Tracey Tedder, Ed.D.
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Education
I believe that classrooms should be safe, student centered, and welcoming where active participation is promoted. Collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking must be fostered and students should be encouraged to share their opinions, as well as respect the opinions of others. Creating this kind of a safe classroom environment makes learning conducive for a variety of learning styles and needs.
Biography
As the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Florida Southern College, Dr. Tedder is responsible for the educational leadership and excellence of the College’s highly respected academic programs, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs.
Under Dr. Tedder’s leadership since 2008, Florida Southern College has experienced many firsts in the history of the institution including offering the first doctoral degree, the Doctorate of Educational Leadership. In 2010, Dr. Tedder opened the Roberts Academy at Florida Southern College, the first transitional school in the state of Florida for talented students with dyslexia. The program has become nationally known, attracting students from across the United States. In spring 2020, she opened the first and only Carol Jenkins Barnett Center for Early Childhood Learning and Health.
While Dr. Tedder has served as the Dean of Education, the Florida Department of Education ranked the School of Education the #1 private school program for Education in the state of Florida. These rankings demonstrate the evidence of the positive and consequential impact of her leadership. She has continued and strengthened the long and outstanding reputation of the College and led it to high distinction.
Through the years, Dr. Tedder has been recognized for her contributions to the field of education. She was a recipient of the National Association of Women of Distinction Award, and has been active in community as a member of Leadership Lakeland and United Way. Dr. Tedder has been named to serve in two endowed chair positions: the Nina B. Hollis Endowed Chair in Education and most recently, the Hal and Marjorie Roberts Endowed Chair in Learning and Literacy.
Education
- Doctorate of Education, Educational Leadership, University of South Florida
- M.Ed., B.A., Educational Leadership, St. Leo College
- Florida Professional Certification in Early Childhood Education
- Florida Administrator Certification in Educational Leadership, K-12
Awards
- Recipient of Top Five Faculty Student Evaluations - 2006/2008
- Inaugural Year Academic Advising Award, Southeastern University - 2006
- Teacher of the Year, Top Ten Finalist, Polk County Public Schools - 1997
- Southwest Area Educator of the Year, Polk County Public Schools - 1997
- Teacher of the Year, Southwest Elementary School, Polk County Public Schools - 1997
- Outstanding Education Graduate, St. Leo College - 1992
Publications
Roberts Academy: Reading and Literacy Scores in Children with Dyslexia; Does Planned Movement Really Make a Difference. 2010-current
Exploring the Foundations of American Education, P. Castelli, Chapter 9, 2009
Ed.D. Dissertation: Perceptions of Principals and Teachers of Their Role and Other Variables Within School Culture in Improving Their School’s Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Letter Grade by Two Grade Levels (University of South Florida: October 2006)
Abstract submitted: American Educational Research Association, Perceptions of Principals and Teachers of Their Role and Other Variables Within School Culture in Improving Their School’s Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Letter Grade by Two Grade Levels (submitted January 2007)
M.Ed. Thesis: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Child Study Teams (CST) and Intervention Assistance Teams (IAT) at the Elementary School Level