Margo Pensavalle

  • Professor of Clinical Education Emeritus

Research Concentration

  • Teacher Education

Education

EdD, University of Southern California

Expertise

  • Elementary School • Special Education • Online Teaching
Margo  Pensavalle

Contact Information

Websites and Social Media

Bio

Dr. Margo Pensavalle is a Professor of Clinical Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. Areas of professional expertise include elementary education, special education and educational psychology. Other areas of interest include interdisciplinary problem-based learning, and beginning teacher collaboration. She is currently the course lead for the Human Difference course and the Contexts for Educational Equity, Access and Agency course in the MAT Program. These courses address factors influencing the teaching and learning dynamic in learning environments, related to race, culture, gender orientation, SES and ability, from a Socio-Cultural Theoretical Approach. She also guides Multiple Subject Teacher Candidates through the practicum experience.

Dr. Pensavalle is involved in innovation of pre-service education, having served on both design teams (2008, 2017) aimed at re-envisioning of the MAT Teacher Preparation Program for both on-campus and on-line formats. She is a faculty member in the TEMS Concentration (Teacher in a Multi-Cultural Society) of the Ed.D program, and has served as Chair of Faculty Council for the Rossier School of Education. In her former role as the Director of Evaluation and Accreditation she successfully co-chaired a joint state and national accreditation and USC Academic Program Reviews for Doctoral and Masters programs.

Dr. Pensavalle taught in both special needs and mainstream environments for 16 years and has been a Middle School Principal. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Boston University School of Education with dual majors in Elementary and Special Education and holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. Her Doctorate, from the University of Southern California, is in Curriculum, Teaching and Special Education