Kudos: Adah Miller, Ding receive Glickman Challenge Grant; Congratulations to Research Conference graduate student winners
Adah Miller, Ding receive Glickman Challenge Grant
Emily Adah Miller, an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Education, and Ai-Chu Elisha Ding, an assistant professor in the Department of Workforce Education and Instructional Technology, received the Glickman Challenge Grant provided by professor emeritus Carl Glickman and his wife, Sara, to support faculty in implementing collaborative projects in high-needs schools.
Adah Miller and Ding will extend a collaborative partnership between faculty at the University of Georgia and the Clarke County School District (CCSD) to strengthen elementary science instruction at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School, J.J. Harris Elementary School, and Whitehead Road Elementary School. In partnership with district science leaders and instructional coaches, the project seeks to improve science learning outcomes while simultaneously supporting English language development for multilingual learners.
Building on four years of successful collaboration with CCSD, the project uses project-based learning and language-intensive instructional strategies to shift science teaching from teacher-centered delivery to student-centered inquiry and collaboration. The work is especially responsive to the needs of economically disadvantaged schools with high percentages of English language learners. Preservice teachers from UGA will work alongside practicing teachers in site-based methods courses, creating reciprocal learning opportunities in lesson planning, classroom implementation, and reflective practice.
Across three years, the project will establish teacher leadership teams, provide sustained professional development, and develop short-form instructional videos demonstrating high-leverage science and language-development strategies. These resources will be housed on the district science portal to support long-term scalability and sustainability. Ultimately, the project aims to improve elementary students’ science achievement, language development, collaboration, and engagement while building teacher capacity and instructional leadership across the district.
Thank you to the Glickman Challenge Grant committee, comprised of:
- Kathy Thompson, chair, Department of Educational Theory and Practice
- Ruth Harman, previous recipient, Department of Language and Literacy Education
- Lou Tolosa-Casadont, previous recipient, Department of Language and Literacy Education
Congratulations to the College’s Research Conference graduate student winners
The Mary Frances Early College of Education congratulates the following graduate students for awards received in the 3MT™ Selling Our Scholarship and Graduate Student Poster competitions during the 2026 Research Conference.
3MT™ Selling Our Scholarship
- First place and fan favorite: Brittney Kilgore
- Second place: Jessica Bishop
Graduate student posters
- Administration, policy, and systems: Lori Crawford
- Health and wellness: Liwei Zhao
- Language, literature, and digital literacies: Fangfang Chen
- Learning and teaching: Kirstin Wilson
- Methodology, measurement, assessment, and evaluation: Micaela Blumenstein
- Social, diversity, and cultural studies: Ana Soler
Thank you to all faculty and students who attended this year. It was a great event, and we appreciate your participation.