Michael Harris, Ph.D. (2016, doctorate, Curriculum and Instruction) is joining the College of Education's 2021 Spring Curriculum Studies Doctoral Research Symposium as a featured guest speaker. The virtual symposium will provide a front-row seat to more than 15 dissertation defenses from students within the program. Dissertation defenses are the culminating experience for students in the doctoral program. The defenses provide an opportunity for students to examine a problem of practice within their chosen educational setting.
Topics for this semester's symposium include Building Community among International Students through Purposeful Selection of Fictional Literature, Formation of a Professional Learning Community to Promote Metacognitive Teaching: An Action Research Study, and Destabilizing the Ivory Tower: An Autoethnography.
Harris, Lexington-Richland School District Five's Chief of Planning and Administration, has been named the 2019-2020 top district level administrator in the state by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA). Harris’ career in education spans 26 years, including more than a decade inLexington-Richland School District Five.
He shares, “It is such an honor to be recognized with this incredible award sponsored by SCASA,” Harris said. “I share this award with the entire team in School District Five. I am so proud to be a part of a team that gives their very best in service to students and families. This is a very humbling experience and I will make a point to live up to its honor.”
School District Five Superintendent and former College of Education Community Partner Award winner Christina Melton (1995, masters, Early Childhood Education) speaks highly of her colleague. “Dr. Harris is a leader who has a successful tenure as a district-level leader in a role that is critical to the success of our district.,” Melton said. “His calm demeanor and reflective, responsive nature allow him to lead with trust and respect. I congratulate him on this well-deserved honor!”
For more information about the symposium, please contact the Program Director, Rhonda Jeffries, Ph.D. at rjeffries@sc.edu or Yasha Becton, Ph.D. at YYJONES@mailbox.sc.edu.