Adams, Alyson

Alyson Adams
Clinical Assistant Professor
School of Teaching and Learning
& Lastinger Center for Learning
College of Education
University of Florida
G-315 Norman Hall
PO Box 117052
Gainesville FL 32611
352-273-4107
adamsa@coe.ufl.edu

Research Biography

In addition to my role as a faculty member in the School of Teaching and Learning, I am also the Chief Learning Officer for the Lastinger Center for Learning, an endowed center at UF. I design and implement job-embedded, inquiry-focused professional development for teachers in high poverty schools around the state, using whole school reform efforts with professional learning communities as the foundation. I have taught and designed on-line courses on professional development, teacher leadership for school change, teacher inquiry, curriculum design, data-driven decision making, and an online practicum. My research interests include the following: measurement and evaluation of professional development and the impact on teacher practice and student achievement; inclusive practices; measuring the impact of job-embedded graduate programs; teacher education; inclusive education; collaboration; professional development; professional learning communities; and critical friends groups.

Degrees

Ph.D. – University of Florida, 2003, Curriculum and Instruction (Inclusive teacher education, special education, teacher collaboration)

M.Ed. – University of Florida, 1992, Elementary Education

B.S. – University of Florida, 1988, Business Administration (Finance)

Key Professional Appointments

Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Teaching and Learning, University of Florida

National School Reform Faculty Member and National Facilitator

Florida Department of Education Professional Development Protocol Review Team

Activities and Honors

Award for one of the Top Ten Most Cited Articles in Teaching and Teacher Education, 2010.

Nate Gage Prize for Best Article in Teaching and Teacher Education, 2010

AERA / Spencer Foundation Pre-Dissertation Fellow, 2001– 2002

Part of the team awarded Outstanding Staff Development Practices Award, Florida Association for Staff Development, 2005 & 2011

Golden Apple Rookie Teacher of the Year, Marion County, 1995

Grants

Principal Investigator, Miami Counts, 2009-2013. Miami-Dade Public Schools, $1,750,000.

Co-Principal Investigator. Ready Schools Florida, 2007-2012, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, $7,000,000.

Co-Principal Investigator. Lastinger Center School Improvement/PD Model – Design, Implementation, Evaluation of PD Model, 2004-2008, Wachovia Teachers and Teaching Initiative, $1,000,000.

Selected Publications

Ross, D.D., Adams, A., Bondy, E., Dana, N, Dodman, S., Swain, C. (2011). Preparing teacher leaders: Perceptions of the impact of a cohort-based, job embedded, blended teacher leadership program. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27 (8), 1213-1222. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2011.06.005

Vescio, V., Ross, D., & Adams, A. (2008). A review of research on the impact of professional learning communities on teaching practice and student learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24, 80-91. doi:10.1016/j.tate.2007.01.004

Bondy, E., Ross, D., Adams, A., Nowak, R., Brownell, M., Hoppey, D., Kuhel, K., McCallum, C., & Stafford, L. (2007). Personal Epistemologies and Learning to Teach. Teacher Education and Special Education, 30 (2), 67-82.

Brownell, M.T, Adams, A., Sindelar, P.T., Waldron, N., & vanHover, S. (2006) The role of teacher qualities in collaboration. Exceptional Children, 72 (2), 169-187.