College of Education
Previous issues of Monday Report are at http://www.emich.edu/coe/monday. Send items and comments to jerry.robbins@emich.edu.
ALUM HEIDI CAPRARO NAMED STATE "TEACHER OF THE YEAR"
Heidi Capraro '89, '94, a sixth-grade science teacher at Hillside Middle School in the Northville School District, last Monday was named the 2004-2005 state "Teacher of the Year." Capraro, a 14-year employee of her district, is the president-elect of the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association. She received the 2002 National Presidential Excellence in Science Teaching Award.
The announcement was made in surprise ceremonies in Northville by State Superintendent Tom Watkins and the chair and secretary of the State Board of Education, Kathleen Straus and Carolyn Curtin, respectively. During the 2004-2005 school year, Capraro will work for the Michigan Department of Education, touring the state on behalf of teachers. She is now eligible for consideration for the national "Teacher of the Year" award.
Teacher of the Year state finalists are selected by a committee that reviews applications from teachers throughout Michigan. Applicants submit biographies and written essays that describe educational history, professional development activities, philosophy of teaching, and thoughts on emerging education trends and issues.
Among the previous EMU alums who have received the state "Teacher of the Year" award are Sue Szczepanski (1996-97) of Marquette and Thomas Fleming (1991-92) of Ann Arbor. Fleming went on to receive the 1992 National Teacher of the Year award and afterwards served on the EMU staff.
Others include Andrea Rochelle Willis (1988-89) of Warren, Edward Manning (1987-88) of the Lincoln schools, and Marvelle Vannest (1983-84) of Kalkaska.
MARCEAU HONORED AS STATE "STUDENT TEACHER OF THE YEAR"
In statewide ceremonies held on May 10 at Eagle Crest, Jonathan Marceau was honored as the "Outstanding Student/Intern Teacher of the Year," a competition sponsored by the Michigan Association of Teacher Educators. Marceau received a cash award, along with certificates.
Others recognized during the ceremonies were semifinalist Kelli Willis, and honorable mentions Bobbi Devault, Tammy Dominick, Jason Helms, Grace Landon, Pamela Simpson, and Kimberly Wayburn. Of the 24 students recognized, eight were from EMU.
FACULTY AND STAFF NOTES
Earlier this month Ron Williamson was in Stamford, CT participating in the Principals' Partnership Lead Team meeting. Williamson is the lead external evaluation for the project, which is sponsored by the Union Pacific Foundation. As part of the project, Williamson has recently visited high schools in Chicago, New Trier (IL), and Trout Creek (UT).
Williamson was in Louisville, KY earlier this month, attending the Middle Grades Advisory Board meeting of the Different Ways of Knowing Comprehensive School Reform model.
Nelson Maylone recently testified before the State Board of Education and before the Senate Education Committee. Both sessions dealt with a proposal to replace the high school MEAP tests with the ACT.
Jerry Robbins represented EMU at an open house celebrating the new facilities of the UM-D School of Education.
Brian Filipiak is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for a seat on the Ypsilanti City Council.
The Department of Special Education sponsored a retirement celebration last Thursday night honoring Roberta Anderson, George Barach, Michael Beebe, Joe Coyner, Nancy Halmhuber, Nora Martin, Gary Navarre, and Kathleen Quinn. A number of former faculty members and a large crowd of friends were in attendance.
Service anniversaries: Nancy Halmhuber has just celebrated 25 years at EMU and Charles Achilles has celebrated 10.
The May 11 issue of "Focus EMU" mentioned the top four programs (all of them in COE) offered at EMU-Brighton and Cristina Jose-Kampfner's sabbatical award. Of 13 "people" items, eight were COE faculty members (Valerie Polakow, Nora Martin, Vic Chiasson, Ron Williamson, Ian Haslam, Leah Adams [emeritus]), student (Madonna Emond), or alum (Jeffrey Bradley).
ALUMNI NOTES
Sponsored by the Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Foundation, in collaboration with Phi Delta Kappa, the Wal-Mart "Teacher of the Year" program honors local winners with a $1000 grant, payable to the school, for an educational program of the teacher's choosing.
EMU alums in Michigan schools who have received the 2004 Wal-Mart "Teacher of the Year" award include:
Ronda Brodsky '95, Lakeland High School, Huron Valley; Robert Lapointe '69, '85, Belleville High School; Karen Malett-Grozenski '89, Allen Park High School; and Amy Nemeth '75, Old Village School, Northville.
STUDENT NOTES
Lorri McDonald will defend her dissertation "Education in the Media: Its Impact on Teacher Self-Efficacy and Retention" on May 19 at 2:00 p.m. in Porter 301 B/C. David Anderson is the chair. The public is invited.
Michael Johnson, a post-bac student in elementary education, was the 1998 winner of the Ann Arbor News "Young Citizen of the Year."
The 2004 honor graduates of local-area high schools who have expressed intention of coming to EMU to become teachers include: Lindsay Sarin, Belleville High School (secondary English or history); Alicia Chavez, Canton High School (elementary); Rosemary Sondeen, Manchester High School (elementary or special education); Stephanie Perry, Milan High School (physical education);
Sara Amerman, Saline High School (elementary); Stephanie Schultz, South Lyon High School (early childhood); Ann Armbruster, Washtenaw Technical Middle College (elementary, music); Erika Meier, Washtenaw Technical Middle College (secondary); and Jeanette Green, Ypsilanti High School (elementary). Green was recently named by the Ann Arbor News as a "student of the week."
SPONSORED PROJECTS
As of the end of April, awards to COE faculty and staff for sponsored projects during the fiscal year had reached $1,955,198. This is 64% ahead of the same time last year and one of the largest amounts ever for the COE at the end of 10 months. This represents 14 awards, also up from the same time last year. Proposals in the amount of $15,594,372 have been submitted, an amount requested that is also higher than for the same time last year.
COE COUNCIL MEETING
The COE Council met on May 12 with Martha Kinney-Sedgwick, chair, presiding. The first hour was devoted to participating in a two-way video conference with three persons from Central Michigan University, in a conversation about the governance-of-professional-education system that has been in place at CMU for approximately the last two years.
During the business meeting, David Anderson and John Tonkovich were elected to the EMU Continuing Education Advisory Council.
Upon recommendation of the Basic Programs Committee, a revision in the description for ECE 314 was endorsed. Upon recommendation of the Advanced Programs Committee, a graduate certificate in educational assessment was endorsed, including four new graduate courses (EDPS 626, 627, 628, 629) and a revision of EDPS 667. A package of course changes in Leadership and Counseling was endorsed, including various number, title, and description changes to EDLD 640 and 840 and COUN 689, 692, 694, and 696. New course EDLD 714 Data-Driven Decision Management for Educational Leaders was endorsed, as was a small revision in the Ed.D. program.
Upon recommendation of the Professional and Affiliated Programs Committee, the COE Council endorsed the following new courses: NURS 110 Introduction to Professional Nursing; DTC 101 Fundamentals of Personal Nutrition; INDT 408 Telephone Technology; GERT 466 and GERT 566 Edna Gates Conference: Seminar on Dementia Care; SWRK 643 Families in the Social Environment; HRM 420 and HRM 521 Quality Service Management; HRM 475 and HRM 629 International Hospitality Management; HRM 639 Contemporary Issues in Hospitality Strategy; LEGL 414 Legal Assistance Center Clinical Experience; and CNST 436 Heavy/Highway Construction. In addition, revisions in the B.S. degree in Legal Assistant (Paralegal) Studies were endorsed.
The Council adopted an amendment to the current COE governing document to be presented to the faculty for a vote. The proposed amendment would create and structure a standing committee on "diversity."
A number of reports were received. The next meeting will be on May 19 for a two-way video conversation with personnel from Western Michigan University about governance.
SHORT NOTES
Nominations for various awards made by the Association of Teacher Education are due at times over the next few months, with the first being on June 1. See the "Opportunities and Events" calendar for additional information.
"Institutional Values" award nominations are due by June 30. See www.emich.edu/iva/ .
The COE Fall Conference will be held on August 31, in the usual format with a large-group session in the morning, lunch, and department meetings in the afternoon. All sessions will be held in the Porter Building, as appropriate space is not available at Eagle Crest.
On September 14, there will be a career retirement reception honoring Jerry Robbins, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Eagle Crest Clubhouse. All COE faculty and staff members are invited.
CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE
At the recent COE Celebration of Excellence, the following persons were recognized:
Phi Delta Kappa Officers: President, Cyntha Williams-Lanier; Vice President, Membership, Elizabeth Clardy; Vice President, Programs, Usenime Akpanudo; Treasurer and Delegate, Mary Anne Homann; Secretary, Michelle Trip; Historian, Mark Sharp; Foundation representative, Ron Saunders; Editor, Newsletter, Laura Wallace; and Advisors, Irene Allen and Helen Ditzhazy.
Resource Development Board: C. Lynn Babcock, Rosella Bannister, Thomas Fleming, Bert Greene, Robbie Johnson, Clyde LeTarte, Art McCafferty, Bill Miller, Jack Minzey, Bill Morris, Keith Peters, Scott Westerman.
Members of the Celebration of Excellence Committee were Sylvia Bethea, Ron Callison, Tiffany Cogdell, Carl Isaacs, Win Martin, Joan Quinlan, Susan Rink, Heather Shelton.
OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
(For a complete list, see http://www.emich.edu/coe/newhome/opportunities.html)
May 18-Advanced Programs Committee meeting, 3:30 p.m., Porter 301B.
May 19-COE Council meeting, 2:00 p.m., Room 205A.
May 20-"Coffee with the Dean," 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Porter 3rd floor faculty/staff lounge. No agenda. Faculty, staff, students invited.
May 26-COE Council meeting, 2:00 p.m., Porter 301B. (Probably canceled.)
May 27-29-SEAMEO-UNESCO Education Congress, Bangkok. For information, piyapa@seameo.org.
August 31-COE Fall Conference, all day; Porter Building; includes lunch
September 14-Retirement reception for Jerry Robbins, 4-6 p.m., Eagle Crest Clubhouse.
CALLS FOR PAPERS/PROPOSALS
(For a complete list, see http://www.emich.edu/coe/newhome/proposals.html)
May 28-Council of Great City Schools Urban Impact Award applications due. For information, http://www.cgcs.org or sschwartz@cgcs.org.
THEME STATEMENTS
Caring professional educators for a diverse and democratic society. (CPED2S) (Initial program)
Inquiry, advocacy, and leadership in education for diverse and democratic society. (Advanced programs)
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