College of Education
Previous issues of Monday Report are at http://www.emich.edu/coe/monday. Send items and comments to vpolite@emich.edu.
FROM THE DESK OF THE DEAN
When reflecting upon all the wonderful people, activities, and projects which made the fall opening of the College so highly successful, I am reminded of the simple, yet poignant, words of a young teacher who became the first “ordinary American” to travel in space, Christa McAuliffe. When queried her life as a highly effective teacher, Christa simply said, “I touch the future…I teach!” There were several opportunities for our faculty and staff in the COE to ‘touch the future’ in meaningful ways during the past several weeks: International student recruitment, the AACTE Wingspread Conference, the Backpack Project, and preparation to request a federal earmark for the COE.
It was a delight to work with EMU’s Enrollment Services in an effort to recruit international students for the COE. I personally visited with Ministry of Education staff representing the embassies of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has committed $1,000.000 per year to EMU in form of scholarships for high achieving students. Additionally, the Saudi Government has requested a proposal to prepare teachers at our COE. More important, however, than the financial benefits that we stand to realize, is the opportunity to prep the next generation of educators in the Middle East. Several faulty and staff have expressed an interest in joining this exciting endeavor.
It was equally meaningful to represent the College of Education at the Wingspread Conference (Racine WN) focused on “Language, Curriculum, and Community in Teacher Preparation.” The conference was sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education(AACTE), Lumina Foundation, the National Education Association, and the Johnson Foundation. This conference built on the results of a 2003 conference that recommended how to address the needs of increasing numbers of linguistically, culturally, and racially diverse students in public schools. This second conference focused on English language learners, which include immigrant, refugee, minority, and deaf students. The sponsors invited 37 educators to the policy think tank. The recommendations and policies which emerge from the conference will be made available for you.
In response to the Hurricanes in the Gulf, we have collected more than 2600 stuffed backpacks. These have come from all over the country (Palo Alto, CA; San Diego; Long Island) as well as all over the state. Schools and individuals continue to call and ask to join the partnership. We are now shifting our attention to meeting the needs of families by providing “Family Backpack.” $6000 has been donated, as well, and we are in the process of thinking about fund-raisers. Time is of the essence. Please visit our web site http://www.emich.edu/katrinarelief/projectbackpack to determine how you might best join our efforts to bring relief to those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Finally, the College of Education is preparing a proposal to be submitted to the Office of University Relations requesting a federal earmark to collaborate with Illinois State University to establish a Great Lakes Teacher Pipeline initiative that will expand current partnership activities to further develop a Pipeline Program in Flint (MI) to (1) increase teacher recruitment for urban and improvised communities, and (2) improve urban teacher retention through mentoring and support programs.
FACULTY NOTES
Dr. Ella M. Burton, Department of Leadership and Counseling, worked with the School Improvement Team from Country Elementary School in the Pinckney School District last month. She facilitated the development of a professional development action plan that will support increased student achievement through quality in-service teacher development for the 2005-2006 school year. This is the third year that Dr. Burton has been invited to serve this district.
Dr. Elizabeth Broughton, Department of Leadership and Counseling, will attend and present at the U.S. Department of Education’s 19th Annual National Meeting on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention in Higher Education on October 3rd. She is co-presenter for the program entitled “Content Analysis of 30 Years of Evidence-Based Research on College Drinking”.
Dr. James Barott, Dr. Ron Williamson, Dr. Elizabeth Broughton and Dr. Jackie Tracy presented an information session at Grand Valley State University on the EMU/GVSU cooperative doctoral program on Thursday, September 29, 2005.
Dr. Choudhuri has expressed an interest in providing some form of counseling to students affected by the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Region. Please direct/include further information regarding this possible opportunity to Dr. Choudhuri and Dr. Francis in the Counseling Clinic.
Drs. Wendy Burke, Rob Carpenter, and Russ Olwell are working with Ypsilanti schools towards applying for a striving reader federal grant, in partnership with 8 other institutions. The aim is to help kids reading at 2+ years below grade level at the secondary level. The funding level is high (avg $3 million/year for up to 5 years)
Drs. Lori Parks and Karen Schulte from the Special Education Department were elected co-chairs of the Advanced Programs Committee for this academic year.
Thomas Gwaltney, professor, teacher education, retired August 31, 2005 following 41 years of service to EMU, was granted emeritus status.
STAFF NOTES
Merri McClure, clerical secretary, College of Education, retired February 1, 2003 following 34 years of service to the University was granted emeritus status.
Brian Filipiak replaced Val Hughes as the COE's web master. Web site requests may now be directed to Brian at: bfilipiak@emich.edu.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Graduate and work study students in the Office of Urban Education and Educational Equity participated in the Homecoming Decorating Contest by decorating the office and door. A team of judges arrived around 2:30 pm on Wednesday to judge the students' creativity and hard work. There were 28 entries in all and the Office of Urban Education and Educational Equity was the only entry from the College of Education.
ALUMNI NEWS
Gail Bohner, B.S. Art Education and instructor at EMU, was selected as the Michigan Art Education Teacher of the Year for 2006.
SPONSORED RESEARCH
Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) Sponsor: Directorate for Education and Human Resources/NSF
SYNOPSIS: The sponsor provides funding to increase participation and achievement of persons with disabilities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. Deadline(s):01/16/2006.
Contact:
Ted A. Conway, Ph.D.
Program Director
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 815N
Arlington, VA 22230E-mail: tconway@nsf.gov
Program URL: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05623/nsf05623.htmDEADLINE NOTE: Optional letters of intent are due January 16, 2006. Full proposals are due February 13, 2006. Funding Limit: $3,000,000. Duration: 5 YEAR(s)
COLLEGE-WIDE NEWS
Jerry Robbins represented EMU at recent retirement ceremonies for David Hamilton, former dean of the School of Education at Spring Arbor University.
John W. Porter Distinguished Chair in Urban Education(2005-2006) Speaker Series
The John W. Porter Distinguished Chair in Urban Education is named in honor of former EMU President and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, John W. Porter. It is the first endowed chair in the College of Education. The John W. Porter Chair was largely funded by the C.S. Mott Foundation and the MacGregor Foundation. These generous contributions are to be used for the purpose of naming a renowned scholar(s) in urban education who will provide innovative leadership to Eastern Michigan University in this field. The Chair is designed to actively expand the University’s role in urban school districts in Michigan, with an emphasis on school-community relations.
Previous Chair Holders
Selected Chairs have a demonstrated expertise in urban education, are senior scholars/practitioners, have demonstrated experience in urban education, and relate closely to the unique aspects of urban school districts. Previous Chair holders include:
1999-2001 James Comer, M.D., M.P.H.: Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine’s Child Study Center
2001-2002 Lisa Delpit, Ph.D.: Executive Director/Eminent Scholar, the Center for Urban Education and Innovation Florida International University.
2002-2003 Nel Noddings, Ph.D.: Professor of Philosophy and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
2003-2005 Joyce Epstein, Ph.D.: Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships; Joint/Part-time appointment as Professor of Sociology, Johns Hopkins University
2005-2006 Format
Instead of naming one scholar for the 2005-2006 academic year, a new structure was configured to provide opportunities for EMU faculty, students, and staff to interact with a variety of scholars through a “Speaker Series” format. Each department within the College of Education (along with the Health and Physical Education programs within the School of Health Promotion and Human Performance, which is closely involved with the preparation of teacher educators) nominated and selected a scholar(s) to participate in this year’s Speaker Series. They are as follows:
Dr. Donna Ford: Professor of Special Education, Ohio State University. October 27-28
Dr. Joycelyn Elders: Former US Surgeon General: Distinguished Professor of Public Health, University of Arkansas. November 3
Dr. Gary Orfield: Professor of Education and Social Policy; Director of the Civil Rights Project, Harvard University. November 26-27
Dr. James Earl Davis: Assoc. Professor, Department of Education Leadership and Policy Studies, Temple University. January 26-27
The College of Health and Human Services and McKenny Union/Campus Life Diversity Programs are also serving as sponsors for the former US Surgeon General’s visit to our campus.
For more information about the John W. Porter Distinguished Chair in Urban Education, contact Dr. Jaclynn Tracy, Chair; COE JWPorter Distinguished Chair Committee jtracy@emich.edu.
The COE extends heartfelt gratitude to all those persons who have and continue to support the Backpack Project. This willingness to serve the needs of those who live at the margins of society is truly an American specialty. Particular acknowledgement is extended to our team leadership Dr. Patricia Williams-Boyd, Dr. Don Bennion, Ms. Sylvia Bethea, Dr. Michael Bretting, Dr. Nancy Copeland, Dr. Christina Jose-Kampfner, Dr. Linda Lewis White, Dr. Ethan Lowenstein, Dr. Marina McCormack, Dr. Vernon Polite, Ms. Jean Rauch, Ms. Susan Rink, Dr. Lynne Rocklage, Ms. Sally Rosales, Dr. Pamela Smith, and Dr. Jackie Tracy.
IN MEMORIAM
COE alumni Charles Oxley, 88, died recently. He taught physical education in two area school districts before going to Highland Park as the city's assistant director of recreation. He then served from 1963 until his retirement in 1978 as the head of Ann Arbor's Recreation Department. Ann Arbor's recreation programming grew tremendously under his leadership, both in terms of activities offered and in numbers of participants.
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)
Previous Report | EMU College of Education Home Page | Index