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News
April 29, 2008
For immediate release
Sharon Conley and Harriet Levine of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School present a seminar studying the effect of non-classroom school employees on student learning
Professor Sharon Conley and doctoral candidate Harriet Levine of UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School were invited to present a paper on the topic of core service employees in schools by AFT Colorado and the American Federation of Teachers’ Research and Information Services Department on April 10 in Denver, Colorado. Their presentation examined the effects some non-classroom and classroom services have on school functioning, areas infrequently the subject of research. Non-classroom services include school secretaries, food service workers, custodial and maintenance workers, transportation workers, central office administrative functions, and classroom instructional support such as the work on instructional aides and assistants.
“The opportunity to share our work and get feedback from the support personnel brought together by the AFT from around the United States was enlightening,” Harriet Levine says. “It affirmed the importance of considering core service employees in any discussion regarding school improvement and restructuring.”
The seminar preceded the American Education Finance Association annual conference, and a shorter version of the session was presented as part of that conference, as well. The event’s theme was “Beyond the Schoolhouse Walls: Education Finance and Policy in Context.” Conley has also presented on this research at the AFT PSRP Professional Issues Conference and will also present her findings in May to the AFT Program & Policy Council, which has authority to act on issues related to 300,000 AFT Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel members in K-12 districts, colleges, and universities.
Dr. Sharon Conley is currently Professor of Education, Co-Emphasis Leader for the Educational Leadership and Organizations Emphasis, and contributing member to the Joint Doctoral Program with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and the Education Department Research Methodology Emphasis. Prior to coming to UC Santa Barbara, Conley was in the Division of Policy, Planning, and Administration at the University of Maryland at College Park. Her writing and research interests are in the general areas of organizational behavior in education and the administrative and managerial work environments of teachers. Conley’s research interests include the areas of schools as organizations, participation in decision making, teacher work groups, and teacher evaluation.
Harriet Levine is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Education, Special Education, Disabilities and Risk Studies emphasis. Her research interests include family and disability; literacy; and the professional development of both teachers and paraprofessionals (special education and general education working with special education and at-risk students). Levine works as a Reading Specialist and general education instructor in the public schools in Los Angeles and Goleta. She is a member of the Doctoral Student Advisory Committee of the statewide UC Center for Special Education, Disability and Developmental Risk. In addition, she is active in the Disability Community of Santa Barbara, serving on the Board of the Tri-Counties Regional Center for the past five years.
[Sharon Conley and Harriet Levine are available for interviews; contact George Yatchisin at 805 893 5789]
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