University of Montevallo officials recently awarded a university assistant professor the school’s Graduate Teaching Award.

Courtney Bentley, UM’s assistant professor of teacher and instructional leadership, earned the award after serving at the university since fall 2009.

Bentley earned degrees from Auburn University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the Columbia University Teachers’ College. She served 11 years in preschool-12th grade educational systems before coming to Montevallo.

Throughout her time in the education field, Bentley has published 15 works, has two more in progress and has given more than 30 presentations at regional, national and international conferences.

She is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies, the American Educational Research Association, Critical Issues in Curriculum and Cultural Studies, the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies, the National Association of Multicultural Education, the National Council for the Social Studies and the Phi Alpha Theta and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.