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Curriculum Vitae - Dr Ann Cheryl Armstrong



Experience overview

Ann Cheryl Armstrong PhD is Director of the Division of Professional Learning in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, at the University of Sydney.

A former primary school teacher, Ann Cheryl has worked in education and professional development for 23 years and has extensive experience as a teacher, teacher educator, research manager, project manager and programme leader. She has worked in countries throughout the Caribbean as well as in the UK and Australia.

Before emigrating to Sydney in February 2005, she was employed with the University of Sheffield, UK in the School of Education as Director of the Caribbean Distance Education Programme. In this role, she played a major part in establishing a programme of advanced teacher education by distance learning with pathways from post-graduate Certificate and Diploma, through to Masters and Doctoral levels.

This programme was built in partnership with Ministries of Education and NGOs in the region, and was founded upon the provision of specialist training in support of teachers working:

  • in support of special education, and
  • in key shortage areas such as guidance and counselling, educational management, education for employment, information technology, educational assessment and educational research.


Ann Cheryl was responsible for leading the teaching on the special and inclusive education modules for the programmes. This work included working with students on:

  • the analysis of special education policy (nationally, regionally and internationally)
  • the development of whole school approaches to meeting special education needs
  • intervention with children with challenging behaviours.


She has supervised over 80 MEd students through their dissertations in the field of Special and Inclusive education.

Ann Cheryl has held senior positions in two national World Bank projects and has acquired extensive experience in networking with government and non-government agencies for the provision of educational and social services and training.

She has presented at numerous national and international conferences and contributed on various committees and panels. At present she serves on:

  • The Faculty of Education and Social Work Management Committee
  • The Faculty of Education and Social Work Advisory Board
  • The University of Sydney Indigenous Education Advisory Committee
  • Sydney Region (Schools) Planning Group for Aboriginal Education and Training.


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Research interests

  • Professional development
  • Internationalisation
  • Futures education
  • Action research and action learning
  • Case study research
  • Study abroad
  • Special and inclusive education
  • Globalisation and post-colonial challenges.


Grant funding

2008

  • English Language Capacity Building in Mongolia Program
    AusAID. Collaboration with Lesley Harbon
    This enabled six senior English language teachers from Mongolia to build their capacity in English-language teaching for one month at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney. This is the first Mongolian Project supported under the Australian Leadership Award Fellowship.
  • Electronic Video-Annotation Project
    University of Sydney Teaching Improvement & Equipment Scheme. Collaboration with Peter Reimann, Wai Yat Wong and Pauline Howie

2007

  • Evaluation of the Professional Learning and Leadership Development Program
    DEST, Australia. Collaboration with Debra Hayes, Robyn Ewing and Judy Anderson
  • The development of a communication platform to enhance blended learning using IP based video-conferencing capabilities
    University of Sydney Teaching Improvement & Equipment Scheme. Collaboration with Marianne Hulsbosch and Janette Bobis

2001

  • "Special Education Policy Development and Implementation" in the 8 countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
    Department For International Development, UK. Collaboration with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in St Lucia (with Derrick Armstrong)


Publications in preparation

Armstrong, A.C, Armstrong, D. and Spandagou, I. (2008). Inclusive Education: International Policy and Practice. UK: Sage Publishing.


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