 leaders who are well-equipped to identify and address educational inequities exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
More than ever, the field needs leaders who can foster individual and organizational learning and ensure that all children have access to rigorous, content-rich instruction.
Deans for Impact aims to fill this need through its yearlong Impact Academy fellowship, which empowers dean-level leaders with skills, knowledge and strategies to pursue instructional excellence in the face of new challenges.
Hill is one of 20 leaders announced as part of this fellowship’s seventh cohort. Since 2015, Deans for Impact has built the capacity of more than 100 leaders of educator preparation programs through the Impact Academy, positioning them to make pedagogy a priority within their programs and advocate for more equitable systems of teaching and learning.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to participate in this fellowship. I am honored to work with colleagues who believe schools are cultural spaces that play a significant role in creating experiences to develop equity and excellence. Preparing high-quality teachers to serve their communities is a necessary action toward educational justice,” Hill said.
The 2022-23 Impact Academy fellowship combines monthly virtual sessions and two in-person gatherings with regular learning modules and ongoing leadership coaching from veteran leaders.
Fellows strengthen their ability to engage faculty, staff and K-12 school partners in a shared vision for change, grounded in a deep scientific understanding about how students learn.
“We’re excited to welcome this new cohort of 20 fellows committed to grounding their educator-preparation programs in equity and improving the field of education more broadly,” said Valerie Sakimura, vice president of program at Deans for Impact.
“As we continue to support outstanding educator-preparation leaders to drive transformative change, Deans for Impact aims to realize our long-term vision of building a national collective of leaders who are creating and sustaining conditions for teachers to create rigorous, equitable and inclusive classrooms where all students thrive,” she added.
Deans for Impact is committed to reflecting the broad diversity of programs preparing new educators in this country, and this year’s fellowship cohort reflects that commitment. Thirty percent of fellows are leaders of color, and they represent institutions in more than 15 states.
These include public and private universities, 35% of them minority-serving institutions and nontraditional programs. Collectively, these institutions serve more than 10,000 future teachers annually, with 46% of current candidates identifying as people of color.
