Dr. Amy Orville

 

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.