Rate My Professor Ruth Boyask

Ruth Boyask is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand, where she also directs LitPlus, a research initiative focused on literacy. She earned her PhD in Education from the University of Canterbury in 2004, a Master of Education with Distinction in 2000 from the same institution, and holds a Diploma of Teaching. Her academic career includes previous positions as a Lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Plymouth, UK, and roles in universities across England, Wales, and New Zealand. Boyask has a strong commitment to research that informs policy and practice, particularly in areas affecting equity and social justice in education.

Her research specializations encompass the changing nature of public education, school governance, educational decision-making, policy, leadership, and the promotion of children's reading for pleasure in Aotearoa New Zealand. As principal investigator for a major program on tamariki's reading for pleasure, she has led studies emphasizing affect, sociality, and wellbeing in reading practices. Key publications include her book, Pluralist Publics in Market Driven Education: Towards More Democracy in Educational Reform (Bloomsbury, 2020), which analyzes publicness in market-driven systems using democratic theory. Highly cited works feature "Research-capacity building, professional learning and the social practices of educational research" (2007, 115 citations), "Pedagogic relations and professional change: a sociocultural analysis of students' learning in a professional doctorate" (2015, 76 citations), "What needs to happen for school autonomy to be mobilised to create more equitable public schools and systems of education?" (2023, 30 citations), and "“Reading Enjoyment” is ready for school: Foregrounding affect and sociality in children’s reading for pleasure" (2023, 28 citations). Boyask teaches on postgraduate programmes, including the Master of Educational Leadership, covering topics like education policy and leadership for the public good. She serves on the Council for the British Educational Research Association and engages in international research networks.