Faculty member publishes textbook for teaching at-risk students

June 11, 2026-Dr Benedict Adams, associate professor of education at Missouri Western State University, has published a textbook to help educators prepare to teach at-risk students.

"Pedagogy for a Successful Multicultural Classroom. A Sociocultural-Based Method for Teaching and Reaching At-Risk Students" was published earlier this year by Peter Lang International Academic Publishers.

"The book serves as a sociocultural-based method for both graduate and undergraduate students, providing practical frameworks that will be beneficial throughout their teaching careers," said Dr. Eric C. Sheffield, Western Illinois University. "One of the pressing issues in academia is classroom management. This book addresses this topic directly, offering practical tools and strategies for both experienced and novice teachers to effectively manage classrooms with at-risk students from diverse backgrounds."

Dr. Adams has been at MoWest since 2019. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Suffield University in Idaho, and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Indiana University.

Dr Adams was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Certificate of Excellence from Indiana University in 2014. In 2024, he received the Certificate of Outstanding Teacher Educator from Missouri Western State University and in 2025, he received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award for Exceptional Teaching Skills and Service to Students and the Community.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.