Sarah Smitherman Pratt, Ph.D., is a lecturer in Baylor University's Ed.D. in Leadership and Organizational Change program. 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 everyone in how ideas and images can generate and enrich mathematical understandings. She is passionate about education and thoroughly enjoys working with Baylor EdD-LOC students. She currently serves as a Faculty Advisor for specific Ed.D. cohorts. She teaches Mixed Methods Research, Psychology of Learning, Social Foundations for Education, and is redesigning the course Teaching for Understanding.
Dr. Pratt holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education 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 25 years of experience as an educator. When she is not working, she is often found trying to wrangle her tween and teen daughters or kicking the soccer ball around. She also serves her community as a Stephen Minister.
Ph.D.
2006
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
M.A.
2002
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
B.S.
1995
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
Teacher Education
Mathematics Education
Complexity Sciences and Education Research
Area models to image integer and binomial multiplication
Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt, lecturer, published "Area models to image integer and binomial multiplication" in Investigations in Mathematics Learning, Vol. 10, Issue 2, p. 85-105, 2018.
Bringing joy and humor into the mathematics classroom
Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt, lecturer, published "Bringing joy and humor into the mathematics classroom" in Teach mathematics with a sense of humor: Why (and how to) be a funnier and more effective mathematics teacher and laugh all the way to your classroom, p. 102-111, 2021, with co-author(s) Dr. Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas.
Breaking the routine in mathematics
Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt, lecturer, published "Breaking the routine in mathematics" in Texas Mathematics Teacher, Vol. 66, Issue 1, p. 38-46, 2020, with co-author(s) Dr. Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas, and Mario Martinez, Garland Independent School District.
A complex adaptive model of algebra professional development
Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt, lecturer, published "A complex adaptive model of algebra professional development in The language of mathematics: How the teacher’s knowledge of mathematics affects instruction", p. 175-198, January 1, 1970, with co-author(s) Dr. Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas.
Supporting EdD students to conduct rigorous research in a three-year, online program
Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt, lecturer, 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 professor, presented "Supporting EdD students to conduct rigorous research in a three-year, online program" at #CPED20 October Convening of Carnegie Project for the Education Doctorate (CPED), held 10/15/2020, in Virtual.
How mathematics teachers experience autonomy in the context of Lesson Study with Open Approach
Dr. Sarah Smitherman Pratt, lecturer, Dr. Clinton Petty, Southern Arkansas University, and Colleen McLean Eddy, University of North Texas, presented How mathematics teachers experience autonomy in the context of Lesson Study with Open Approach at American Educational Research Association, held 04/18/2022, in San Diego, CA.