English education professor receives Outstanding Public Educator award

Peter Smagorinsky, a distinguished research professor in the department of language and literacy education, was recently awarded the Horace Mann League's 2020 Outstanding Public Educator award.

Founded in 1922, the Horace Mann League is an honorary association of public education leaders that aims to perpetuate the ideals of Horace Mann, the first real advocate of public education who believed that public schools should be open to all. The League presents the annual Outstanding Public Educator award to an educator who has supported public education throughout his or her career.

"I'm very happy for this recognition, which is based largely on the writing I've done for the public, mostly for the AJC Get Schooled Blog," Smagorinsky said. "I encourage others to look beyond the academic wall and speak more directly to the public about education issues that matter to them."

Smagorinsky began his teaching career in Chicago as an English teacher in the Upward Bound/Pilot Enrichment Program. He went on to teach English at the University of Oklahoma in 1990 before moving to Athens in 1998.

His research expertise focuses on literary teaching and learning and, more recently, mental health as an issue of educational inclusion and diversity.

The award will be presented to Smagorinsky in San Diego on Feb. 14.