Two School of Education and Human Development Professors Win UVA Teaching Award

Associate Professor Jamie Jirout and Assistant Professor Anne Jewett were each honored with the University of Virginia All-University Teaching Award this spring. Awarded each year by the University’s Office of the Provost, these awards celebrate faculty members whose teaching contributes significantly to the University’s mission.

Jamie Jirout

A professor in the educational psychology: applied developmental science program, Jirout fuses her scholarly interests in curiosity with her teaching in courses for both undergraduates and graduates. In her courses spanning child development and cognitive psychology, Jirout invites her students to explore what they are curious about, promoting student-centered learning experiences.

In her nomination of Jirout, Nancy Deustch, Linda K. Bunker Professor of Education and associate dean for faculty affairs, shared that Jirout’s exceptional teaching is see in earning one of the highest teaching scores of her departmental colleagues on her annual reviews.

Sharing about her experience, a student wrote that one of Jirout’s fall 2024 courses was her “favorite course at UVA…Prof. Jirout’s teaching is a clear example of passion for her students’ education and well-being.”

Anne Jewett

While directing the top-ranked Master of Education in curriculum and instruction program, Jewett’s teaching expands into the Ed.S. and Ed.D. programs as well. In all her courses, she helps the educators she works with enhance their understanding, expertise, and leadership skills in curriculum development and delivering high-quality instruction.

In his nomination of Jewett, Professor Peter Youngs, chair of the department of curriculum, instruction and special education wrote, “Professor Jewett is one of the two or three most outstanding university-level teachers with whom I have worked during my 21 years as professor.”

Jewett’s courses are delivered asynchronously online, a potentially challenging format where, instead, Jewett excels with creativity and innovation. A faculty colleague wrote of one of her courses, “Professor Jewett’s course is truly a model for what quality asynchronous online instruction can look like.” One student shared, “I would say that for an online course, it met, as well went beyond what I would have received in a seated or in-person course.”.

Jirout and Jewett were honored, alongside the other award winners, at an event on Tuesday, April 29.