Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Amy Orville Receives Outstanding
Dissertation Award
Dr. Amy Orville, Assistant Professor in the Department of
Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Leadership at Slippery Rock
University, has been awarded the Outstanding Dissertation Award by the
Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators (PAC-TE). This
prestigious honor recognizes exceptional scholarship and research that make a
significant contribution to the field of educator preparation and professional
teaching practice.
Dr. Orville’s dissertation, titled “Recommendations for
Improving Traditional Elementary Student Teaching Experiences Through
Co-Teaching Models in Pennsylvania Schools,” embodies PAC-TE’s mission
to advance quality educator preparation through research, collaboration, and
advocacy. Her research, completed at Slippery Rock University, examined how
co-teaching models can enhance student teaching experiences within Pennsylvania
schools.
Focusing on improving the effectiveness of teacher preparation
programs, Dr. Orville’s work highlights how co-teaching, pairing student
teachers with experienced cooperating teachers, can provide increased
instructional time, immediate opportunities for practice, and rich
collaborative learning experiences. Her findings emphasize that, while
implementing a non-traditional sixteen-week co-teaching model presents
challenges, the benefits to both teacher candidates and K–12 learners are
substantial.
Her research has also been published in PAC-TE’s peer-reviewed
journal, the Pennsylvania Teacher Educator, further contributing to the
growing body of scholarship supporting innovative approaches to teacher
preparation. PAC-TE and SRU proudly recognize Dr. Orville’s dedication to
advancing the field of educator preparation and celebrates this award as a reflection
of her commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and professional
practice.
