Educational Administration Program Faculty
Educational Administration courses are taught by full-time faculty in Educational Administration, and by adjunct faculty members who represent a wide-range of professional and academic backgrounds, including public school administration, educational policy makers, P-12 curriculum specialists, consultants, and experts in educational policy, law, and human resources. The adjuncts are working professionals who bring their practical expertise and current policy knowledge to the courses they teach. Although they do not hold regular office hours on campus, they are part of the dedicated network of Educational Administration faculty and are available for advising and support outside of the classroom.
Dr. Kent Seidel, Program Chair and associate professor, comes to DU from the University of Cincinnati, where he served as faculty and Chair of the Educational Leadership and Urban Education Leadership graduate programs. Since 1996, he has served as the executive director of the Alliance for Curriculum Reform, a collaborative of more than 20 of the national education organizations, including most of the content-area groups that have developed K-12 standards. His research in the past decade has focused on performance-based approaches to improving teacher support and school quality, including a major emphasis on value-added and growth measures in accountability systems. He led the development of resources and training for all 72 teacher and principal preparation programs in Ohio on uses of value-added and growth measures, under the auspices of the Ohio Board of Regents to help these programs meet legislative requirements. Closely related to his school reform work, Dr. Seidel has been actively involved in arts education and the development of creativity in students, teachers, and school leaders. He has a theatre and music background. He was one of six experts who developed the national theatre standards, and has consulted with the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. He holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Research with a focus on non-profit and educational organizational behavior and management.
Dr. Susan Korach, Assistant Professor, is co-creator of the Ritchie Program for School Leaders, an intensive cohort-based, district partnership principal preparation program. She is also a qualitative researcher and published "Pioneering Change: The Experiences of Three Colorado Charter Schools," in Charter Schools: Lessons in School Reform. Dr. Korach's research interests include the preparation of school leaders, impact of leadership on learning, school reform, school/university partnerships, school governance and charter schools. She is professionally affiliated with Phi Delta Kappa and the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. She holds an EdD and MA from the University of Houston and BA from Trinity University.
Dr. George Straface, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Principal Preparation Programs, served Colorado's public schools for 39 years, most recently as the Superintendent of Schools for Adams County School District #50, Westminster. In addition, he has served as superintendent for the Commerce City and Grand Junction schools; deputy superintendent for the Denver Public Schools; executive director for human resources and for the North Area for Cherry Creek Schools; and executive director of Personnel for the Grand Junction Public Schools. In his career, he has served as a principal, assistant principal, director of activities, and a teacher in grades 6-12. Past service includes: president of the Colorado Association of School Personnel Administrators; president of the Colorado School Negotiators; president of the Colorado Association of Senior School Administrators; chair of the Denver Area School Superintendents; and president of the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE). He has received CASE's award for distinguished service, The Colbert Cushing Award, in 2000, and Westminster Hispanic and Hmong's community's recognition as "Bridge Builder' in 2006. Dr. Straface is certified as a Teacher, Principal, and Administrator Perceiver for the SRI/GALLUP Corporation. Research interests include educational leadership; principal preparation, and educational reform. He holds an EdD from the University of Colorado at Denver in Educational Leadership; and an MA from the University of Colorado at Boulder in Educational Administration.
Dr. Carolyn Elverenli, Clinical Assistant Professor and Faculty Lead for the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program. Co-author of the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Professional Preparation grant, she served as Project Coordinator during the planning phase, and is responsible for fiscal management, future grant applications and program reporting. As Lead Faculty, Elverenli provides oversight of all phases of the design and development of the Buell Program. Curriculum development responsibilities include co-teaching five courses, developing individualized mentorships for each student and leading the curriculum design process. She has extensive experience directing quality early care and education programs with diverse ethnic and sociocultural student and teaching staff populations. She led one univeristy supported and two Federally funded programs to successful NAEYC Accreditation. Current research focus is on the design and implementation of ECE leadership development programs. Dr. Elverenli received her Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education from George Mason University and her Doctor of Education in Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education with a focus on Leadership and Early Language and Literacy Development from the University of Northern Colorado.
Dr. Linda Brookhart, Clinical Assistant Professor, returns to the University of Denver after serving in several school dicstricts and other university settings in Cololrado. Linda has experience as principal in three elementary schools and as assistant principal of a large metropolitan high school; a Title I director of curriculum or learning services; and has taught many years in teacher education at the University of Northern Colorado. Areas of professional interest and research include: refining the knowledge base and preparation programs for educational leaders and corresponding development of performance assessments; and identifying student reported learning from participation in early field experiences and implication for preparation programs. Dr. Brookhart received a PhD from the University of Denver in School Administration, Cognate: Speech Communications, her MA from the University of Denver in Curriculum and Supervision/International Relations and a BA in History from Colorado State University.
Dr. Ellie Katz, Dean Emerita and doctoral advisor, led growth and progress in the college, including the Ricks Center, the DU High School, Pioneer Charter School and Fisher Early Childhood Center, during her 10-year tenure as dean of the Morgridge College of Education; named Woman of Valor by the Colorado Diabetes Association in 2001 for work in providing educational programs for children. She has worked closely with over 75 doctoral students; collaborated in the development of Destination ImagiNation, University for Youth and Rocky Mountain Talent Search. Research interests: gifted and talented education, teacher education programs, survey research, program evaluation research. She holds a PhD, MPA and MA from the University of Denver and a BA from Brooklyn College in curriculum and instruction.