School of Education faculty and students traveling to Nicaragua to train educators
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| Cheryl Kerison |
Two education professors will lead five students on a spring break trip to Leon, Nicaragua, where they will share their expertise with educators from two rural school districts.
Led by Cheryl Kerison, assistant professor of education, this trip, now in its fifth year, gives students and professors the opportunity to participate in a week-long professional development conference for elementary and secondary school teachers in Nicaragua. Sixty-seven teachers and seven educational supervisors are expected to attend.
"I hope the education students appreciate that the responsibility for educating children is a universal one and that they see the Nicaraguan teachers as their colleagues in fulfilling this extremely important mission," Kerison said.
The theme of this year's conference is "The Educator: Teacher, Learner, Leader: Using Best Practices to Increase Student Achievement." Professor Kerison said she will demonstrate specific strategies that the Nicaraguan teachers can use in their classrooms to increase student engagement and maximize student learning. The education students will present workshops pertaining to specific instructional strategies that teachers can use in mathematics, science and language arts.
The students have created lesson plans to present in Nicaragua. Lin Napolitano, an adjunct professor in the School of Education, also is making the trip, which will take place the week of March 7-13. Students will have an opportunity to learn how Nicaraguan teachers use minimal materials in creative teachers' methods. The Quinnipiac contingent will provide the teachers with professional development and supplies.
The conference will be held at the Alianza Americana in Leon, a school for students learning English. The director of Alianza Americana has a partnership with the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac, which has enabled Kerison to use the site for the past four years.
School of Education professor chosen for Excellence in Teaching Award
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| Joseph Cristiano |
Honorees, who are selected from a pool of nominations by faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents, have their names engraved on a stone sculpture on display in the Arnold Bernhard Library. The recipients are recognized at a reception with the board of trustees, receive a cash prize and will be featured in a promotional brochure to be used throughout the year in Quinnipiac's public relations activities.
MAT student teaches elementary school children about life in Nicaragua
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| Brian Walach '10 |
Along with about 35 Quinnipiac students and faculty members, Walach helped to lay the foundation for a school, built walls and repainted several classrooms in Leon, Nicaragua. The annual volunteer mission aims to improve conditions in the country, particularly in schools. "We've been working with the same school for a few years now, and the difference we are making is very noticeable. We're turning corrugated metal boxes with dirt floors into real classrooms with real floors that are suitable for learning," Walach says.
During his presentation to the children in Bradford, Walach discussed school life in Nicaragua. He says the students were very interested and inquisitive about the topic. "Being able to open their eyes to other places in the world was very gratifying to them, and I realized that these students are just a small sample of the people we can reach by talking about out experiences in Nicaragua," says Walach, who is from Bradford, R.I.
"Seeing their excitement at the prospect of forming a school supply drive at their school for next year's trip to Nicaragua was really touching. Spreading my passion about Nicaragua to these young students and seeing how much they were able to take away from it is extremely gratifying."
School of Education hosts lecture by author and educator Mary Cowhey
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| Mary Cowhey (right) signs a copy of her book, "Black Ants and Buddhists." |
In her talk, Cowhey discussed her own personal and classroom experiences and shared her insight into the challenges of helping students think critically about the world. She offered starting points for conversations about diversity and controversy in the classroom.
Following her presentation, Cowhey spoke informally with teacher candidates and signed copies of "Black Ants and Buddhists," a required text for elementary teacher candidates in the master of arts in teaching program.
MAT students lead workshop for teachers in Nicaragua
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| Jennifer Walts '10 and a local child |
Five students in the master in teaching program in the School of Education were among a group of 31 students who took part in a volunteer mission in Nicaragua over spring break. The MAT students hosted a three-day leadership conference for teachers in Leon, Nicaragua, in March 2009. With the help of an interpreter, each student taught three lessons on one subject, including language arts and literacy, mathematics and science. School of Education professor Cheryl Kerison was one of several professors who accompanied the group.
Jen Walts '10, who is majoring in English and music in the secondary education program, says the time and effort that went into preparing the lessons were well worth it. "The teachers are so appreciative of all the work we put into it," she says. The Quinnipiac students had to create lessons that could be adjusted to different grade levels since the 20 Nicaraguan teachers who attended the conference taught students ranging from preschool to high school.
After the conference, Walts and the other education students had the opportunity to observe the Nicaraguan teachers in the classroom. She says she was impressed by how much the teachers were able to accomplish with few resources. "It solidified my decision to become a teacher. It made me realize we have so much we take for granted," Walts says.
Watch a video about the trip on the University's YouTube channel
New educational leadership program brings alumni back to campus
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Gary Alger |
"An increasing number of principals are retiring in Connecticut," said Gary Alger, director of the program. "Challenges school leaders face, such as school safety and improving schools with limited budgets and fewer resources, deter teachers from moving into leadership positions. We're responding by offering a program that gives teachers confidence to meet those challenges. We want to inspire people to see these challenges as opportunities."
Galatioto, who currently teaches U.S. history and government at Hamden High School, decided to pursue the sixth-year diploma because of his interest in administration. "It is a phenomenal hybrid program," says Galatioto. "There is a great balance of class on campus and the use of online tools. Gary [Alger] makes the program exciting. Having been a superintendent, he can bring his real life experience to the course."
School of Education accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
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NCATE-accredited schools must meet rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public.
- Teacher candidates must have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they plan to teach as well as the skills necessary to convey it so that students learn.
- The university must carefully assess this knowledge and skill to determine that candidates may graduate.
- The institution must have partnerships with P-12 schools that enable candidates to develop the skills necessary to help students learn.
- Candidates must be prepared to understand and work with diverse student populations.
- College and university faculty must model effective teaching practices.
- The School of Education must have the resources, including information technology resources, necessary to prepare candidates to meet new standards.