Education Program

Leah Gordon holds a joint PhD in history and education from the University of Pennsylvania. She has particular interests in the history of education, intellectual history, the relationship between social science and social policy, and ideas about race, class and inequality in modern America. Gordon's first book, "From Power to Prejudice: The Rise of Racial Individualism in Midcentury America" (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2015), received the 2016 Linda Eisenmann Prize from the History of Education Society. Gordon is currently working on "Imagining Opportunity: Education and Equality in Modern America" (under contract with the University of Chicago Press), a history of the idea that schooling can equalize the social and economic structure. She has received awards and fellowships from the Spencer Foundation, the National Academy of Education, the American Council of Learned Societies and Stanford University's Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity.

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.

Margery Sokoloff is the associate 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.

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.

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.

Sam is a senior majoring in education studies and psychology with a minor in Near Eastern and Judaic studies. He is fascinated by the way educational psychology plays a role in the world of Jewish educational experiences and hopes to apply his education to that field. Outside of the classroom, Sam is a floating educator at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, a student ambassador for Admissions, and an active member of TRON-Brandeis Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. When not doing things related to Brandeis, Sam can be found hiking, cooking or reading on the super-cool window seat in his room. He is excited to continue his work as a UDR and is hopeful to meet many interested or engaged education studies people.

Sofie is a senior majoring in education studies and psychology. Outside of the classroom, Sofie enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out and cooking. She is particularly interested in the intersections of her majors and hopes to go to graduate school to become a school counselor. She loves children and is currently working at Lemberg Children’s Center as a teaching assistant. If she can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out!