Rate My Professor Sarah Tate

Sarah Tate is an Affiliate Professor in the History Department at Grand Valley State University, focusing on Social Studies for Elementary Education. Holding a B.A. in History from Western Michigan University (2004) and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Michigan University (2009), she applies her expertise in historical content and pedagogical methods to prepare future educators. Based in Mackinac Hall D-1-222, she offers office hours on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment during the Fall 2025 semester. Her profile highlights her as an affiliate professor recognized for achievements in education, contributing to programs like Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching (PCKET) within the department's support for teacher certification in social studies.

Tate's commitment to excellence in teaching and student engagement is evidenced by several honors. In 2018, she was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Member by the GVSU Office of Student Life at their annual recognition reception on April 20, a student-nominated accolade for faculty making significant impacts on student life, programming, organizations, and learning. In 2017, she became a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant through the Lake Michigan Writing Project. Earlier, in 2011, she earned Georgia Master Teacher status from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. These recognitions reflect her transition from K-12 classrooms to higher education faculty roles. Tate innovates in her instruction, as demonstrated in her SAT 495 hybrid course where she introduced Flipgrid for student introduction videos. This tool facilitated pre-service teachers in creating content applicable to elementary classrooms, with positive feedback on its effectiveness despite most students' prior unfamiliarity. Her work aligns with the History Department's offerings in social studies education for secondary and elementary levels, fostering strong employment outcomes for graduates in Michigan schools and beyond.