The Farrington College of Education & Human Development is Connecticut’s engine of innovation in teacher training.

Our research-validated programs—including the nation’s first Educational Leadership doctorate focused on Social, Emotional and Academic Leadership and a certificate of advanced study in STEAM—and our accomplished, student-focused faculty, will fuel your education career, whether you’re becoming an educator or taking your career to the next degree.

Mission

The Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development prepares and promotes a diverse community of educators, whose work is grounded in professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions in service to their students. Guided by fundamental principles of social justice, human dignity and equity, we prepare candidates to help their students navigate a global community that is undergoing profound cultural and technological change. We use evidence of candidate performance to continuously improve practice and policy.

Faculty Spotlight

Sacred Heart University proudly recognizes our faculty for their scholarly achievement through their outstanding publishing efforts and industry experience.

Frank A. Martignetti, Ph.D.

Program Director, Music Education
Dr. Martignetti will make his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2025, after guest conducting the Mystic River Chorale, an ensemble he led for 13 years, in 2024. Director of music and organist at First Church Congregational, where he plays one of the region’s finest pipe organs, he recently published book chapters, presented at the College Music Society’s national conference and is working on a project on making college music curriculum more culturally responsive.

Kim Hellerich, Ed.D. & Deirdra Preis, Ed.D.

Assistant Professors of Educational Leadership
As prolifically published and passionate, seasoned educators, Hellerich and Preis recently received an ACT grant from Sacred Heart to support their work with educational leadership candidates. The professors will equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills they need to improve equitable educational access for emerging multilingual students and as well as those with exceptionalities, including gifted and talented students. Through programming featuring educational leaders with years of experience creating rigorous, inclusive spaces for these students, SHU students will gain learning that directly aligns with their administrative internship. They will also be prepared to successfully pursue educational leadership positions upon completion of the Intermediate Administrator Certification (092) program.

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Education & Human Development

Home of the College of

The former GE global headquarters located down the street from SHU's main campus at 3135 Easton Turnpike in Fairfield serves as SHU's new West Campus - an innovation hub for the College of Education & Human Development.