Jeannette Pillsbury began her teaching career in Amherst, VA. In preK-12, she was an upper elementary and secondary math teacher; an assistant principal; a pre-8 principal; a coordinator for special education; and a director of instruction. In higher education, prior to coming to Sweet Briar, she taught in “teacher education;” was a department chair; and served as a coordinator for assessment and accreditation of an Education department.
Courses Taught
EDUC 133 Diverse Learners: Culturally Responsive and Restorative Practices
EDUC 331 Content Area Methods
EDUC 452 Elementary Teaching Seminar
EDUC 678 Teacher as Researcher Seminar
Jeannette Pillsbury sees herself as a teacher, although she has had many other responsibilities in the field of Education. She majored in “music” at Sweet Briar College but prepared to be an upper elementary teacher. Music enhanced all she has done throughout her career, including being part of the music programs presented by the music teachers in the schools where she was principal.
She believes that her love of teaching facilitates the leadership responsibilities she has had in K-12 and higher education. She has studied, and continues to study, “what is good teaching?” Complementing “good teaching” is evaluation of student learning which may or may not be related to “grading.” The relationship of “evaluation of student learning” and “grading” continues to be a primary area of interest. As someone who has been involved in “accreditation” most of her adult life (camp accreditation; school district accreditation; and college Education departments), evaluation continues to be key to making judgment of the “outcome products.”
After several years as a professional educator in K-12 education (Virginia, Maine, and Boston) and many years in “teacher education” in higher education (Iowa, Maine, and Washington, D.C.), Jeannette Pillsbury joined the Sweet Briar College faculty at the start of the 2022-23 school year. As director of Sweet Briar’s (teacher) Education Program, she is glad to have to opportunity to use what she has learned over the years to support good teaching and learning at Sweet Briar!