Associate professor Misty Sato (teacher development and science education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction) was recently awarded the National Staff Development Council's 2009 "Best Research Award" at their annual national meeting. The award recognizes research that demonstrates the impact of staff development on student performance and contributes to the knowledge base of the field. Misty, with co-authors Ruth Chung Wei and Linda Darling-Hammond, studied the impact of the National Board Certification process on mathematics and science teachers' classroom assessment practices over a four year period. The article on which the award is based is:

Sato, M., Wei, R. C., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2008). Improving teachers' assessment practices through professional development: The case of National Board Certification. American Educational Research Journal, 45(3), 669-700.