Biography/Background
Dr. Batchelor has been an educator for over 23 years in a variety of settings around the country. She taught social studies, math and language arts in diverse settings including a rural public school in Turners Falls, MA, an urban school for neurodiverse learners in California, a private school in Vail, CO, and in a suburban school district in Brookfield, CT. Her passion for creating more equitable and supportive schools led her to spearhead a high school program to reduce dropout rates by focusing on students’ social-emotional needs, developing student-directed curriculum and meaningfully connecting students with community partners through service learning.
Dr. Batchelor served as an Associate Professor at Westminster College in Salt Lake City for nine years, where she specialized in courses in multicultural education, curriculum development, social-emotional learning, and restorative practices. She has a Master of Education degree in Secondary Education and an Ed.D. in Teacher Education and School improvement, both from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In addition, she has consulted with numerous school districts and teachers on creating equitable classroom practices, utilizing discipline with dignity, and supporting students’ social-emotional needs.
Areas of Expertise and Interest
Secondary education, classroom management, trauma-responsive and social emotional practices, restorative justice in schools, multicultural practices, and social studies education
Degrees
Ed.D.: University of Massachusetts, Teacher Education and School Improvement
M.Ed: University of Massachusetts, Secondary Social Studies Education
M.S.: University of Massachusetts, Labor Studies
B.A.: Mount Holyoke College, Political Science and English
Licenses and Certifications
Utah and Massachusetts Professional Teacher Certification Social Studies (grades 5-12)
Utah Professional Teacher Certification English (grades 5-12)
Connecticut Provisional Teacher Certification Social Studies (grades 5-8)
Professional Affiliations
National Association for Multicultural Education
National Council for the Social Studies
WestEd
Trauma Informed Utah
Presentations/Conferences
-Creating Trauma Informed Organizations. Utah Non-Profit Association Annual Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, September, 2020
-Working Toward an Equitable Society. KRCL RadioACTive:Salt Lake City, Utah: Radio Free Utah. June, 2020
-Promoting Student Voice Through Restorative Justice. Utah Association for Multicultural Education, Lehi, UT, March, 2020
-Restorative Justice: A Key Component of the Trauma Responsive School. Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference, Washington, D.C., February, 2020
-When Curriculum Isn’t Enough: Restorative Practices as Transformative Catalysts in Schools. National Association for Multicultural Education Conference, Tucson, AZ, November, 2019
-Promoting Resilience in the Secondary Classroom. Utah Education Association Leadership Summit, Salt Lake City, UT, June, 2019
-Beyond the ACE’s label: Using Trauma Responsive Practices to Create More Socially Just Schools. Utah Association for Multicultural Education Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, March, 2019
-Promoting Resilience in the Classroom: Pedagogy that Builds Relationships, Develops Collaboration and Empowers Students. Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference, Washington, D.C., February, 2019.
Honors and Awards
-Thomas F. Hawke Grant for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Integrating Trauma Responsive Practices into Secondary and College Classrooms, Westminster College, 2018
-Clyde and Marilyn Coller Grant, Westminster College, 2017
-Massachusetts Service-Learning Teacher Leader, Massachusetts Department of
Education, 2012
-Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, Massachusetts Department of Education, Finalist, 2011
-Teacher of the Year, Turners Falls High School, 2007, 2010 and 2011 and Great Falls Middle School, 2003
-School of Education Star, University of Massachusetts, recognizing outstanding work connecting public schools and the University community, 2008
