The College of Wooster Education Department was awarded the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The award is presented to educator preparation providers that achieved accreditation with no stipulations or areas for improvement by demonstrating strong evidence and data trends.
According to Stacey Edmonson, chair of the CAEP board of directors, the winning institutions “are committed to preparing their candidates to make a positive difference in the lives of all K-12 students as soon as they enter the classroom.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Wooster’s education department were Megan Wereley, associate professor of education, and Sarah Dunlap, director of field, assessment, and candidate engagement. The award was presented at CAEP’s fall 2026 convention in Arlington, Virginia.
“Receiving this recognition is especially meaningful because it validates the culture we have worked hard to build at Wooster,” said Wereley. “We look carefully at evidence, listen to our students and school partners, ask where we can improve, and make changes that strengthen the experience for everyone involved.”
Dunlap added that professors get to know their students well and personalize each student’s experience, providing the guidance and mentorship needed to prepare them to become reflective, thoughtful, and adaptable educators. “We want our students to leave Wooster understanding that excellent teaching is never a finished product. It is a process of continual learning and growth,” said Dunlap.
CAEP advances equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.
Wooster’s Education Department offers 13 teacher licensure areas and provides students with more than 700 hours of classroom experience prior to graduation.
“The breadth of pathways we provide reflects our department’s commitment to preparing educators across a range of disciplines while ensuring each program meets the high standards expected of an accredited teacher preparation program,” said Dunlap.
Featured image: The College of Wooster's Department of Education accepts the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement at the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation annual conference in September. Pictured are Stacey Edmonson, chair of the CAEP Board of Directors; Megan Wereley, assistant professor of education at Wooster; Sarah Dunlap, director of field, assessment and candidate engagement for education at Wooster; Malina Monaco, CAEP senior vice president; and Christopher Koch, CAEP president.