• Basic Information
  • Awards & Honors
  • Publications
  • Professional Affiliations
  • Presentations
Matt Knoester Portrait

Matthew Knoester

Associate Professor of Educational Studies

[email protected]
920-748-8386
Office: Todd Wehr 309

Basic Information

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Ed.M., Harvard University
  • B.A., St. Olaf College

Courses Taught

  • CTL 110 Who Decides? Perspectives on Democracy
  • EDU 270 Differentiated Instruction: Approaches for the Classroom Teacher
  • EDU 275 Theories and Practices in Early Childhood Education
  • EDU 281 Teaching Content in Elementary Grades
  • EDU 311 Literacy Development in Middle/Secondary Schools
  • EDU 348 Integrated Approaches to Reading and Language Arts Instruction
  • Supervision of Student Teachers and Clinical Placements

Awards & Honors

Book Awards:

  • 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Award in Education for Beyond Testing: 7 Assessments of Students and Schools More Effective than Standardized Tests. Presented by Foreword Reviews Magazine.
  • Jackie Kirk Outstanding Book Award (finalist) for International Struggles for Critical Democratic Education. Presented by the Comparative International Education Society, 2014.
  • Critics’ Choice Book Award for International Struggles for Critical Democratic Education, 2013. Presented by the American Educational Studies Association.
  • Outstanding Book Award (finalist) for Democratic Education in Practice: Inside the Mission Hill School. Presented by AERA’s Qualitative Research Special Interest Group, 2013.
  • Noteworthy Book for Democratic Education in Practice: Inside the Mission Hill School. Presented by District Administration magazine, 2013.

Grants Awarded:

  • National Science Foundation Grant in the amount of $297,715 for the project “Building Capacity for Interdisciplinary Quantitative Reasoning Instruction” along with Andrea Young, Mckenzie Lamb, Steven Martin and Soren Hauge, 2018.
  • Fulbright-Nehru Specialist Grant awarded to travel to and teach in India, at Delhi University, in January of 2019, in relation to the book International Struggles for Critical Democratic Education.
  • UW-Stout Center for Study of Institutions and Innovation (CSII) Faculty Research Stipend, awarded in the amount of $5000 for project entitled “How does ballot information affect voter turnout among young adults?” 2018.
  • Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship (ARSAF), awarded in the amount of $1785 for project entitled “Educating for Action: Engaged Citizenry” with co-principal investigator, Lisa Kretz. University of Evansville, 2015.
  • Arts, Research and Teaching (ART) Grant, awarded in the amount of $1200 for project entitled “Educating for Action: Engaged Citizenry” with co-principal investigator, Lisa Kretz. University of Evansville, 2015
  • John H. Schroeder Faculty Development Grant, awarded after competitive review process, for expenses associated with presenting a paper and attending the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. University of Evansville, 2014.
  • Principal Investigator (PI) for research grant proposal entitled “How Do Pre- Service Teachers Experience a Multicultural Education Course Taught as Either a Study Abroad Course in Trinidad or in a Classroom in Southern Indiana?” Submitted to the Spencer Foundation requesting $45,930. (not funded), 2014.
  • Global Scholarship, awarded in the amount of $5,000, plus one course release, following a competitive review process. Awarded for the purpose of traveling to Finland to study Finnish education in the fall of 2013. 2013.
  • Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship (ARSAF), awarded in the amount of $3,525.00 to support research program entitled “First-Generation College Graduates and the Literacies and Discourses Needed for Academic Success” with co-principal investigator Dr. Mari Plikuhn, University of Evansville, 2011.
  • Arts, Research and Teaching (ART) Grant, awarded in the amount of $1,800.00 to support research program entitled “First-Generation College Graduates and the Literacies and Discourses Needed for Academic Success” with co-principal investigator Mari Plikuhn, University of Evansville, 2011.
  • Theodore R. Sizer Dissertation Scholar, grant awarded in the amount of $3,500.00 to support dissertation work, awarded by the Coalition of Essential Schools, 2009.
  • Graduate Student Mentor Award, awarded by fellow University of Wisconsin- Madison graduate students, 2009.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Curriculum and Instruction Travel Grant , awarded in the amount of $500.00 to graduate students selected to present at an academic conference, 2008.

Publications

Books:

  • Meier, D. & Knoester, M. Beyond testing: Seven assessments of students and schools more effective than standardized tests. New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2017.
  • Democratic education in practice: Inside the Mission Hill School. New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2012.

Edited Volumes:

  • Meier, D.; Knoester, M. & D’Andrea, K. C. (Eds.). Teaching in themes: An approach to schoolwide learning, creating community, and differentiating instruction. New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2015.
  • International struggles for critical democratic education. New York, NY: Peter Lang, 2012

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

  • Knoester, M. & Kretz, L. Why do young adults vote at low rates? Implications for education. Social Studies Research and Practice, 12(2), 1-14. DOI: 10.1108/SSRP-04-2017-0013, 2017.
  • Knoester, M. & Parkison, P. Seeing like a state: How educational policy misreads what is important in schools. Educational Studies, 53(3), 247-262. DOI: 10.1080/00131946.2017.1297302, 2017.
  • Knoester, M. & Plikuhn, M. Inquiry into the independent reading development of first-generation college graduates with advanced degrees. Journal of Literacy Research, 48(1), 105-126. DOI: 10. 1177/1086296X16658739, 2016
  • Knoester, M. & Au, W. Standardized testing and school segregation: Like tinder for fire? Race Ethnicity and Education, 20(1), 1-14. DOI:
    10.1080/13613324.2015.1121474, 2015.
  • Knoester, M. & Parkison, P. Where is citizenship education in the age of
    Common Core State Standards? Critical Education, 6(22), 1-16, 2015.
  • Knoester, M. & Plikuhn, M. Influence of siblings on out-of-school reading practices. Journal of Research in Reading, 39(4), 469-485. DOI: 10.1111/1467- 9817.12059, 2015.
  • Is the outcry for more pilot schools warranted? Democracy, collective bargaining, deregulation, and the politics of school reform in Boston. Educational Policy, 25(3), 387-423, 2011.
  • Independent reading and the ‘social turn’: How adolescent reading habits and motivation may be related to cultivating social relationships. Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research, 12(1), 1-13, 2010.
  • Inquiry into urban adolescent independent reading habits: Can Gee’s theory of Discourses provide insight? Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(8), 676- 85, 2009.
  • Learning to describe, describing to understand. Schools: Studies in Education, 5(1), 146-55, 2008.
  • War in Colombia. Social Justice: Crime, Conflict, and World Order, 25(2), 85- 109, 1998.

Essay Reviews:

  • Knoester, M. & Gichiru, W. P. Education for democracy at the university level.
    Journal of International Social Studies,     4(1), 115-118, 2014.
  • The flat world and books about education reform. American Journal of
    Education,     119(4), 633-639, 2013.
  • Who will benefit from the ‘sociocultural turn’ in education? Pedagogy, Culture &
    Society,     19(2), 311-318, 2011.

Book Chapters:

  • Plikuhn, M. & Knoester, M. A foot in two worlds: First-generation college graduates, academic success, and family relationships. In Stich, A. & Freie, C. (Eds.). The working classes and higher education: Inequality of access, opportunity and income (pp. 174-194). New York, NY: Routledge, 2015.
  • Knoester, M. & Yu, M. Teachers as cultural workers. In He, M. F.; Schultz, B. D. & Schubert, W. H., (Eds.) The SAGE guide to curriculum in education (pp. 190-197). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2015.
  • Meier, D.; Knoester, M. & D’Andrea, K. C. Introduction. In Meier, D.; Knoester, M. & D’Andrea, K. C. (Eds.). Teaching in themes: An approach to schoolwide learning, creating community, and differentiating instruction (pp. 1-8). New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2015.
  • Astronomical inquiries. In Meier, D.; Knoester, M. & D’Andrea, K. C. (Eds.). Teaching in themes: An approach to schoolwide learning, creating community, and differentiating instruction (pp. 69-84). New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2015
  • Meier, D.; Knoester, M. & D’Andrea, K. C. Conclusion. In Meier, D.; Knoester, M. & D’Andrea, K. C. (Eds.).
    Teaching in themes: An approach to schoolwide learning, creating community, and differentiating instruction (142-148). New York, NY: Teachers College Press, 2015.
  • Gichiru, W. P. & Knoester, M. Teaching International struggles for critical democratic education. In Schwarzer, D. & Bridglall, B. (Eds.). Internationalizing teacher education: Successes and challenges within domestic and international contexts (pp. 243-261). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2015
  • Introduction. In Knoester, M. (Ed.). International struggles for critical democratic education (pp. 1-7). New York: Peter Lang, 2012.
  • Critical multicultural education in Boston. In Knoester, M. (Ed.). International struggles for critical democratic education (pp. 69-87). New York: Peter Lang, 2012.
  • Crowley, C. & Knoester, M. Public higher education under attack in the United States. In Knoester, M. (Ed.). International struggles for critical democratic education (pp. 111-130). New York: Peter Lang, 2012.

Professional/Scholarly Affiliations

  • Elected to 3-year term as Secretary/Treasurer of AERA Special Interest Group (SIG) Democratic Citizenship on Education, 2018-2021.
  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certified for middle childhood education.
  • Editorial Review Board for Reading Teacher

Presentations

  • "Critical Democratic Education in Boston, USA" Democratizing Education Conference (keynote), Ankara, Turkey, 2019.
  • "Why do young adults vote at low rates?" Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Toronto, Canada, 2019.
  • “If Not Standardized Testing, Then What?” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). New York, NY, 2018.
  • “Beyond Testing Book Launch.” Annual Meeting of the Comparative International Education Society (CIES). Mexico City, Mexico, 2018.
  • “Independent Reading Development Among First-Generation University Graduates.” Annual Meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA). Tampa, FL, 2017.
  • “Standardized Testing and School Segregation.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Studies Association (AESA). Pittsburgh, PA, 2017.
  • “Critical Democratic Education in Boston.” XVI World Congress of Comparative Education Societies. Beijing, China, 2016.
  • Knoester, M. & Au, W. “Standardized Testing and School Segregation: Like Tinder for Fire?” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Washington, D.C., 2016.
  • “Astronomical Inquiries.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Washington, D.C., 2016.
  • “Effects of Siblings on Literacy Development.” Annual Meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA). Carlsbad, CA, 2015.
  • "Schoolwide Thematic Teaching.” Annual Meeting of the New England Philosophy of Education Society (NEPES). New Britain, CT, 2015.
  • Knoester, M. & Gichiru, W. “Teaching the Glocal in Teacher Education.” Annual Meeting of the Comparative International Education Society (CIES). Washington, D.C, 2015.
  • “Where is Citizenship Education in the Age of Common Core State Standards?” Annual Meeting of the New England Philosophy of Education Society (NEPES). New Britain, CT, 2014.
  • Knoester, M. & Gichiru, W. “Critical Reflections on Two International and Comparative Courses in Teacher Education.” Annual Meeting of the New England Philosophy of Education Society (NEPES). New Britain, CT, 2014.
  • Knoester, M. & Plikuhn, M. “Effects of Siblings on the Literacy Development of First-Generation College Graduates.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Philadelphia, PA, 2014.
  • Knoester, M. & Plikuhn, M. “Social Aspects of Literacy Development in the Lives of First-Generation College Graduates.” Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA). New York, NY, 2013.
  • Knoester, M. & Plikuhn, M. "Inquiry into the Childhood Literacy Development of First-Generation College Graduates." Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Francisco, CA, 2013.
  • "Critical Multicultural Education in Boston." Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Francisco, CA, 2013.
  • “International Struggles for Critical Democratic Education.” Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES). New Orleans, LA, 2013.
  • “International Struggles for Democratic Education.” Andiron Lecture. University of Evansville, 2013.
  • Knoester, M. & Plikuhn, M. “First-Generation College Graduates and the Literacies and Discourses Needed for Academic Success.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Vancouver, BC, 2012.
  • “Professional Development at the Mission Hill School.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). New Orleans, LA, 2011.
  • “Inside the Mission Hill School: Democratic Education in Practice.” Fall Forum of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). San Francisco, CA, 2010.
  • “Democratic Involvement and Decision-Making at the Mission Hill School.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Denver, CO, 2010.
  • “Inquiry into the Social Aspects of ‘Independent’ Reading and Motivation.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Diego, CA, 2009.
  • “When Urban Adolescents Choose to Read.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). New York, NY, 2008.
  • “Teacher Unions and Democratic Education.” Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). New York, NY, 2008.
  • Knoester, M., Williams, J., & Clunis, K. “Parental involvement and participation at Mission Hill School.” Fall Forum of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). Columbus, OH, 2004.
  • Knoester, M., & Rachko, J. “The Recollections Project at Mission Hill School.” Pilot School Teacher Share. Boston, MA, 2004.
  • Knoester, M., & Clunis, K. “Peer Review at Mission Hill School.” Fall Forum of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). San Francisco, CA, 2003.