The American Psychological Association (APA) is well-known for the commonly used APA academic writing style, but you may not know the full importance of the professional organization among psychologists and educators.
The APA publishes prominent journals, and it makes many important recommendations for policies related to psychological health and education. Its Board of Educational Affairs is primarily tasked with making recommendations regarding educational and training affairs 麻豆精品 S� something Professor Michele Gill now will provide guidance on as a newly elected board member. The board provides oversight for educational policy on all academic levels, from early childhood to higher education.
Gill, a professor of educational psychology in the Department of Learning Sciences and Educational Research, will serve a three-year term on the board beginning this month. Gill was selected following a rigorous campaign process, during which she had to be nominated and interviewed by various committees within the APA to gain their recommendation.
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Gill has formerly been involved in multiple roles with the APA, including serving as treasurer of Division 15 麻豆精品 S� the Educational Psychology division 麻豆精品 S� along with serving on the Council of Representatives and the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education.
This new role will give Gill a national voice in education policy, fulfilling a long-time mission of hers.
麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a cause that is just so close to my heart, 麻豆精品 S� Gill says. “The whole reason I became a professor was to improve education. When I was 20 years old, I wrote an undergraduate thesis dedicated to the transformation of the public education system in the United States. That dedication has been my motto. It’s why I got my doctorate.”
Gill will join the board as a representative focused especially on K-12 education.
麻豆精品 S淥ne of the things I’m particularly interested in is the re-humanization of education, 麻豆精品 S� Gill says. 麻豆精品 S淭he teacher attrition rate is terrible right now; teachers aren’t staying in the profession. Kids need teachers to stay in their profession because getting a new teacher every year can negatively impact student success. I 麻豆精品 S檓 excited to help support policy that makes schools better places for teachers and students 麻豆精品 S� I think that 麻豆精品 S檚 part of my mission in this world. 麻豆精品 S�
Some other passion areas for Gill include mental health issues in schools, the teacher shortage and safety in schools.
麻豆精品 S淭hese are all critical issues that APA deals with through policy papers, setting national research agendas on education and even creating policy briefs that get distributed to staffers for Congress members, 麻豆精品 S� Gill says. 麻豆精品 S淭hose are the kinds of things to which I think can make a powerful contribution. 麻豆精品 S�
For Gill, the selection means so much more than just taking on a voluntary leadership role.
麻豆精品 S淚 want to be changing education, 麻豆精品 S� Gill says. 麻豆精品 S淭his is what I want to be doing with whatever time I have left on this planet. If I can help make schools better, or if I’ve even done a little bit to advance us in that direction, that will make me so happy. 麻豆精品 S�
