Corey Drake

 

Corey Drake

Assistant Professor

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

 

Early Achievement in Research Award

 

Since earning her doctorate degree less than a decade ago, Corey Drake has made a name for herself in the field of mathematics education. Drake has investigated several aspects of the field, most notably the relationship between teachers’ professional development and curriculum use. Several colleagues have noted that she is exploring new avenues by examining not simply how teachers influence curricula, but also how curricula have the power to change teachers.

Drake has begun examining the strategies that teachers develop to establish consistency and understanding throughout their curricula. Understanding these processes has implications for how curriculum is structured, how curricular resources are designed, and how teachers are prepared. Her analysis of immigrant and low-income parental involvement in schools is also receiving acclaim for its attempts to understand parents’ perspectives and find ways for schools to engage them.

Her ability to integrate theoretical concepts into practical application has become a cornerstone of Drake’s research, leading one nominator to state, “I find Dr. Drake’s concern with the impact of her finding in real educational setting quite admirable and a characteristic that sets her apart from many early career scholars.”

Drake has already published her work in two of the most prestigious journals in the educational field – The American Educational Research Journal and The Educational Researcher – and currently has several book chapters and scholarly papers in publication or under review. Perhaps even more impressive is her record of obtaining external funding through the National Science Foundation and Spence Foundation, both of which are recognized for their highly competitive, selective and prestigious research grants. She recently secured the NSF’s CAREER grant for young scholars, moving one colleague to say, “I believe Dr. Drake will emerge as one of the leading scholars in mathematics education.”