Rate My Professor Garrard McClendon

Garrard McClendon, Ph.D., serves as an associate professor in the College of Education's Advanced Studies program at Chicago State University, a position he has held since August 2011. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago in 2010, focusing his dissertation on Illinois secondary principals' perceptions and expectations concerning students who use African American Vernacular English in academic settings. McClendon also holds an M.A. in Education and History from Valparaiso University (1995) and a B.A. in English from Wabash College (1988). His career trajectory includes assistant professor roles at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana (2003-2008) and Purdue University Calumet in Hammond, Indiana (2000-2003), as well as earlier positions as an English teacher at Bishop Noll Institute, Culver Academies, and Bishop Chatard High School, and program manager at the Urban Enterprise Association.

McClendon's research interests encompass teachers' perceptions of language, culture, and skin color; school administrators' stereotypes; and the acceptance of African American English in classrooms. Key publications include Ax or Ask?: The African American Guide to Better English (11th edition, 2017), Donda's Rules: The Scholarly Works of Dr. Donda West (2017), President Thug (2020), peer-reviewed articles such as "Dark Perceptions of Black English: Do race, gender, and age make a difference to Illinois high school principals?" (2016), "High School Principals' Perceptions on Ebonics: A Framework for School Leaders" (2014), and "Repair with confianza: Rethinking the context of corrective feedback for English learners (ELs)" (2010) in English Teaching: Practice and Critique. He has received distinguished honors, including an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2011), the Embers Award from the Black United Fund of Illinois (2012), and the Monarch Award in Communications from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (2011). McClendon actively participates in university committees, such as the Graduate Council, and delivers presentations at conferences including the National Alliance of Black School Educators (2018) on school leader perceptions of Ebonics. His contributions extend to public lectures, editorial work, and media hosting, amplifying his influence in education policy and linguistic diversity.