Master’s of Art in Teaching program praised for high standard, dedication to continuous improvement
September 2026 – Drew University’s Master’s of Art in Teaching (MAT) program in the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies received two awards at this month’s Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Conference (CAEPCon).
Drew’s Education Department earned the conference’s Frank Murray Leadership Recognition Award for being among 32 institutions nationwide to earn accreditation without areas for improvement or stipulation, showing the strong current standing of the program.
Drew also earned CAEPCon’s Emerson Elliott Continuous Improvement Award, which recognizes one institution that demonstrates sustained dedication to improvement through robust quality assurance systems, evidence-based practices, and a culture of inquiry and accountability.
“These awards show not just the strength of Drew’s MAT program in preparing students for the real world of teaching, but that our program is making a significant impression around the country and in the industry,” said Kristen Turner, professor and faculty director of the New College.
Turner represented Drew at the conference and presented “Accreditation as Inquiry: Moving Beyond Compliance Toward Continuous Improvement” as an invited speaker.
Following the presentation, Turner accepted a long lineup of questions about how Drew developed a quality assurance system that works at a small, private institution.
“The attendees appreciated how we reframed our accreditation work as a process of continuous inquiry, and I was happy to share the hard work that the education department has done to improve our program over the years,” said Turner.
The MAT program at Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies prepares teachers to work in New Jersey public schools. More information can be found here.
