The Farrington College of Education & Human Development is Connecticut’s engine of innovation in teacher training.

Our research-validated programs—including the nation’s first educational leadership doctorate program focused on social, emotional and academic leadership and advanced degrees in specific curricular areas—and our accomplished, student-focused faculty, will fuel your education career. Whether you’re becoming an educator or taking your career to the next degree, the Farrington College of Education & Human Development will provide you with the necessary tools to achieve success.

Mission

The Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development empowers a diverse community of educators, counselors and human service professionals to lead with expertise and compassion that foster inclusive and innovative spaces. Through mentorship, holistic development and evidence-based practice, we strive to support learning across the lifespan and meaningful social impact. Guided by principles of social justice and human dignity, we prepare professionals to lead their communities in meeting critical challenges of an ever-changing society.

Faculty Spotlight

Sacred Heart University proudly recognizes our faculty for their scholarly achievement through their outstanding publishing efforts and industry experience.

Jennifer Phaiah, E.D.

Associate Teaching Professor
Jennifer Phaiah is actively engaged in research and grants to improve teacher education in K-16. She is currently a co-principal investigator on an Improving Undergraduate STEM Education grant funded by the National Science Foundation. The grant aims to improve college mathematics teaching to make content accessible for more students by aligning with the Universal Design for Learning principles with high leverage strategies from mathematics education. She is also involved in a grant from the State of Connecticut that seeks to understand educators’ perceptions of the pandemic’s impact on students. Lastly, she and other members from the Association of Teacher Educators are surveying how teachers across the nation are prepared for their roles. The goal is to find out what’s being done and then identify areas of improvement.

Kim Hellerich, Ed.D. & Deirdra Preis, Ed.D.

Assistant Professors of Educational Leadership
As prolifically published and passionate, seasoned educators, Hellerich and Preis recently received an ACT grant from Sacred Heart to support their work with educational leadership candidates. The professors will equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to improve equitable educational access for emerging multilingual students and as well as those with exceptionalities, including gifted and talented students. Through programming featuring educational leaders with years of experience creating rigorous, inclusive spaces for these students, SHU students will gain learning that directly aligns with their administrative internship. They will also be prepared to successfully pursue educational leadership positions upon completion of the Intermediate Administrator Certification (092) program.

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Education & Human Development

Home of the College of

The former GE global headquarters at 3135 Easton Turnpike in Fairfield, located down the street from our Park Avenue campus, serves as SHU's West Campus - an innovation hub for the College of Education & Human Development.