Columbus Teacher Among Selected Educators Across the Country to Research Opportunity Gaps as Part of Inaugural Inquiry Initiative

August 3, 2022 -- Columbus City Schools third-grade teacher Lindsay Rice is one of 80 university-and-school-based teacher educators and education scholars from around the country selected to participate in the inaugural "Inquiry Initiative" sponsored by the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE). 

The Initiative is a "first of its kind" collaborative exploration of teacher education practices and research, focused on "opportunity gaps" in education. Opportunity gaps are defined as the unequal or inequitable distribution of resources and options individuals or groups encounter in schools, colleges and universities, and employment and professional contexts. Rachelle Rogers, President of ATE, described the rationale behind the development of this important new structure, "Why the Inquiry Initiative, why opportunity gaps now, and why this announcement."

"My work is based on teachers’ expectations of our scholars' learning abilities and thinking clinically about academics to improve academic growth among K-2 students in early literacies," Rice said. 

The Initiative aims to cultivate and support collaborative research inquiries across geographic and institutional contexts over three years. Imagined as an alternative to the traditional "drive-thru" mode of professional engagement available via most academic conferences, the Initiative will include sustained and sustainable professional partnerships that result in pedagogical innovations, research reports and presentations, and education policies.

Rice has been a classroom teacher for nine years; four of those years served in Columbus City Schools at Ohio Avenue Elementary. 

The Association of Teacher Educators is the nation's oldest professional organization dedicated to preparing teachers. It aims to promote advocacy, equity, leadership, and professionalism for teacher educators and supports quality education for all learners at all levels. ATE's individual membership organization enhances quality teacher education through exemplary clinical practice and research.