Garan selected as one of nation’s most influential educators
Dr. Elaine Garan, an associate professor in the Department of Literacy and Early Education, was chosen as “one of the 10 most influential educators in the country” for her taking “a major role in revealing some of the concerns with the No Child Left Behind Act and the issues in reading.”

The honor was bestowed as part of the Upton Sinclair Awards announced by Dr. Michael F. Shaughnessy of Eastern New Mexico University and Delia Stafford, president of the Houston-based Haberman Education Foundation, in a column on the Web site EducationNews.com.

“I am honored to be on that list,” Garan said, adding, “To me the issue is the cause, not this award, because any award is, after all, arbitrary.”

Garan said her writings have had impact “because they speak for teachers and they speak for children.” She said some teachers “are demoralized and marginalized’ by government-imposed methods and materials.

“My books gave them the tools, the facts and the hard research data to be able to talk back to those who have been controlling the system,” Garan said.

For more Fresno State news, click on the following links:

• FresnoStateNews.com article about the award