Sally Drew
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Dr. Sally Drew’s passion is to prepare educators across preparation programs and to empower and inspire them to become the best version of themselves, to develop agency, resilience, and self-leadership for a long and productive career of serving and educating students. She believes that by expanding knowledge and mindsets, teachers can be more effective in creating inclusive environments centered on deep learning while helping all learners reach their highest potential as responsible and contributing citizens committed to the common good.
Dr. Drew joined Sacred Heart University after serving on faculty in the Teacher Education and Special Education departments at Central Connecticut State University as well as Director of their Master of Arts in Teaching programs and primary dissertation advisor in the Ed.D. program. Prior to moving into higher education, she taught at the preschool, elementary, and high school level. Dr. Drew has served as a literacy consultant for many districts in the northeast including Boston Public Schools and Providence Public School District.
Degrees & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of Connecticut, Educational Psychology: Special Education Program, Specialization in Literacy
- MS, Syracuse University, Elementary Education
- BA, Syracuse University, Dual Degree Magna Cum Laude: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Public Relations & Women’s Studies
- Current K-6 teaching credentials in Connecticut and Massachusetts
Teaching Responsibilities
- Methods and Practice in Teaching Comprehension, Vocabulary and Writing
- Advanced Curriculum for Students with Disabilities (UDL)
- Educator Wellness and Resilience
- Evidence-based Writing Instruction
- Writing for Academic Purposes
- Special Education Seminar and Practicum
Awards & Fellowships
Dr. Drew was named an American Educational Research Association (AERA) Fellow for the Study of Deeper Learning in partnership with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to investigate the role of educator mindsets within deeper learning professional learning communities. Dr. Drew also won the 2021 Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) Kirk Award for the article Reframing Disciplinary Literacy in Science with the Disciplinary Literacy Observation Tool (Drew & Thomas, 2021).
Research & Grants
Dr. Drew’s research examines writing instruction, the reading and writing connection, and professional development and serves as a bridge to connect general and special educators in supporting students with diverse learning needs. The goal is to support teachers and their students as they (a) develop their identity and voice as writers, (b) use reading and writing in service of each other to bolster deep learning, and (c) improve writing and learning outcomes for all students across tiered systems of support. She has published her research in scholarly journals including the Journal of Educational Psychology, Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, and the Journal of Learning Disabilities and in book chapters aimed at teacher audiences. Her research is currently supported by numerous active internal and external grants.
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