EIU Graduate School

EIU Graduate School's
Robert & Katherine Augustine Distinguished Master's Thesis Award Winner

Danielle Buechlein, a standout graduate from Eastern Illinois University’s School Psychology program, has been honored with the prestigious Robert & Kathryn Augustine Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award for the 2023-2024 academic year. This award, supported by former EIU Graduate School Dean Robert Augustine, Ph.D., and his spouse, Kathryn, an alumna of EIU's College of Education, recognizes exceptional achievement in research-based projects among EIU’s graduate students.

Ms. Buechlein’s thesis, titled “Assessing the Reliability of the Five in 20 Classroom Observation Tool (FCOT),” was lauded for its innovation and impact on education. Dr. Margaret Floress, Professor of Psychology and School Psychology Program Coordinator at EIU, praised Ms. Buechlein’s work in her recommendation letter supporting Danielle for this award: "These initial findings suggest the FCOT is a reliable tool that can be used to assess and support teachers’ classroom management.”

Danielle's work has garnered national recognition, with her thesis accepted for presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference in 2024, the largest gathering of school psychologists in the world. She will also co-present a second research project related to the FCOT at this event.

In her letter, Dr. Floress added, "Danielle is an impressive researcher who was involved in the development of the FCOT, co-presented initial FCOT findings, and furthered this line of research by assessing the reliability of the FCOT for her specialist thesis."

Danielle’s dedication to improving educational practices through evidence-based research highlights her remarkable contributions to the field of school psychology, and her receipt of this award is a testament to her academic excellence and commitment to advancing educational research.

Buechlein’s thesis is available for review in EIU Booth Library’s The Keep. (Assessing the Reliability of the Five in 20 Classroom Observation Tool (FCOT)