Michele Hancock

Professor Michele Hancock received her Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College — Rochester, N.Y, Education Administration license from Oswego State University – Oswego, N.Y., her M.Ed. from National Louis University (formerly named National College of Education) — Evanston, Illinois, and her B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL. She joined the Carthage administration and faculty in 2014.

Prof. Hancock was an elementary classroom teacher for twenty-five years. In addition to her role as a classroom teacher, she served as an instructional leader in the areas of reading, curriculum design, and lead teacher coaching and mentoring peers. She served numerous years in school administration as a vice-principal of curriculum and instruction in a middle school, six years as an elementary school principal, five years in various school district roles, and eventually served as KUSD school superintendent for three-plus years.

During her tenure in K-12 education, Prof. Hancock received many awards highlighting her dedication to students, families, and the communities she served. A few were 2014 Phi Delta Kappa Distinguished Leadership in Education Award, 2012 eSchool News Superintendent Tech Savvy Award, 2010 National Principals Leadership Institute Change Leader Award, and 2008 St. John Fisher College Most Notable Dissertation Scholarship Award.

Prof. Hancock has devoted her career and research to teacher education. Her dissertation work has been studying and developing teachers’ leadership abilities to recognize and challenge deficit thinking and leading systemic change in underserved school districts and schools. Because of her research and vast years of experience, she secured a $150,000 grant from the Siebert Foundation as seed funds to develop and implement the Carthage Urban Teacher Preparation Program for undergraduate students whose interests’ lie in urban elementary education and serves as the director. She worked closely with Prof. Easley (past chair) to develop and implement the Urban Education Minor.

Prof. Hancock publications that supported her work were:

The Power of “E” to Close Student Achievement Gaps. “LinkedIn Professional Online Services,” Hancock, M. & Sonia James-Wilson (June 2011). 5 Stages on the Path to Equity. “Journal of Staff Development,” 32 (3), 26-30) and Hancock, M. & Lamendola, B. (March 2005). A Leadership Journey. “Educational Leadership,” 62(6), 74-78.

In 2015, Prof. Hancock also became the Director of Accelerated Certification for Teachers (ACT) Program. In this role, she supervises all aspects of orientation, course scheduling, program mentor/coaches supervision, and teacher state licensure requirements.

Prof. Hancock further worked at the college level ten years as an adjunct professor for St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. She taught courses at the graduate and doctoral level in areas of reading instruction, special education, human resources, and change leadership.

As a board member of the National Principals Leadership Institute and member of the NYS Association for Women in Administration, Prof. Hancock has given presentations at the national, state and local levels across the country. Her areas of expertise include teacher and principal leadership, equitable classroom practices, cultural and urban leadership, effective culturally responsive teaching practices and classroom management, school and district management, parent and community engagement, educational assessments, interdisciplinary curriculum design, and diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and systems.

Currently, as a member of Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Prof. Hancock collaborates with colleagues to present and contribute articles addressing diversity, equity and inclusion practices, and policies to improve campus climate, professional development, and student learning. Publications were Hancock, M., Garrigan, D., & Lira, A. (2018) Combining Grassroots and Institutional Leadership to Promote Equity,A vision for equity: Committing to equity and inclusive excellence: campus-based strategies for student success. “Association of American Colleges and Universities,” pp.12-15 and Hancock, M., Garrigan, D., Lira, A., Munk, D., DeSmidt, B., & Brownholland, K. (Spring, 2017) Fostering Inclusive Excellence for all Carthage College Students. Committing to equity and inclusive excellence. “Peer Review AAC&U,” 19(2), 15-16.

From 2017 to current, Prof. Hancock designed and implemented the Equity and Inclusion Certification Program, an independent study of cultural humility and competence, and supports work with the Carthage campus-wide Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Prof. Hancock’s work at Carthage supports many aspects of the Carthage community. From collaboration with the Office of Institutional Advancement to development of the Black Alumni Network and WKEL Scholarship Fund and collaborating with the Office of Student Affairs as being the designer and co-author of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership (DEIL) Fellows Mentorship Program.

• Ed.D. — St. John Fisher College CAS — State University of New York (Oswego)
• M.Ed. — National Louis University
• B.S. — University of Illinois