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
Dean Vernon C. Polite, Dean Hartmuth Hoft [College of Arts and Sciences], Associate Dean Virginia Harder, Associate Dean Laura George [College of Arts and Sciences], Assistant Dean Shawn Quilter, and the following faculty members: Dr’s. David Anderson, Alane Starko, Deborah Harmon, Pat Pokay, and Mary Rearick, actively participated in the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) in San Diego, California last week. It was particularly noteworthy to have Dean Hartmut Hoft and Associate Dean Laura George participate in the conference this year, building upon the fine work begun last month on our campus when more than 160 faculty from the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences joined forces to embark upon the very serious issue of unit assessment at EMU.
The theme of this year’s AACTE conference was, “Creating New Vision for Teacher Education.” The newly elected president provided several inspirational addresses during the conference as did special notable scholars including Dr. Linda Darling Hammond, Dr. David Imig, and Marilyn Cochran-Smith. The AACTE provided wonderful opportunities to gain insights into the current trends, practices, and thoughts about assessment management presently occurring at other institutions that are similar in size and scope as EMU. The good news is that we are not alone in our struggle to make the best decisions for our students and faculty regarding a highly effective assessment system. The bad news is that we are woefully behind in our decision making process.
It is very clear from my conversations with other deans who went through NCATE in 2002-2003 that it is critically important that we make final decisions regarding a data management system immediately. We also need to fully consider and redefine the nexus between the dimensions of our conceptual framework and our assessments system. All professional education candidates must successfully complete the Performance-Based Assessment System, as well as specific major program requirements to be recommended for certification in the state of Michigan.
It is important to point out that EMU is one of the oldest affiliate member of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in the nation with more than 50 years of continuous accreditation. Our next accreditation visit is scheduled for 2009-2010 and the expectation is that we will demonstrate three years of aggregated data on the quality of our programs and candidates. This is a critical decision-making year for EMU.
LiveText
LiveText is a Web-based subscription that allows users to create and submit projects and assignments on-line. You may wish to visit the LiveText web site to learn more: <http://college.livetext.com>. It allows creation and long term storage of documents, electronic portfolios, and projects. Live Text allows faculty to assess students’ work and give students feedback on-line. It allows the College of Education and other units on campus to collect data for program evaluation and improvement.
Deans Polite, Hoft, and several administrators from both the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences met with the President of LiveText while in San Diego. The management is certainly capable of handling our assessment needs. LiveText is currently the management system of choice with more than 300 colleges and universities adopting its services across the nation. Our ICT unit has approved LiveText for our campus. The affected faculty from across the campus will have an opportunity for formal input and the adoption of LiveText for EMU. Dr. David Anderson along with Dr. Laura George and Dean Hartmut Hoft has provided essential leadership in the selection of the data management system.
Illinois State University
Dean Polite and members from EMU’s College of Education met with Dean Deborah Contis to begin discussing plans to establish a Great Lakes consortium of institutions focused on preparing teachers for the urban communities around the region. The consortium will build upon the Chicago Teacher Pipeline Program at Illinois State University and the MARS Program at the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University. Illinois State, Eastern Michigan University, and other collaborating institutions will submit a request for a federal earmark to establish the consortium.
College of Education/Michigan Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Reception
The College of Education continued a wonderful tradition of sponsoring a reception in conjunction with MACTE during the annual meeting in San Diego. The reception was a wonderful success with many deans, faculty, and students commenting on the quality of the reception. We certainly extend our appreciation to Ms. Karen Hansen for her efforts to make this year’s reception outstanding. Our special guests at this year’s reception were Dr. Arthur Wise, President of NCATE; Dr. Boyce Williams, Vice President of NCATE; and M. Christopher Brown, Vice President of AACTE, to name but a few.
Vernon C. Polite, Dean
FACULTY NOTES
Dr. Perry Francis, Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership & Counseling recently published two articles: 1) Freeman, S. J. & Francis, P. C. (2005). Casuistry: A Complement to Principle Ethics and a Foundation for Ethical Decisions. Manuscript submitted for publication. Counseling and Values, (50)2, 142-153; and 2) Francis, P. C. & Abbassi, A. (2005). Ethical Issues and Considerations for Working with Students with Severe and Persistent Mental Disorders on a College Campus. College Student Services Journal of Research & Practice, (2)2, 24-30. Dr. Perry has just returned from the Georgia College Counseling Associations annual conference where he presented the keynote ethics program: Ethical practice for religious/spiritual issues in counseling.
Dr. Elizabeth Johnson presented a professional development workshop entitled, “Using Non-Traditional Teaching and Assessment Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap and Increase Joy Quotient,” to the staff at McNair Middle School in Detroit. Dr. Johnson also facilitated a staff retreat and workshops for St. Joseph's Catholic School in Howell. The title of the retreat was, “Understanding by GOD's Design”. She co-facilitated a workshop with Mary Kathleen Walsh (EMU graduate) for the elementary student teaching professional development day. The title was, “We've Gotta Reach Em' to Teach.”
Dr. Pat Williams-Boyd recently presented at the Fourth Annual Meeting of International Conference on Education in Honolulu, “Schools as Agencies of Community Collaboration: Public Schools, Social Services and the Poor.”
Dr. Sue Grossman presented “Listening to What Children Do” at the Michigan Early Childhood Collaborative Conference in Dearborn, Michigan on January 27. She and Dr. Judy Williston, emerita professor of Teacher Education, presented “Reading Your C.A.T.S. Scan,” a workshop on supervision at the same conference.
Dr. John Palladinowas initiated into the International Academy of Educational Leaders last weekend at the group's annual meeting in San Antonio, TX. Dr. Palladino delivered a presentation titled, “The Role of Educational Leadership in Foster Care: Where is our Voice in Social Welfare?”
Dean Vernon C. Polite coordinated and presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE) a special symposium titled, “African American Males and Teacher Induction.” Three programs focused on preparing African American men for public schools were showcased: “Call Me Mister,” (Clemson University); “MEN--Men Equipped to Nurture,” (Bowie State University); and the “Groit Program,” (Marygrove College). Dr. James Earl Davis, Professor and Associate Dean at Temple University College of Education was the discussant.
Dr. Deborah Harmon, Dr. Michael Bretting and Dean Vernon C. Polite prepared and submitted a proposal for a federal earmark of $670,000 for the College of Education to support the MARS program.
Dean Vernon C. Polite developed and submitted an invited proposal to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation for the College of Education to host a statewide educational summit titled, “The State of the African American Male in Michigan: A Courageous Conversation.” If funded the summit will bring 200 policy makers, educators, and community leaders on the campus for a one-day summit to discuss a myriad of issues including health and welfare, early childhood education, special education, school, and community relations.
Dr. Suzanne Hobson, Department of Leadership & Counseling, was in Washington DC attending a bi-annual meeting of the American Counseling Association Council of Presidents and Region Chairs. She was elected chair-elect of ACA's Midwest Region.
Dr. Gary Marx, Department of Leadership & Counseling has been asked to provide consultation and support to three elementary schools in Pontiac and a charter school in Ferndale that are identified as “high priority” by the Michigan Department of Education. This work is funded by a Regional Assistance Title I grant awarded to Oakland Schools.
Dr. Ron Williamson, Department of Leadership & Counseling is in Phoenix this week attending the semi-annual meeting of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. He is a member of the Board of Directors and the immediate past-president. Dr. Ron Williamson also had a column on the transition of middle school to high school students selected for inclusion in the upcoming NASSP publication Breaking Ranks in the Middle. Dr. Williamson was recently appointed to the Editorial Review Board of Research in Middle Level Education Quarterly and The Journal of School Leadership.
HALL OF FAME
The Selection Committee has identified the following persons as this year’s inductees to the College of Education’s Hall of Fame:
Mr. Michael Flanagan—State Superintendent
Dr. Sam Yarger (deceased)—Outstanding educational leadership known for his work with PTA
Mr. Floyd Clack—EMU Board of Regents
Ms. Mary Lou Durbin—Public School teacher for 50 years
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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