In Loving Memory of Professor Lee S. Shulman, a Cherished Friend of the Curriculum Institute

On December 30, 2024, the academic community lost a towering figure in the field of education: Professor Lee S. Shulman, a former president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and a dear friend of the Curriculum Institute, passed away at the age of 86. A distinguished professor emeritus at Stanford University, Shulman’s contributions to education have left an indelible mark on the field.

Shulman’s research and writings spanned a wide range of topics, including teaching and teacher education, Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), the psychology of teaching subjects like science, mathematics, and medicine, the logic of educational research, and the quality of teaching in higher education. He was a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as a Guggenheim Fellow. Among his many accolades were the E.L. Thorndike Award for Distinguished Contributions of Psychology to Education and the highest honor bestowed by AERA—the Distinguished Contributions to Education Award. In 2006, he received the prestigious Grawemeyer Award in Education, and in 2008, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Since 2013, Professor Shulman maintained a close partnership with the Curriculum Institute, collaborating on academic exchanges, talent development, and the dissemination of research findings. His frequent visits and unwavering support helped amplify the impact of China’s curriculum reform efforts, cementing his role as a cherished friend of the institute.

Reflections: Shulman’s Enduring Friendship with the Curriculum Institute

November 1, 2013: Shulman delivered a keynote address at the 11th Shanghai International Curriculum Forum, hosted by the Curriculum Institute, on the theme of school-based teacher professional development.

November 3, 2013: He was invited to give the 130th lecture in East China Normal University’s esteemed “Daxia Forum.”

November 4, 2013: Shulman presented a seminar for faculty and students at the Curriculum Institute, focusing on teacher professional development.

December 2014: Shulman’s seminal work, *Practical Wisdom: On Teaching, Learning, and Learning to Teach*, was published by East China Normal University Press, translated into Chinese under the leadership of Professor Wang Yanling. The book compiles Shulman’s classic papers and key contributions across four domains: teacher knowledge and professional reasoning, learning communities, teacher development and education, and educational research, offering a comprehensive overview of his intellectual evolution.

March 2018: Professors Cui Yunhuo and Chen Shuangye met with Shulman in Hong Kong to invite him to co-edit the Springer book series *Curriculum Reform and School Innovation in China* alongside Professor Cui. They engaged in deep discussions about the future direction of the series.

November 10–22, 2019: As part of an international academic week organized by the Curriculum Institute in collaboration with Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, Shulman shared insights on the theoretical, practical, and policy dimensions of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). This event marked the formal establishment of a graduate student exchange program between the two institutions, solidifying their academic partnership.

During her visit to Stanford, Professor Zhou Wenye interviewed Shulman on the topic of teacher evaluation. The resulting article, Evaluating Teachers: What to Assess and How—An Interview with Professor Lee Shulman of Stanford University*, was published in the December 2020 issue of Global Education Review.

The Curriculum Reform and School Innovation in China series, co-edited by Shulman and Cui Yunhuo, is the first of its kind to focus specifically on China’s curriculum reforms and innovations in education. Since the publication of its first volume in 2021, four volumes have been released, with more forthcoming. Through this series, Shulman’s legacy continues to inspire.