College of Education and Human Development - George Mason University

Dr. Sarah Nagro to Receive AERA Student Research Award

February 29, 2016

Each year the AERA Special Education Research Special Interest Group (SER-SIG) presents the Student Research Award in order to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of special education research. This year the AERA SER-SIG announced Dr. Sarah Nagro as the recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Student Research Award. This award has been created to recognize excellence in research related to the education of children, adolescents and adults with disabilities. Specifically, Sarah's quasi-experimental study focused on investigating the necessary level of guidance for teacher candidates engaging in video analysis and reflection activities during student teaching internships intended to improve their instructional skills when educating students with disabilities. Dr. Nagro will receive recognition by the SIG and will present her research at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association to be held from April 8 to April 12 in Washington, DC.

Dr. Sarah Nagro is an Assistant Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. Dr. Nagro defended her dissertation at Johns Hopkins University. Her areas of research include: identifying best practices for preparing teachers to effectively educate all students including students with disabilities, investigating which specific components or activities make field experiences the key to teacher education, and seeking methods for improving communication practices of teachers and schools used to partner with parents of students with disabilities.

AERA's Awards Program is one of the most prominent ways for education researchers to recognize and honor the outstanding scholarship and service of their peers. Recipients of AERA awards are announced and recognized during the Annual Awards Luncheon.

The goal of the SER-SIG is to promote the study of issues and practices related to the education of persons with disabilities. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide a forum within AERA for the involvement of individuals drawn together by a common interest in a field of study, teaching, or research when the existing divisional structure may not directly facilitate such activity. The Association provides SIGs program time at the Annual Meeting, publicity, scheduling, staff support, viability, and the prestige of AERA affiliation.