College of Education
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FROM THE DESK OF THE DEAN
Doing Research that Matters: The Lifeblood of our Professional Education Unit
There is considerable “chatter” on our campus centered upon the importance of research in an institution traditionally known as a “Teaching University.” I felt it important to share some of my thoughts on this issue.
As an institution with an established reputation for “doing research that matters,” it is my sincere hope that the research agenda will increasingly embrace research, both scholarly and creative activities, that cross existing boundaries between academic disciplines and departments within the Unit. The research will, hopefully, continue to aid the State and nation in addressing its economic, educational, political, and social exigencies. The Professional Educational Unit is already known especially for its institutional commitment of each member of its collegial and diverse faculty to extend educational opportunities and ensure documented and disseminated student learning and success, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. As the Dean of the College of Education, I view the Professional Education Unit as an environment replete with important opportunities, ideas, theoretical and methodical perspectives that are encouraged and welcomed.
I have been an active member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) since 1987. I have held a Presidential appointment (Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond) as a founding member of the AERA Social Justice Committee—a committee charged with ensuring the research perspectives and voices of African Americans, women and minorities included and respected within AERA. I have also served as the Book Review Editor of Education Researcher, the seminal journal of AERA. In the main, research is tremendously important to me. Research is one of the main reasons that I accepted an offer to work at EMU.
The importance of research within the Professional Education Unit at EMU was driven home to me this week while I attended the annual meeting of the AERA in San Francisco. The research and involvements of EMU scholars was diverse, essential, and often filled immense gaps in the knowledge bases. I believe all well-developed research matters, but I am particularly proud of the following examples of research and scholarly activities presented at AERA this week:
Dr. Charles Archilles, Chair
SIG (Special Interest Group)-State and Regional Educational Research AssociationsDr. William Douglas Baker, Presenter
Artists in the Making: Constructing and Displaying Disciplinary Principles and PracticesDr. Wendy Burke, Presenter
Bridging the divide and blurring the boundaries: Examining issues within small-scale school and university collaborationsDr. Joanne C. Cagnilia, Presenter
Teaching to the Test? Effects of No Child Left Behind Testing on the Pedagogy of Exceptional Mathematics TeachersDr. Sarah M. Ginsberg, Presenter
What Are Effective College Faculty Really Communicating to Their Students? Using Multiple Perspectives and Case Studies to Create a “Montage”Mr. John Lupinacci, Presenter
Revitalizing the Cultural Commons: Curriculum Reforms in the Face of Globalization, Weak Democracy, and Environmental DegradationDr. Jon Margerum-Leys, Chair
Staffing, Developing, and Retaining Teachers in Math and ScienceDr. Rebecca Martusewicz, Presenter
EcoJustice in the Detroit Commons: An Argument for the Reform of Curriculum in Teacher EducationDr. Russell Olwell, Presenter
Bridging the Divide and Blurring the Boundaries: Examining Issues Within Small Scale School and University CollaborationsDr. John Palladino, Presenter
Why Special-Education Research Should Care About Foster CareDr. Valerie Polakow, Discussant
(1) Lives of Children Under Provisional and/or Regulatory Regimes: Critical Perspectives on Early Childhood Education SIG Business Meeting(2) Framing Narratives of Inequality and Denied Access: Low-Income Mothers, Child Care, and Public Policy
Dr. Vernon C. Polite, Discussant
Organizational Design and Support for Urban School Success Toward Evidence-Based Assessment of DispositionsDr. Shawn Quilter, Chair
Examining Classroom Assessment PracticesDr. Ronald D. Williamson, Presenter
Renorming Teams: Enhancing Leadership to Strengthen Team FunctioningI believe these are wonderful examples of the impact we are having on the Academy. AERA is but one example where we are actively engaged in countless research communities associated with the various specialized professional associations aligned our Professional Education Unit. It is my hope that we will continue to make our voices heard where it truly matters!
FACULTY NOTES
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION: 2004-2005 Publications
Achilles, Charles M. (2005). Change the Damn Box. In C. S. Carr Educational Leadership: Knowing the Way, Showing the Way, Going the Way.
Choudhuri, Dibya (2005). Strategies for Building Multicultural Competence in Mental Health and Education Settings. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Williamson, Ronald (2005). History of the Research in Middle Level Education Special Interest Group. Portland, OR: AERA-Middle Level SIG
Zamani-Gallaher, Eboni M. (2006). African American Student Affairs Professionals in Community College Settings: A Commentary for Future Research (reprint), In B. Townsend (Ed.) ASHE Reader on Community Colleges. Boston, MA: Pearson
Zamani-Gallaher, Eboni M. (2006). Proprietary Schools: Beyond the Issue of Profit. New Directions for Institutional Research 124, 63-79.
Smith, Phil (2004). The Big Problem with Change. In Postcritical Ethnography: Reinscribing Critique. Hampton Press, Cresskill, NJ
Orr, Ann C. (2004). One Dozen “Can’t Live Without” Software Titles for Special Educators. Children’s Software & New Media Revue 12(3) 30-32.
Orr, Ann C. (2004). Professional Development for Teachers – Just a Click Away. Children’s Software & New Media Revue 12(4) 18-19.
Parks, Loreena (2005). Summertime and Our Children Still Learn. Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan OUTLOOK 36(4) http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/articles/Parks5-05.htm
Schulte, Karen (2004). Professional Development: The Heart of Change Network News: Newsletter of the Minority Student Achievement Network 16, 1-2.
Stevens, Lizbeth J. (2004). Teacher Certification: Questions and Answers. Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association et cetera 27(4), 2-5.
Samonte, Jr., Quirco S. (2004). At the Table with the Family. Livonia, MI: First Page Publications
Margerum-Leys, Jon & Marx, R. W. (2004). The Nature and Sharing of Teacher Knowledge of Technology in a Student Teacher/Mentor Teacher Pair. Journal of Teacher Education 55(5), 421-437.
Margerum-Leys, Jon M, Fishman, B., & Peek-Brown, D. (2004). Lab Partners. Journal of Staff Development 25(4), 38-42.
Maylone, Nelson (2006) Contributing Author. Curriculum planning: A Contemporary Approach. Boston: Pearson
Polakow, Valerie, Kahn, P., Butler, S., & Deprez, L. (Eds.) (2004). Shut out: Low Income Mothers and Higher Education in Post-Welfare America. Albany, NY: SUNY Press
Kahn, P., & Polakow, Valerie (2004). That’s Not How I Want to Live: Single Mothers Fight to Stay in School under Michigan’s Welfare-to-Work Regime. Shut out: Low Income Mothers and Higher Education in Post-Welfare America. Albany, NY: SUNY Press
Harmon, D.A. & Stokes Jones, Toni (2005). Elementary Education – A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC Clio
Hart, Margaret A. (2005). Creating Learning Environments that Invite All Students to Learn Through Multicultural Literature and Information Technology. Childhood Education 81, 87-94.
Grossman, Sue (2005). Introduction to Annual Theme Issue. Childhood Education 81(5), 254-255.
Bottini, M. & Grossman, Sue (2005). Center-Based Teaching and Children’s Learning: The Effects of Learning Centers on Young Children’s Growth and Development. Childhood Education 81(5) 274 – 277
Williston, J. (2005). From Dream to Reality: Today’s Teachers Preparing for Future Schools. Childhood Education 81(5), 286-291.
Elizabeth Broughton, L & C, Susan Grossman and Karen Paciorek . T. Ed., for winning Faculty Appreciation Awards. They were presented with their awards at the Salute to Excellence Breakfast at the 25th Annual Gold Medallion Awards (Division of Student Affairs.)
Karen Schulte and Loreena Parks presented “Developing Self-Advocacy Skills in Students with High-Incidence Disabilities: A Home/School Partnership” at the Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 8th.
The following faculty have received sabbatical leaves for the 06-07 Academic year.
Dr. Ellen S. Hoffman one semester
Dr. Margaret A. Moore-Hart one semester
Dr. Rebecca A. Martusewicz two semesters
Faculty award winners are released from their normal teaching schedule in order to apply themselves to a carefully planned research or creative project up to $2,000.00
Dr. J. Joe Bishop reviewed the following book:The Universe of the Qur’an by Enes Kari?a
Dr. John Palladino received a $2,000 Ethics Research Award from our Merlanti Ethics initiative. There are two new awards in the College of Business (COB), one for a COB faculty member and one from outside the COB. A committee in the Philosophy department conducted the external award process and selected John’s proposal from those submitted.
Dr.Elizabeth Broughton was honored at the Founder’s Day Salute to Excellence Breakfast on Thursday, March 30, 2006. She received one of the prestigious Faculty Appreciation Awards from the Division of Student Affairs.
The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) just released their report on middle school reform, “Breaking Ranks in the Middle”. Included was an “expert essay” by Dr. Ron Williamson, “Never Too Soon to Prepare for their Successful Departure”. The essay addressed the transition of students from middle school to high school.
Dr. Charles Achilles and Christopher Tienken’s article “Making class size work in the middle grades,” was published in the Winter 2005-Spring 2006 American Association of School Administrator’s (AASA) Journal of Scholarship & Practice.
Dr. Helen Ditzhazy was honored at a community ceremony on March 11, 2006 at Novi Community Schools. She was recognized for her past dedication to the schools and the integral role she planned in the community.
Drs. William Price, James Berry, Gary Marx, and Jaclynn Tracy, Department of Leadership and Counseling represented Eastern Michigan University at the Michigan Association of Professors of Educational Administration(MAPEA) meeting in Lansing on Thursday, March 23, 2006. The featured guests for this bi-annual meeting were Barbara Markle, of the Michigan Education Alliance, and Cheryl Poole, Michigan Department of Education Consultant for Principal Licensure.
Dr. Elizabeth Broughton presented at the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) on Tuesday, March 22nd. The title of the presentation was, “Student Affairs Professionals and Grant Writing Activity.” She also facilitated a seminar for undergraduates interested in master’s degree programs in student affairs and higher education. Professor Eboni Zamani-Gallaher, Department of Leadership & Counseling, also presented at this conference. Her session was titled, “Professional and Personal Wellness: Policies Effecting Work/Family Balance.”
STUDENT NOTES
Department of Leadership & Counseling students, Tamara Stevenson (faculty sponsor Dr. Ella Burton) and Kathy Morris (faculty sponsor Dr. Dibya Choudhuri) won George Brower Scholarships for COE presentations at the 8th Annual Graduate Research Fair on Monday, March 27th. Ms. Stevenson’s presentation was titled, “Person, Position, Performance: Multiple Dimensions of the Female Leader.” Ms. Morris’ poster was titled, “Positively Me: Building Self-Esteem Counseling Groups Grades 6-9”.
Ms. Kristen Arnold, Department of Leadership & Counseling student affairs master’s degree student won the American College Personnel Association(ACPA) Case Study championship at this year’s annual convention
The following Counseling Program master’s students; Mike Beardslee,Jules Cobb, Amanda Fraser and Jennifer Keller have been selected to receive Michael J. Lewis stipend awards for the Wayne State/Hawthorn Center workshop, “Treating Children and Youth with Explosive Behavior Disorders”.
The Department of Special Education is pleased and proud to announce that Ms. Melissa “Missy” Heuker was the recipient of the Ron Collins Award for Excellence in Research as a Graduate Assistant at the Graduate Research Fair dinner on Monday evening. It was a surprise for everyone! John Palladino and I nominated Ms. Heuker for the award and she was supported by several other faculty members in the department. Ms. Heuker and John Palladino were both in attendance at the dinner on Monday evening and the announcement of the award was a proud moment for each of them.
Ms. Heuker has served as the Lead Graduate Assistant in our department for the past two years. This year she serves as John Palladino’s Research Assistant, supported through a graduate school award and a grant award. Ms. Heuker is a Brehm Scholar and is also the 2005-06 recipient of the Leah D. Adams Graduate Research Scholarship award.
Ms. Heuker’s current research focuses on the delineation of best practices for students with disabilities in inclusive settings. She has presented the preliminary findings of her research at the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children conference earlier this month. She presented her research findings at the National Council for Exceptional Children conference in Salt Lake City which began on April 5th.
Unless my memory is incorrect, I believe that Ms. Heuker is the first Graduate Assistant in the College of Education to receive this prestigious award. We’re VERY proud!
Ms. Marliese Temme, Graduate Student and Graduate Assistant in the Department of Special Education, has been named to a position on the Michigan Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) Executive Board. Her new position with this organization is Children’s Action Network (CAN) representative. One of her responsibilities is to travel to Washington, D.C. for a week-long legislative experience where she will become current with legislative actions regarding special education. While in Washington, D.C., she will immediately apply her new knowledge and skills as she serves as part of a congressional lobbying group. Additionally, Ms. Temme will be responsible for organizing two meetings of all SCEC local Executive Boards across the state of Michigan, and she will be responsible for organizing and managing the student components of the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children Conference.
ALUMNI NEWS
Michael Johnson, former College of Education John Porter Scholar (2004-2005), MARS student, and currently an Ann Arbor MARS teacher, was selected to receive the Celebration of Excellence Award which focuses on excellence both inside and outside the classroom from Ann Arbor Public School District. This is the first time a first year teacher has been awarded this honor. Michael Johnson graduated from EMU with an elementary education degree in 2004
Tom Pachera, who holds a master’s degree in technology and design from EMU and who is a technology education teacher at Forsythe Middle School in Ann Arbor, has recently received the Michigan Teacher Excellence Award (middle/junior high level) from the International Technology Education Association.
Garvin Smith, 69, is being honored for 50 years of service to the Superior Township Fire Department, where he is now chief. However, for many of those 50 years, he had a second career. He was a bricklayer for a while, then finished college and, in 1966 became an elementary physical education teacher in the South Lyon schools. He held a number of increasingly important positions in that district, culminating as principal of South Lyon High School. He then taught a few more years before retiring from the district in 1994.
COLLEGE WIDE NEWS
Jerry Robbins was in the Washington, D.C. area March 19-21, attending the second set of sessions as an invited member of the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development/NCATE Teacher Education Research Roundtable. Meetings were held at the National Institutes of Health. The purpose of the Roundtable was to review the “state of the art” of child and adolescent development research, to consider which portions of this knowledge were critical for various educational professionals to know, and to assist NCATE in determining what, if any, changes needed to be made in NCATE and SPA standards to reflect current knowledge.
The State Board of Education (SBE) adopted an eight-point educational technology plan designed to prepare Michigan students to become productive citizens in a global economy. The eight objectives are leadership, digital citizenship, student learning, data-driven decisions, professional learning, broadband access, shared resources and funding.
The item presented to the SBE is available on the web: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Item_U_151905_7.pdf
The State Board recently considered an item prepared by the Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services regarding school seclusion and restraint policies. See: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Item_A_151900_7.pdf
The policy under consideration focuses on “Positive Behavior and Support” and would impact all students, not just those enrolled in special education programs. Special emphasis is placed on training teachers how to recognize children with potential behavior problems and to develop appropriate response skills. Concepts of seclusion and restraint would be included in teacher preparation programs.
IN MEMORIAM
George Brower passed away on March 31, 2006. George was a long time professor and department head in the Department of Leadership and Counseling. In fact, he was that department’s first department head. He retired in 1983, but had continued to remain in University activities, including an enthusiastic sports fan of Eastern’s. He is also remembered for his “green thumb” and his booth at the freight house where he sold his home grown garden produce for many years. You rarely saw George without his beloved wife Betty.
George has been ill for the last few years and was unable to continue with his Eastern activities or his coffee group association. A memorial service was held for George on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ypsilanti at 2 p.m.
Michael Popson, 68, long-time biology teacher, athletic coach, and athletic director at Brother Rice High School in Birmingham, died recently. His masters degree was from EMU. He retired in 2003.
HALL OF FAME
The Selection Committee 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 leader 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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