Laura Allen

Laura Allen is Professor in the Department of Education at Trinity University, where she has served since 1994. She began as Coordinator of the Middle Grades MAT Program and served as Director of Certification & Assessment (2014-2019), developing assessment systems using TK20 while serving on the NCATE Board of Examiners, TEA Educator Preparation Advisory Committee, and as president of TCTCT.

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with Middle Grades Emphasis, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• M.A. in English Education, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
• B.S.E. in English and History, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Her research centers on Teacher Induction, Assessment in Education, and Natural Environments and Well-Being. She investigates how induction programs impact teacher retention and quality, and explores mental health benefits of nature exposure for educators through forest therapy frameworks. Her curriculum development work using Understanding by Design has achieved international adoption.

Recent publications (2019-2020) analyze performance-based assessments (edTPA/PPAT) in clinical teaching and environmental impacts on preservice teachers' mental health. Earlier works (2013-2014) established evidence for university-based induction programs improving teacher quality. Her research consistently bridges theory and practice in teacher preparation systems.

Professional recognition stems from significant service contributions rather than formal awards, including leadership roles in TCTCT and CSOTTE, and policy influence through TEA committee appointments.

Dr. Allen founded the Summer Curriculum Writing Institute (SCWI) in 2005, mentoring MAT graduates in curriculum development through Understanding by Design. This initiative generated a globally adopted repository with 45,000+ monthly downloads, used by the US Department of Education and international school districts. Research confirmed SCWI's dual impact on curriculum quality and teacher retention.

The SCWI operated as a collaborative network connecting MAT graduates with faculty through annual workshops. Developed curriculum units published via Trinity's Digital Commons under Creative Commons licensing became the platform's most downloaded content, demonstrating scalable impact on educational practice worldwide.