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Dr. Steve Mertens

Professor
Teaching and Learning
Office
DEG Degarmo Hall
Office Hours
By appointment
Email
smerten@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Current Courses

599.011Dissertation Research

333.001Middle Level Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

595.001Research Seminar in Education: Quantitative Research

599.006Dissertation Research

207.001Literacy Instruction in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Middle Level Classroom

333.001Middle Level Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

396.001Middle Level Education Clinical II

Teaching Interests & Areas

middle-level education, research methodologies

Research Interests & Areas

middle-level education, teacher preparation, teacher attrition

Ph D Anthropology

University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign, IL

MA Archaeology

University of London, Institute of Archaeology
London, England

BA Sociology & Anthropology

West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

John H. Lounsbury Award for Distinguished Achievement in Middle Level Education

Association for Middle Level Education
2020

College of Education Outstanding Researcher Award

College of Education, Illinois State University
2020

University Research Grant

College of Education, Illinois State University
2020

Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. Outstanding Research Award

Middle Level Education Research (AERA SIG)
2019

University Research Initiative Award

College of Education, Illinois State University
2011

Book, Authored

Mertens, S., Flowers, N., & Mulhall, P. A practitioner's guide to understanding and applying middle grades research. National Middle School Association (2007)
Anfara, Jr., V., Andrews, G., Hough, D., Mertens, S., Mizelle, N., & White, G. Research and resources in support of This We Believe. National Middle School Association (2003)

Book, Chapter

Caskey, M., & Mertens, S. Capturing John’s voice in selected publications. Steven B. Mertens & Micki M. Caskey (EDs), As he saw it: Contributions, memories, and reflections of John H. Lounsbury. Information Age Publishing (2021)
Mertens, S., & Caskey, M. Memories and reflections in honor of John. H. Lounsbury. S. B. Mertens & M. M. Caskey (EDs), As he saw it: Contributions, memories, and reflections of John H. Lounsbury. Information Age Publishing (2021)
Mertens, S. Support from a giant: My friendship with John Lounsbury. Steven B. Mertens & Micki M. Caskey (EDs), As he saw it: Contributions, memories, and reflections of John H. Lounsbury. Information Age Publishing (2021)
Caskey, M., Stacki, S., & Mertens, S. Student-centered learning: Evolving curriculum, instruction, and assessment—intersecting new needs. Stacki, S. L., Caskey, M. M., & Mertens, S. B. (EDs), Curriculum, instruction, and assessment: Intersecting new needs and new approaches. Information Age Publishing (2020)
Mertens, S. Preparing middle level teachers for the classroom. Howell, P. B. Faulkner, S. A., Carpenter, J., & Jones, J. (EDs), Preparing middle level educators for 21st century schools: Enduring beliefs, changing times, evolving practices. Information Age Publishing (2018): 29-51.

Book, Edited

Mertens, S., & Caskey, M. As he saw it: Contributions, memories, and reflections of John H. Lounsbury. Mertens, S. B.; Caskey, M. M. (EDs). Information Age Publishing (2021)
Stacki, S., Caskey, M., & Mertens, S. Curriculum, instruction, and assessment: Intersecting new needs and new approaches. Information Age Publishing (2020)
Mertens, S., & Caskey, M. Literature Reviews in Support of the Middle Level Education Research Agenda. Mertens, S. B., & Caskey, M. M. (EDs). Information Age Publishing (2018)
Mertens, S., Anfara, Jr., V., Caskey, M., & Flowers, N. Common planning time in middle level schools: Research studies from the MLER SIG’s national project. Mertens, S. B., Anfara, V. A., Jr., Caskey, M. M., & Flowers, N. (EDs). Information Age Publishing (2013)
Mertens, S., Anfara, Jr., V., & Roney, K. An international look at educating young adolescents. Mertens, S.B.; Anfara, V.A., Jr.; Roney, K. (EDs). Information Age Publishing (2009)

Encyclopedia

Mertens, S., Caskey, M., & Flowers, N. The encyclopedia of middle grades education (2nd ed.). Mertens, S. B., Caskey, M. M., & Flowers, N. (EDs). Information Age Publishing (2016): 446.
Anfara, Jr., V., Andrews, G., & Mertens, S. The encyclopedia of middle grades education. Information Age Publishing (2005)

Journal Article

Mertens, S. B., & Falbe, K. N. (2021). Illinois Horizon Schools: Initial research findings from the Illinois Schools to Watch Program. Research in Middle Level Education Online, 44(6), 1–15. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19404476.2021.1921678
Mertens, S., & Caskey, M. A new research agenda for middle level education. Middle School Journal 51.4 (2020): 5-8.
Mertens, S., Caskey, M., & Flowers, N. The need for large-scale, longitudinal empirical studies in middle level education research. Middle Grades Review 2.2 (2016): 1--11.
Latham, N., Mertens, S., & Hamann, K. A comparison of teacher preparation models and implications for teacher attrition: Evidence from a 14-year longitudinal study. NAPDS School-University Partnerships Journal 8.2 (2015): 79--89.
Hurd, E., & Mertens, S. Middle level education and the young adolescent. Syllabus 2.1 (2013): 1--12.

Magazine/Trade Publication

Mertens, S. No Dirt on this Dig. Archaeological Institute of America (2000)

Other

Mertens, S., Caskey, M., Bishop, P., Flowers, N., Strahan, D., Andrews, G., & Daniel, L. The MLER SIG research agenda (2016)
Mertens, S. A proposal for establishing a national middle level research project. White paper - Submitted to the Middle Level Education Research Special Interest Group (2006)
Mertens, S., Flowers, N., & Mulhall, P. The Middle Start Initiative, phase I: A longitudinal analysis of Michigan middle-level schools. Center for Prevention Research and Development, University of Illinois (1998)
Felner, R., Mertens, S., & Lipsitz, J. Assessment of middle grades education in Michigan: A report to the WK Kellogg Foundation's Middle Start Initiative. Center for Prevention Research and Development (University of Illinois) (1996)

Presentations

As he saw it: Honoring John H. Lounsbury’s contributions and vision. Association for Middle Level Education. Association for Middle Level Education. (2021)
Illinois Horizon Schools: Ongoing research from the Illinois’ Schools to Watch Program. American Educational Research Association. American Educational Research Association. (2021)
Illinois Schools to Watch: Principal perceptions of becoming an Illinois Horizon Schools to Watch. Association for Middle Level Education. (2021)
A longitudinal study of teacher workforce employment pathways and trends: Findings and potential implications for early childhood, elementary, middle level, and bilingual teachers and teacher preparers. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (2020)
Illinois Horizon Schools: Ongoing research from the Illinois’ Schools to Watch Program. Association for Middle Level Education. Association for Middle Level Education. (2020)
Illinois Horizon Schools: Research findings from Illinois’ Schools to Watch Program. Association for Middle Level Education. Association for Middle Level Education. (2019)
Research for practitioners: Using current research to support your middle grades practices. Association for Middle Level Education. Association for Middle Level Education. (2019)
Preparing middle level teachers for the classroom: Assessing preservice teacher candidates’ preparedness. American Educational Research Association. (2018)
Writing your stories: Strategies and tools to support your success. Association for Middle Level Education. (2018)
Characteristics of a middle level teacher preparation program: Results from an ongoing study. Association for Middle Level Education. Association for Middle Level Education. (2017)
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