MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe School of Education has received the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The ULM School of Education is one of only 22 programs in the nation to receive the recognition. Representatives from the school accepted the recognition in Washington, D.C. on September 18, 2025.
“We are honored to be recognized for excellence and innovation at a national level,” said Dr. Myra Lovett, Director of the ULM School of Education. “Earning this award could only be possible with the dedication of all of our stakeholders, both internal and external to ULM. Our K-12 school district partners, faculty, staff, and teacher candidates continuously collaborate to build and improve our practices to support K-12 learners. United and led by our accreditation coordinator, Dr. Shalanda Stanley, every stakeholder contributed a valuable piece of the puzzle. Receiving this award shines a light on the ULM School of Education's dedication and hard work in always pursuing continuous improvement,” added Lovett.
“This recognition from CAEP is a testament to the School of Education’s continued commitment to excellence. I am incredibly proud of our faculty and administrators who have earned this recognition with their dedication to providing the highest caliber of preparation to our future educators,” said ULM President Dr. Carrie Castille.
The Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement is awarded to 22 educator preparation providers (EPPs) that achieved accreditation with no stipulations or areas for improvement by demonstrating strong evidence and data trends. Named after the founding President of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), the award celebrates Murray’s legacy as a champion for rigorous educator preparation standards and his role in uniting the profession through the creation of CAEP.
“These providers 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,” said Yuhang Rong, Chair of the CAEP Board of Directors. “The Murray Leadership Recognition highlights their dedication to continuous improvement, accountability, and quality through purposeful use of evidence.”
The announcement of this recognition comes after the ULM School of Education was awarded a renewal of its accreditation from CAEP in spring 2025, which guarantees its accreditation status through spring 2032. The School of Education met all CAEP standards at both the initial-licensure and advanced levels.
“This recognition is further evidence of the incredible job that our faculty, staff, and students are doing in the School of Education,” said Dr. John Pratte, Dean of the ULM College of Arts, Education, and Sciences. “Besides bucking the national trend by continuing to increase the number of students in our education programs, our faculty and K-12 partners are providing the highest quality learning experiences that lead to our alumni consistently winning Teacher of the Year honors. This national recognition of the excellent job being done at ULM cements the School of Education’s reputation as a leader in providing K-12 schools with the quality teachers that are driving the increased rankings of Louisiana in K-12 education,” he continued.
CAEP is the only national accreditor for education preparation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Accreditation is a nongovernmental activity based on peer review that serves the dual functions of assuring quality and promoting improvement. CAEP is a unified accreditation system intent on raising the performance of all institutions focused on educator preparation. Learn more at caepnet.org.
More information about the ULM School of Education is available at ulm.edu/education.