Rate My Professor Sara Dexter

Sara Dexter is a Professor of Education in the Department of Education Leadership, Foundations, and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development, where she serves as Program Coordinator for the Administration and Supervision M.Ed. and Ed.D. programs. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas (1997), an M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (1990), and a B.S. with honors in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (1986). Her career began as a secondary science teacher (1986-1994) and Technology Integration Specialist (1994-1997) at Osseo Area Schools in Minnesota. She then held positions as Lecturer at the University of Minnesota (1997-1999), Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (1999-2003), and joined UVA in 2003 as Assistant Professor, advancing to Associate Professor and promoted to Professor effective August 25, 2025. Dexter has secured over $6 million in competitive grants, including principal investigator roles for CANLEAD ($1.7M, 2011), ETIPS ($2.1M, 2001), and co-project director for projects like Educational Leadership Cases ($650K, 2006).

Dexter's research focuses on technology leadership, integration, and implementation in K-12 schools, digital practicum experiences for aspiring educators and administrators, team-based instructional leadership, and adult learning and development in educational contexts. She applies constructive-developmental theory in her doctoral courses to enhance leaders' emotional intelligence and meaning-making, and guides master's students in designing technology implementation systems through distributed leadership. Notable awards include the 2009 University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Jack A. Culbertson Award for innovative research in technology leadership and the 2023 UCEA Edwin M. Bridges Award for significant contributions to educational leadership preparation. Key publications encompass 'Pedagogical Gaps in the Bridge from Classroom to Field For Pre-service Principal Competence Development' (2021), 'The Development and Impact of Team-based School Technology Leadership' (2021), 'Sources of Teachers’ Self-efficacy for Technology Integration From Formal, Informal, and Independent Professional Learning' (2019), and handbook chapters such as 'The Role of Leadership for Information Technology in Education: Systems of Practices' (2018). As former Associate Director of UCEA, she has contributed to editorial boards including Educational Administration Quarterly and international handbooks on information technology in education.