The School of Education (SOE) at UMass Amherst has a proud 100 year history of preparing educational professionals. I am proud to have been part of that history over many years—first as a staff member and also a graduate student, then, years later, as a faculty member, and now, some 20 years later, as a professor emerita and member of the Deans Leadership Advisory Council. Throughout those many years, I found the School of Education to be steadfast in its commitment to excellent teaching in positive learning environments.

This commitment shows in the work of its graduates. As the wonderful stories in this issue make abundantly clear, SOE graduates make a real difference in the lives of their students and of their schools and their communities. While they work in many different settings and with different age groups and curricula, what they have in common is an uncommon dedication to teaching andlearning, a talent for working well with others, and a knack for finding a way to “just get it done.” The School of Education is rightfully proud of its graduates.

Living in the Pioneer Valley, I have had the privilege of knowing personally most of those whose work is described in these stories, of having attended the incredible performances of students from the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School, of working with many fi ne graduates of the Charlemont Academy and the Jackson Street School, and of seeing the effects of the important work of Class Action. These are all wonderful people and institutions and I am glad that their exceptional talents and commitments have been captured so well.

I hope you enjoy their stories as much as I have and that you, too, will be proud of the School of Education.

Pat Crosson Director, UMass Amherst Foundation

Patricia H. Crosson ‘72MED, ‘74 EdD was affiliated with UMass Amherst for more than 30 years, including serving as a faculty member from 1986 to 2001. She held a series of senior academic positions, both within the School of Education, where she was chair of the Department of Education Policy, Research, and Administration, and at the Center for Education Policy where she served as director. Pat also served as deputy and interim provost, and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. In 2000, Pat and her husband, Charles, a former UMass Amherst faculty member, were awarded Chancellor’s Medals.