Education Program

Marya R. Levenson is Professor of the Practice in Education and the Harry S. Levitan Director of the Brandeis Education Program. She was a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, principal of Newton North High School, and superintendent of the North Colonie Schools. She is the founder of the Brandeis Education Studies Program and codirector of the Teacher Leadership Program. Levenson is the author of Pathways to Teacher Leadership: Emerging Models, Changing Roles.

Danielle Igra's research areas include the Pedagogy of Teacher Education and the Teaching of English Language Arts. She currently teaches Fundamentals of Teaching, Pedagogy of English, and Reflective Teaching. Before coming to Brandeis, Igra worked at Stanford University, where she also earned a PhD in teacher education, an MA in English, and an MA in teaching. Igra taught high school English for nine years in public schools and has taught in graduate programs in secondary, elementary and early childhood education. As a teacher development and research consultant she has worked in the fields of literacy, large scale assessment, higher education and Jewish education.

Rachel Kramer Theodorou has been a classroom elementary and ESL teacher for more than 20 years in both public and private schools. Alongside her practical work, Rachel consults with Waltham Public Schools, MATSOL, EDCO and the Waltham Family School on matters ranging from instructional practices for teaching English Learners, to promoting ESL teacher leadership in professional development, and in methods for forging productive family relationships between school and home.

Annie Grover is the Assistant Director for Field Experience in the Teacher Education Program. She works in partnership with Interns and area urban and suburban schools. She is a graduate of Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English where she received an MA in English. Grover taught in Massachusetts urban public schools for 9 years where she developed programs for increased student agency with a focus on social justice.

Eileen Kell is the Senior Department Coordinator for the Education Program.  She has taught middle school English Language Arts and drama in both public and independent schools.

Margery Sokoloff is the assistant director of the Teacher Leadership Program and a field instructor for secondary English teachers in the MAT program. Sokoloff has worked as an educator since 1989 and as a teacher educator since 2006, when she joined the faculty of the Bread Loaf School of English. She has taught English at the high school and college levels in Miami and Boston. Sokoloff holds a BA and PhD in English literature from Yale University.

Manuel Tuan is the MAT Program Coordinator. He earned a BA in Philosophy and completed his coursework in an MBA program.

Howie Baker is executive director of the Lemberg Children’s Center and the early education and care component and supervisor for practicum students. His 46-year career at Brandeis and in early education policy and practice has been to support learning together, inclusion of children with diverse educational needs, parent-school collaborations, standards of care, reflective practice and leadership. He is currently co-president of the Council of Child Development Lab Schools and director of the American Psychological Associations' ACT Raising Safe Kids Boston Regional Center, a violence prevention and parenting education program.

Hi, I'm Zach! I am a senior triple majoring in Education Studies, English, and philosophy. In my spare time I can be found at the pool or folding paper! Feel free to ask me any questions about Education Studies, the secondary teacher studies track, or origami via my email zachgoldblatt@brandeis.edu

Hi! My name is Ioana, and I’m a junior majoring in Education Studies and minoring in Elementary Education, Linguistics, and East Asian Studies. I’m also very much into cooking and work part time as a sushi chef assistant. Feel free to contact me at ineagu@brandeis.edu with any questions you may have about Education or the art of sushi making!

Hi, my name is Jennie and I’m a senior majoring in Education Studies and minoring in Elementary Education, while also completing the BA-MAT program. When I’m not working with kids or studying, I’m regaling my roommates with obscure geography facts. If you have any questions about courses, the MAT program, student teaching, or underrated national flags, email me at jweaver@brandeis.edu.