Preparing Our Educators

Ohio University welcomes Educational Reformer Deborah Meier

Deborah Meier will be visiting Athens on April 16 and 17 as part of her ongoing work promoting public schools.

ATHENS, Ohio (April 9, 2012) – Ohio University’s Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education will welcome Educational Reformer Deborah Meier on April 16 for a keynote address and public presentation and reception.

Meier is hailed as one of the most prominent voices in the debate surrounding public education. She will be visiting the University and surrounding area as part of her ongoing work promoting public schools.

Meier will deliver a keynote address titled “The Importance of Public Schools in a Democracy” to the Ohio University community from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Curriculum and Technology Center (CTC) in room 214 in McCracken Hall. The presentation will include a light breakfast and a student panel discussion. All members of the campus community are encouraged to attend.

She was recently named the The Patton College of Education’s 2012 Hick’s Executive-in-Residence. The award recognizes outstanding leaders in education. She received the award due to her contributions as a teacher, principal, award-winning writer and public advocate.

Meier will be presented with the Hick’s Executive-in-Residence plaque on Tuesday, April 17 at the monthly meeting of the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools (CORAS) at the Ohio University Inn. The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. Members of The Patton College of Education are welcome to attend the event, which will include an encore presentation of “The Importance of Public Schools in a Democracy.”

There will also be an open public presentation and reception held from 5:30-8 p.m. on Monday, April 16 at Federal Hocking High School. Meier will deliver a lecture titled “The Power of a Teacher.” The free event includes dinner and refreshments.

Currently a senior scholar at NYU’s Steinhardt School, Meier spent 45 years working in K-12 public schools in New York City (East Harlem) and Boston (Roxbury), including leadership of several highly successful small democratically run urban schools – the Central Park East schools and Mission Hill. Her books include The Power of Their Ideas and In Schools We Trust. In 1987 she was the first educator to receive a McArthur “genius” Award, and she currently blogs for Ed Week with Diane Ravitch (Bridging Differences).

The Samuel I. Hicks Executive-in-Residence program was established through The Ohio University Foundation in 1976 to honor Dr. Samuel I. Hicks, professor emeritus of educational administration at Ohio University. Hicks, who died in 1999, dedicated more than 75 years to teaching, research and educational administration. His extraordinary devotion, achievement and service on behalf of higher education reflect the spirit with which the Hicks Executive-in-Residence award is presented.