Farrington College of Education Gains New Director

Robin Hands brings experience and expertise to her new role

Sacred Heart University’s Isabelle Farrington College of Education has brought on Robin Hands as the new director of clinical practice.

Hands, of Springfield, MA, began her experience in education as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher in 1981. Throughout her career, she rose to elementary school principal, taught at Northern Vermont University and the University of Vermont and was the program supervisor for the Collaborative Teacher Education Program at the University of Massachusetts. Directly before coming to SHU, Hands was the director of school-university partnerships and an associate clinical professor at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education.

In her new position, Hands will work with the director of teacher preparation to develop and implement a clinical-practice model. She will develop relationships with partner schools to offer students diverse clinical experience and will work with program coordinators and area professionals to ensure that all candidates have experience that prepares them for their future roles as teaching professionals.

Hands earned her Doctor of Education degree in the teacher education and school improvement program at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, her master’s degree in gifted education K-12 at Northern Vermont University in Johnson, VT, and her bachelor of science degree in elementary education at Barrington College in Barrington, RI.