Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education Receives National Honor for Excellence in Educator Preparation

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education has received the 2026 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement from the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP).

The award is given annually to educator preparation providers that demonstrate a strong commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement. Named in honor of educator and higher education leader Frank Murray, the recognition celebrates his legacy as a champion for rigorous standards and his role in uniting the profession through CAEP.

The award follows the School’s successful reaccreditation earlier this year. Fisher’s accreditation process included a comprehensive self-study, peer review, and a virtual site visit in the fall 2025 semester.

Institutions selected for the honor achieve full accreditation of CAEP with no stipulations or areas for improvement, demonstrating strong evidence and data trends. Recipients also advance equity and excellence in educator preparation through purposeful use of self-study procedures and evidence-based reporting that assure quality and support continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 learning.

“Receiving the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement is an extraordinary honor for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education and a testament to the dedication, expertise, and collective commitment of our faculty, staff, students, and community partners,” said Dr. Joellen Maples, dean of the School. “We are especially proud that our accreditation review demonstrated not only that we meet the highest standards of our profession, but that we have established a culture of using evidence, reflection, and collaboration to continually strengthen our programs. This award reflects our unwavering commitment to preparing educators who will make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of the students and communities they serve.”

The School offers baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs with a foundational value to develop educators who are also advocates. Since the School’s opening in 2003, more than 3,500 teacher applicants have graduated from the University, and work in academic communities throughout the country.

This article was written by Olivia Bennett, a senior marketing major, who is working as an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the 2026-2027 academic year.