Author: Shawn Kornegay


Student Achievement and Underachievement: A Conversation with Del Siegle

October 5, 2022

On this episode, meet Del Siegle, the Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development School of Education at the University of Connecticut. Siegle is also one of the creators of the Achievement-Orientation Model, a model that explores four different elements; meaningfulness, self-efficacy, environmental perception, and self-regulation. Hear from Siegle himself about student achievement, underachievement, and the connection between the two.


Three adults standing in front of a Neag School banner.

Annual Scholarship Celebration Returns In Person, Spotlights Students and Donors

October 5, 2022

For the first time since 2019, UConn’s Neag School of Education held its annual Scholarship Celebration in person to commemorate the students who have benefitted, financially and personally, from numerous donors’ generosity. Students highlighted their personal experiences and thanked the individuals who helped them turn their educational dreams into reality.




Smiling female holds book "Safe Spot"

Neag School Alumna Liz DeVitto Self-Publishes Children’s Book, Shares Insights on Being a Special Education Teacher

September 26, 2022

Elizabeth “Liz” DeVitto ’14 (ED), ’15 MA, a special education teacher for the past eight years at Roaring Brook Elementary School in Avon, Connecticut, had a goal to write a children’s book before she turned 30. When she looked for a book to help her students deal with emotions, she couldn’t find anything appropriate. Since she couldn’t find the right book, she decided this was her chance to fulfill her goal by publishing a book, Finding a Safe Spot, to help her students when they become overwhelmed with emotion.


Gentry Building.

Neag School Accolades: Summer 2022

September 26, 2022

Throughout the academic year, the Neag School is proud to share the latest achievements of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Explore their most recent promotions, awards, retirements, publications, and more: Dean’s Office Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Teacher Education Department of Educational Leadership Department of Educational Psychology Faculty/Staff Students Alumni In Memoriam Dean’s […]


More Kids Are Repeating a Grade. Is it Good for Them?

September 1, 2022

Ultimately, there shouldn’t be just two options of repeating a grade or going on to the next, said Alex Lamb, who has been looking at research on grade retention as part of her work with the Center for Education, Policy Analysis, Research and Evaluation at the University of Connecticut to help advise school districts.

“Neither of those options are good,” she said. “A great option is letting students move on, and then introducing some of these supports that are research-backed, that are effective and that allow for academic and social-emotional growth of students and then communities.”


New Faces Highlight the New School Year in Waterford

August 31, 2022

Last week, the district announced Amanda Batty would fill the assistant principal vacancy at the high school, which opened after Alison Mullane resigned. Batty has spent her entire 22-year career in education as a science teacher at the high school and has served as the chair of the school system’s science board since 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biological science and master’s in education from the University of Connecticut before receiving her sixth year administration certificate from Sacred Heart University.