Curriculum Vitae
MARGARET E. THORNTON
Assistant Professor | Educational Leadership, Administration, and Research
College of Education | Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road | Glassboro, NJ 08028
856-256-4744
margaretthornton.com | thorntonm@rowan.edu
Education
University of Virginia Ph.D. Degree, May 2021
Department – Educational Leadership and Foundations
Concentration – Administration & Supervision
Dissertation – School Leaders’ Actions and Detracking for Student Achievement: A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Approach
Committee – Dr. Michelle Young, co-chair; Dr. Coby Meyers, co-chair; Dr. Katrina Debnam; Dr. Vivian Wong; Dr. Peter Youngs
M.Ed. Degree, August 2011
Department – Curriculum & Instruction
Major – Secondary English
B.A. Degree May 2008
Major – English
Minor – American Government
Leadership, Research, and Teaching Experience
Rowan University Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership and Research, September 2023 – present
Courses: Educational Organization and Leadership; Action Research in Education; Instructional Leadership & Supervision; Leadership for School Improvement; School Law and Ethics
Princeton University Researcher, Educational Research Section, August 2021 – July 2022
University of Dayton Visiting Instructor, Spring 2022 – Summer 2022
Courses: EDU 933, Leadership Theory; EDT 963, Building Learning Communities
Pennsylvania Department of Education/ School Improvement Facilitator, Fall 2019 – Summer 2020
School District of Philadelphia
University of Virginia Virtual practicum project manager, Summer 2020 – Summer 2021
Co-teacher, Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
Course: EDLF 7810, Legal and Educational Policy Contexts
Instructor, Spring 2018; Spring 2019
Course: EDIS 5500: Teaching Modern Literature
University Supervisor, Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
Teacher Education Program
Charlottesville High School Classroom English Teacher, 2012-16
Courses: English 10 Unleveled, English 10 Honors, English 11 Unleveled, English 12 Academic
Teacher Mentorship Coordinator, 2014-2016
Grade Level Team Leader, 2013-2016
Stuarts Draft High School Classroom English Teacher, 2011-12
Courses: English 9 Academic, English 9
Unleveled
Honors & Awards
2024 | National Science Foundation Quantitative Research Methods for STEM Education Scholar
2023 | Article of the Year, Journal of Research in Educational Leadership
Clement, D., Thornton, M. E., Doiron, T., Young, M. D., Eddy-Spicer, D., Perrone, F., & Player, D. Program Capacity for Redesign in Educational Leadership Preparation. Journal of Research on Leadership Education. 17(1), 109–133.
2020 | Raven Society, University of Virginia
2020 ǀ Dean’s Travel Fellowship ($1000)
2020 ǀ Clark Scholar, AERA Divisions A&L, UCEA, and SAGE Publications
2019 ǀ Innovative, Developmental, Exploratory Awards (IDEA) Grant ($1000)
2019 ǀ Walter Eugene Campbell Scholarship ($1000)
2018 ǀ Center for Race and Public Education in the South Travel Fellowship ($500)
2018 ǀ Dean’s Travel Fellowship ($1000)
2017-18 ǀ Skinner Scholar, University of Virginia ($1500)
2014 ǀ Central Virginia Writing Project Fellowship, University of Virginia
2010 ǀ Provost’s Award, University of Virginia ($2500)
2009-11 ǀ Skinner Scholar, University of Virginia ($1500)
2007-08 ǀ University of Virginia Dean’s List
Grants
Funded
2024 | Principal Investigator: Empowering Teacher Leadership, New Jersey Department of Education. $166,666.00
Applied
2024 | Principal Investigator: Tracking Opportunity to Learn: How Schools Structure Inequality in the STEM Fields, American Educational Research Association-National Science Foundation. $50,000
2024 | Principal Investigator: Understanding Tracking and Detracking in Math and Science Courses, Spencer Foundation. $50,000. Finalist.
Refereed Publications
Peer Reviewed Articles
2024 | Thornton, M.E. “The kids can handle it”: How four school leaders approach detracking from a culturally responsive lens. Educational Administration Quarterly, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X241289111
2024 | Thornton, M.E. Using social justice leadership theory to contextualize detracking in the COVID-19 era. Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership, 27(2), 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1177/1555458923120293
2023 | Beach S., Heinecke, W.F., Dickerson, K., Moxham, A., Thornton, M.E., & Bryant, Z. K-20 anti-racist educational activism in post-2017 Charlottesville. Professing Education, 21(2), 49-62.
2022 | Wronowski, M., Thornton, M.E., Razavi-Maleki, B., & Witcher, A.
Beyond tracking: The relationship of opportunity to learn and diminished math outcomes for U.S. high school students. Teachers College Record, 124(6), 196-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/01614681221113473
2022 ǀ Thornton, M.E. Segregating the “gifted” in Charlottesville: The founding of Quest, 1976-1986. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 55(2), 128-145. https://doi.org.10.1080/00220620.2022.2072275
2022 ǀ Clement, D., Thornton, M.E., Sanzo, K., & Miles Nash, A. Attributes of principal preparation programs that produce highly diverse pools of principal candidates. Leadership & Policy in Schools, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.1080/15700763.2021.2022708
2022 ǀ Thornton, M. E., Barakat, M., Grooms, A. A., Locke, L. A., & Reyes-Guerra, D. (2020). Revolutionary perspectives for leadership preparation: A case of a networked improvement community. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 17(1), 90–108.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1942775120945356
2022 ǀ Clement, D., Thornton, M. E., Doiron, T., Young, M. D., Eddy-Spicer, D., Perrone, F., & Player, D. Program Capacity for Redesign in Educational Leadership Preparation. Journal of Research on Leadership Education. 17(1), 109–133.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1942775120947460
Books
2023 | Thornton, M.E., Classroom detracking in the US: Examples for school leadership. Palgrave Macmillan.
Book Chapters and Encyclopedia Entries
2024 | Thornton, M.E., Holder, S.R. (In revision). “Detracking.” In S. Powell & K.L. Henry (Eds.) Bloomsbury encyclopedia of social justice, Vol. 1: Race & ethnicity. Bloomsbury.
2024 | Thornton, M.E., Holder, S.R. (In press). Accelerating equity with school leadership for detracking. In P. Virella (Ed.) Leveraging crisis for equitable school improvement: Leadership strategies from the field. Information Age Publishing.
2023 | Heinecke, W.F., Beach S., Thornton, M.E., Dickerson, K., Moxham, A., & Bryant, Z. (In press). Challenging white supremacy and promoting anti-discriminatory education in Charlottesville post-2017. In A. Eizadirad & P. Trifonas (Eds.) International handbook of anti-discriminatory education. Springer.
Articles in Progress
Thornton, M.E., Clark, C.*, Rodriguez, T.* "I didn't see that it had anything to do with race”: A Critical Whiteness analysis of two detracking initiatives. (Under review).
Thornton, M.E., Sosland, A.* Educational infrastructure and school leadership for detracking. (In progress).
Holder, S., Thornton, M.E., Whose tracks? A literature review of tracking and detracking post NCLB. (In progress).
Thornton, M.E. How school leaders improve detracking: A case study of a Virginia
principal. (In progress).
Sebastian, R., Thornton, M.E., McCartney, A. Predicting underrepresentation: Understanding
who has access to advanced courses in Virginia. (In progress).
Holder, S., Thornton, M.E. How school leaders make sense of detracking: A convergent mixed- methods study (In progress).
Thornton, M.E., Holder, S., Reeder, N. A legal history of student sorting. (In progress).
Thornton, M.E., Wronowski, M., Razavi-Maleki, B., & Witcher, A. Students and teachers in
science classes: How teacher and student demographics impact opportunity to learn science. (In
progress).
Clement, D., Thornton, M.E., Moraguez, D., Dexter, S. Instructional considerations for
implementing simulations in educational leadership preparation. (In progress).
Thornton, M.E., Johnson, A.J., "Plough deep while sluggards sleep": The extraordinary life of Dr. Louise Stokes Hunter. (In progress).
* denotes graduate student co-author
Non-refereed Publications
Non-Peer Reviewed Articles
2021 | Thornton, M.E. “If the College Board is going to withhold student SAT scores, they need to hand over some receipts” Educationpost.org
2020 ǀ Haspel, E. & Thornton, M.E. “Every state and district needs to create a learning recovery task force – now. Here are some reasons why.” The74million.org
2016 ǀ Thornton, M. “High school reforms may miss the mark.” Richmond, VA: Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Policy Briefs and Whitepapers
2021 ǀ Holland, B., Thornton, M.E., Rabbitt, B. Creating a culture of adults wellbeing at school: Investing in adults to support students. Portland, ME: The Learning Accelerator.
2021 ǀ Holland, B., McLemore, C., Thornton, M.E., Rabbitt, B., Nchise, A., Alonzo, C. Learning found, not lost: Examining learning growth and supports in LUSD during and beyond the COVID-19 crisis. Portland, ME: The Learning Accelerator.
2021 ǀ McLemore, C., Holland, B., Thornton, M.E., Rabbitt, B. Helping each learner in the here and now: Strategies for addressing unfinished learning. Portland, ME: The Learning Accelerator.
2019 ǀ Thornton, M.E. Detracking research brief. Charlottesville, VA: Charlottesville High School.
2018 ǀ Young, M. D., Eddy Spicer, D., Perrone, F., Clement, D., Player, D., Thornton, M.E., & Doiron, T. Examining the principal preparation terrain: Issues of supply, demand, and capacity. Charlottesville, VA: University Council for Educational Administration.
2018 ǀ Thornton, M.E. & Reedy, M.A. School leadership program highlights. Charlottesville, VA: University Council for Educational Administration.
Equity Audits
2024| Shaker Heights School District
Shaker Heights, OH
2024 | North Penn High School
Landsdale, PA
2024 | Coatesville Area School District
Coatesville, PA
2022 | Great Valley School District
Malvern, PA
2020 | West Chester School District
West Chester, PA
Invited Talks
2023 | “The Kids Can Handle: School Leaders Implementing Detracking.” The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Education Summer Institute: University of Pennsylvania.
2023 | “Segregating the Gifted: The Founding of Quest in Charlottesville, 1976-1986.” Education Ed.D Program: University of Virginia
2022 | “The History of Gifted Education in the United States.” Education PhD Program: North Carolina State University
2022 | “The History of Gifted Education in the United States.” Teacher Preparation Program: Virginia Commonwealth University
2022 | “School Leaders’ Actions and Detracking for Student Achievement: A Convergent Mixed Methods Approach.” Educational Research Section Seminar. School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
2022 | “Rehearsal of Educational Leadership Competencies.” Mursion, Inc.
2021 | “What is Tracking? Why Do We Do It?” Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program: University of Iowa.
2021 | “Uncovering the Legacy of UVA’s First Black Woman Graduate: Louise Stokes Hunter’s Extraordinary Life.” Center for Race and Public Education in the South. University of Virginia.
2020 | “Social Justice in Social Science Research.” Foundations of Research Methods: University of Virginia.
2019 | “Social Justice in Social Science Research.” Advanced Qualitative Analysis: University of Virginia.
2019 | “Segregating the Gifted: The Founding of Quest in Charlottesville, 1976-1986.” Charlottesville City School Board.
Conference Presentations
2024 | Thornton, M.E., Holder, S., & Wronowski, M. Tracking in STEM: Gender, race, and opportunity to learn. Paper presented at the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion conference. Sevilla, Spain. 2024 | Thornton, M.E. & Wronowski, M. How school counselors, teachers, leaders, and student demographics impact opportunity to learn math. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. 2023 | Thornton, M.E. & Rodriguez, T. “I didn’t see that it had anything to do with race”: A Critical Whiteness detracking analysis. Paper presented at the University Council of Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. 2023 | Thornton, M.E. & Wronowski, M. How teachers, leaders, and student demographics impact opportunity to learn science. Paper presented at the University Council of Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. 2023 | Thornton, M.E., Dexter, S., & Rodriguez, T. Insights on Culturally Responsive School Leadership from UCEA’s historical work on simulation curriculum and pedagogy. Paper presented at the University Council of Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN.
2023 | Thornton, M.E. How school leaders implement detracking: A case study of a Pennsylvania principal. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. 2023 | Thornton, M.E. How school leaders implement detracking: A comprehensive case study of four detracking schools. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. 2023 | Holder S. & Thornton, M.E. “Clearly it was going to dumb the class down”: Detracking resistance as opportunity hoarding. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. 2022 | Thornton, M.E. How school leaders implement detracking: A case study of a California principal. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA. 2022 | Dexter, S., Moraguez D., Clement, D., and Thornton, M.E. Assessing and building preservice leadership decision making self-efficacy. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA. 2022 | Holder, S., Thornton, M.E., Whose tracks? A literature review of tracking and detracking post NCLB. Roundtable paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. 2022 | Thornton, M.E., Irrizary, E. How school leaders improve detracking: A case study of a Virginia principal. Roundtable paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. 2022| Clement, D., Thornton, M.E., Moraguez, D., Dexter, S. Instructional considerations for implementing sim in educational leadership preparation. Roundtable paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. 2022 ǀ Holland, B., Thornton, M.E., Rabbitt, B. Creating a culture of adults’ wellbeing at school: Investing in adults to support students. Poster to be presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA. 2021 | Holder, S., Thornton, M.E., Whose tracks? A literature review of tracking and detracking post NCLB. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Columbus, OH. 2021 | Thornton, M.E., Irrizary, E. How school leaders improve detracking: A case study of a Virginia principal. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Columbus, OH. 2021| Clement, D., Thornton, M.E., Moraguez, D., Dexter, S. Instructional considerations for implementing sim in educational leadership preparation. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Columbus, OH. 2021 | Thornton, M.E., Johnson, A.J., "Plough deep while sluggards sleep": The extraordinary life of Dr. Louise Stokes Hunter. Paper presented at the History of Education Society Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2021 | Thornton, M.E. How one school leader makes sense of detracking: A qualitative case study. Paper presented virtually at the American Education Research Association Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2021 | Thornton, M.E. Segregating the “gifted” in Charlottesville: The Founding of Quest, 1976-1986. Paper presented virtually at the American Education Research Association Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2021 | Thornton, M.E., Holder, S., Reeder, N. Understanding legal challenges to tracking for district leadership. Paper presented online at the American Education Research Association Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2021 | Thornton, M.E., Wronowski, M., Razavi-Maleki, B., & Witcher, A. Students and teachers in science classes: How teacher and student demographics impact opportunity to learn science. Paper presented at the American Education Research Association Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2020 ǀ Wronowski, M., Thornton, M.E., Razavi-Maleki, B., Witcher, A. & Duarte, B. Beyond tracking: Opportunity to learn and diminished math outcomes for U.S. high school students. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2020 ǀ Thornton, M.E., Holder, S., Reeder, N. Understanding legal challenges to tracking for district leadership. Paper presented at the University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2020 ǀ Thornton, M.E., Holder, S., Reeder, N. A legal history of student sorting. Paper presented at the History of Education Society Annual Meeting. Online meeting.
2020 ǀ Clement, D., Thornton M.E., (2020, Apr 17 - 21) A Critical Race Theory-informed critique of principal preparation capacity and pipeline diversification. [Roundtable Session]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/udnjacb (Conference cancelled)
2020 ǀ Holder, S., Thornton, M.E. (2020, Apr 17 - 21) How school leaders make sense of detracking: A convergent mixed-methods study. Roundtable paper selected to be presented at the 2020 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. (Conference cancelled)
2020 ǀ Heinecke, W., Thornton, M.E., Bryant, Z., Moxham, M., Dickerson, K., Williams. J. (2020, Apr 17 - 21) Challenging White Supremacy in Education in Charlottesville post-2017. [Panel Discussion]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/s3oz6hm (Conference cancelled)
2020 ǀ Wronowski, M., Thornton, M.E., & Duarte, B. (2020, Apr 17 - 21) How opportunity to learn math differs among students in remedial, grade-level, and advanced courses. [Roundtable Session]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA. http://tinyurl.com/stle998 (Conference cancelled)
2019 ǀ Fuller, E., Young, M., Sanzo, K., Clement, D., Moraguez, D., Thornton, M.E., Reedy, M.A. Problems and prospects in developing a diverse pipeline of educational leaders. Critical conversation presented at the 2019 University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
2019 ǀ Clement, D., Thornton, M.E., Young, M., Fuller, E., Reedy, M.A. Diversifying the principal pipeline: Attributes and capacities of highly diverse programs. Paper presented at the 2019 University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
2019 ǀ Holder, S., Thornton, M.E. How school leaders make sense of detracking: A convergent mixed-methods study. Paper presented at the 2019 University Council for Educational Administration Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
2019 ǀ Thornton, M.E. In need of leadership: The current state of detracking research. Paper presented at the 2019 University Council for Educational Administration Graduate Student Summit. New Orleans, LA.
2019 ǀ Thornton, M.E. School leaders’ actions and detracking for student achievement: An exploratory mixed-methods study. Paper presented at the 2019 University Council for Educational Administration Graduate Student Summit. New Orleans, LA.
2019 ǀ Sebastian, R., Thornton, M.E., & McCartney, A. Leveling up: State- and division-level barriers to advanced studies in Virginia. Roundtable paper presented at the 2019 American Education Research Association Annual Meeting. Toronto, Canada.
2018 ǀ Thornton. M.E, Barakat, M., Grooms, A., Locke, L, & Reyes-Guerra, D. Revolutionary perspectives for leadership preparation: A case of a networked improvement community (NIC). Paper presented at the national meeting of the University Council of Educational Administration. Houston, TX.
2018 ǀ Clement, D., Doiron, T., Eddy Spicer, D.H., Perrone, F., Thornton, M.E. Redesigning principal preparation programs: Do we have the capacity?. Critical conversation presented at the national meeting of the University Council of Educational Administration. Houston, TX.
2018 ǀ Thornton, M.E. Segregating the “gifted” in Charlottesville: The founding of Quest, 1976-1986. Paper presented at the national meeting of the History of Education Society. Albuquerque, NM.
2018 ǀ Thornton, M.E. Segregating the “gifted” in Charlottesville: The founding of Quest, 1976-1986. Poster presented at the Re-envisioning Race and Education in the New South Symposium. Charlottesville, VA.
2018 ǀ Sebastian, R., Thornton, M.E., & McCartney, A. Leveling up: State- and division-level barriers to advanced studies in Virginia. Poster presented at the Re-envisioning Race and Education in the New South Symposium. Charlottesville, VA.
2016 ǀ Thornton, M.E. Academically heterogeneous classrooms and student achievement.
Paper presented at the Curry Research Conference. Charlottesville, VA.
2013 ǀ Thornton, M.E., Givens, K. The life and death of the five-paragraph essay. Paper presented at the Glasser Quality Schools Conference. Online.
Service
National and Community Service
2024 | UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2024 | Researcher Development Program, Mentor
2024 | AERA Division A, Proposal Reviewer
2024 | AERA Tracking/Detracking SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2023 | AERA Division A, Proposal Reviewer
2023 | AERA Division L, Proposal Reviewer
2023 | AERA Tracking/Detracking SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2023 ǀ UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2023 – present | Journal of Educational Administration and History, Reviewer
2022 – present | Tracking/Detracking AREA SIG, Chair-Elect
2022 ǀ UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2022 – present | Journal of Research on Leadership Education, Reviewer
2022 ǀ UCEA, AERA Divisions A & L, Clark Scholar Proposal Reviewer
2022 ǀ University of Gothenburg, Varieties of Democracy, Country Expert
2021 ǀ UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2020 – 2022 | AERA Leadership for Social Justice, Action committee member
2020 ǀ Biden-Harris Education Policy Committee, Volunteer
2020 ǀ AERA Division A, Proposal Reviewer
2020 ǀ AERA Leadership for Social Justice, Proposal Reviewer
2020 ǀ AERA Tracking/Detracking SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2020 ǀ UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2019 ǀ AERA Division A, Proposal Reviewer
2019 ǀ AERA Leadership for Social Justice SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2019 ǀ AERA Tracking/Detracking SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2019 ǀ UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2018 – 2020 ǀ UCEA Graduate Student Council Headquarters Representative
2018 – 2019 ǀ Cville Gives Philanthropic Giving Circle, Co-founder and President
2018 ǀ AERA Leadership for Social Justice SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2018 ǀ AERA Tracking/Detracking SIG, Proposal Reviewer
2018 ǀ UCEA Convention, Proposal Reviewer
2017 ǀ AERA Leadership for Social Justice SIG, Social Justice Teaching Award Reviewer
2016 – 2018 ǀ Cville Gives Philanthropic Giving Circle, Co-founder and grants chairwoman
Institutional Service
2023 – present | Diversity in Action (DIA) Committee, Member
2022 – 2023 | Anti-Racist Leadership Learning Initiative for Equity and Deconstructing Racism & Oppression (ALLIED) Committee, Member
2022 – 2023 | Graduate Assistant Recruitment Coordinator
2020 – 2021 ǀ Education Council, Equity Committee Member
2020 – 2021 ǀ Hunter Student Research Conference, Proposals Co-chairwoman
2019 – 2021 ǀ Culturally Relevant Teaching Working Group, Member
2019 – 2020 ǀ Curry Research Conference, Planning Committee Member
2018 – 2021 ǀ SEEDs4Change, Steering Committee Member
2018 – 2021 ǀ Women in Educational Academia, Co-founder
2018 – 2020 ǀ Departmental Travel Committee, Member
2018 ǀ Curry Research Conference, Empirical Papers Reviewer
Competencies, Licenses, & Skills
Dedoose
Instructional I English 7-12, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Administration and Supervision K-12, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
NVivo
Qualtrics
R
Stata
Other Educational Leadership, Research & Policy Experience
2021– present | Research Associate, Center for Race and Public Education in the South
Teachers in the Movement Project
Supervisor: Dr. Derrick Alridge
2014-15 ǀ Fellow, Central Virginia Writing Project
Student Voice, Choice, and Writing Growth
Advisor: Dr. Jane Hansen
2011 ǀ Graduate Student, University of Virginia
Comprehensive Exam: American Storytelling
Advisor: Dr. Margo Figgins