Sarah Smitherman Pratt, Ph.D.

Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt is a lecturer in Baylor University's Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Change program in the School of Education. She joined the faculty in the fall of 2019; prior to that she was an assistant professor at the University of North Texas as well as University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research and teaching are both focused on complex conversations, which are about engaging professionals in how ideas and images can generate and enrich emergent understandings. She is passionate about education and thoroughly enjoys working with Baylor EdD-LOC students. She currently serves as a faculty advisor for specific EdD-LOC cohorts. In her role as instructor, she teaches Psychology of Learning, Social Foundations for Education, Leadership and Organizational Change, and Mixed Methods Research.

Dr. Pratt holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in middle grades mathematics from Texas A&M University. After teaching in Richardson ISD for five years, she moved to Baton Rouge to attend Louisiana State University. She earned her master’s degree in mathematics education and Ph.D. in curriculum theory. Overall, she has almost three decades of experience as an educator. When she is not working, she is often found sitting in the stands watching her oldest daughter perform in color guard or playing (and most likely losing) a game with her younger daughter. She also serves her community as a care giver for a newly built Isaiah 117 House which serves as a support system to change the way foster care begins.

Degrees

Ph.D.
2006 | Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

M.A.
2002 | Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

B.S.
1995 | Texas A&M University

Research Interests

• Teacher Education
• Mathematics Education
• Complexity Sciences and Education Research

Select Publications

• Texas Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 66, Issue 1, p. 38-46 | 2020
  “Breaking the routine in mathematics”
  with co-authors Dr. Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas, and Mario Martinez, Garland Independent School District
• Learning Environments Research, Vol. 26, p. 255-270
  “Examining mathematics teacher motivation during lesson study: The role of contextual factors for perceived relatedness”
  with co-authors Dr. Clinton Petty, Southern Arkansas University, and Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas
• Investigations in Mathematics Learning, Vol. 10, Issue 2, p. 85-105 | 2018
  “Area models to image integer and binomial multiplication”

Select Presentations

• CPED20 Convening of Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate (CPED) | 2020
  “Supporting EdD students to conduct rigorous research in a three-year, online program”
  with Dr. Sandi Cooper, professor, Brooke Blevins, professor, Leanne Howell, lecturer, Cece Lively, assistant program director, edd-loc, Jessica Meehan, lecturer, and Sandra Talbert, clinical assistant
• American Educational Research Association | 2022, San Diego
  “How mathematics teachers experience autonomy in the context of Lesson Study with Open Approach”
  with Dr. Clinton Petty, Southern Arkansas University, and Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas