Eleventh Week, Fall 2004 - November 5, 2004, Education Dept e-newsletter, Eastern CSU

Questions about newsletter? Please contact David Stoloff, email: stoloffd@easternct.edu

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NEWS
Volume XIX, Fall 2004

Eleventh Week, Fall 2004 - November 8, 2004
best viewed at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/041108.html
on the World Wide Web

for past issues Ed. Dept. News Index - http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/newsindex.html

Education Dept. Homepage

Alumni News

Departmental Documents

Please see the University Disclaimer.

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Words of Inspiration
the collection appears at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/words.html

"Why do schools need parent and community support?

Thirty years of research clearly shows that parent and community involvement in schools improves student achievement. To reach their potential, students need parents and the community to take an active role in their education.

Schools are working hard to provide a high quality education for every child. But they can't do it alone. Parent and community involvement is critical to creating great schools."

from A Parent's Guide to School Involvement, http://www.nea.org/parents/schoolinvolve.html

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Announcements

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1) "Kappa Delta Pi (the ECSU Education Honors Society) is hosting a panel of principals on Tuesday November 9th from 6:45-9:00pm, in Webb 110. This is a free event for all of you, and I would like to encourage you to come. Sandye Simon-Principal of Lebanon Elementary, Ray Grasso-Principal of Coventry Grammar, Steve Merlino- ast Principal of Windham High School and Mary-Grace Shifrin-Former principal of Lebanon Elementary School and a professor at ECSU will be speaking. They will cover topics like Education through the changing times, resume's interviewing questions etc. There will be refreshments at 6:45, and the event will start promply at 7. Hope to see some of you there!"

Message from Katie Balkan, President of KDP and the Education Club and outstanding teacher candidate in the elementary education certification program

2) "The Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Society is also doing a fundraiser right now. We are selling tickets to Buckland Hills Mall for Sunday November 14th from 6:00 - 9:30. Tickets are $5. The mall is remaining open an extra three hours for people to do holiday shopping before it gets busy. You will be put into 200 raffles and receive a coupon book. It's a great cause. We are selling tickets in Webb Hall today (Thursday) all day long, and you can also buy them by emailing me back, and we can arrange something!?"

Message from Maureen Morse, Vice-President of KDP and Co-Vice-President Education Club and another outstanding teacher candidate in the elementary education certification program

The Education Department at Open House at Eastern, Fall 2004

Education Department faculty members Dr. Rob Levin, Director of Educational Experience, Dr. Richard Reynolds, Educational Foundations, Dr. Leslie Ricklin, Social Studies Education, Dr. Delar Singh, Special Education, Dr. Cathy Tannahill, Educational Technology, and Dr. David Stoloff, Educational Technology and department chair met with at least 200 future teacher candidates and their parents at the Open House on Sunday, October 24, 2004.

As a measure of interest, over 170 "frequently asked questions" information sheets, 72 elementary program advisement sheets, 65 early childhood education advisement sheets, 97 secondary advisement sheets, and 29 secondary social studies advisement sheets were distributed.

Fifty-four future teacher candidates signed into the Education database at the event. Eleven are interested in early childhood education, 28 in elementary education, and 14 in secondary education - 6 in history/social studies, 2 mathematics, 2 English, 2 biology, 2 Earth Sciences. Five future teacher candidates are from New York, 25 from Eastern Connecticut, and 24 from Western Connecticut.

There seemed to be a good deal of interest in special education certification programs, student teaching nearer home for those not from Eastern Connecticut, and the process of completing with teaching certification and a BA/BS within four years.

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4) Important dates in November 2004

withdrawing from class deadline - November 5.

5) A message from Dr. Pachis -

Recently, the Board of Directors of AACU published the statement Our Student's Best Work: A Framework for Accountability Worthy of Our Mission.

The statement deals with assessment of student learning at liberal arts institutions, and can be found at the following web address: http://www.aacu.org/publications/pdfs/StudentsBestReport.pdf .

(This publication includes an acknowledgement of the pioneering efforts of Dr. Barbara Wright.)

6) Future planning -

BEST portfolios, lunch, unit meetings - December 16, 11 - 2, Webb 115.

Diversity Seminar - Friday, February 4, 3:30 - 6.

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The Education Department Faculty photo is posted at
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/faculty.html
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The 2002-2006 CSU AAUP-BOT Collective Bargaining
Agreement is on-line at the usual URL:
http://www.easternct.edu/aaup/cba.html

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Alumni News
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html

News from Jessica Bessette shared by Dr. Swaminathan:

"Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I got a job!! Starting Monday I will be a preschool teacher in Waterbury. It's not in a school though, it's in a daycare facility, but I will have my own classroom of 3-5 year olds (although I think right now there are only 3 and 4 year olds). I am really excited to start, I really have a lot of freedom to teach what I want and how I want, it's a really exciting first teaching job, a really great experience, especially since I have to do most of the planning of what exactly I'm teaching, there is no curriculum to follow or anything. So I'm really excited to use a lot of the information I got from the core classes @ Eastern. I'm sure I'll be emailing you (300 times a day!) to ask you questions and get advice, I hope you don't mind! Just wanted to tell you because I thought you'd be proud :)"

posted on October 22, 2004

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Dr. Sudha Swaminathan reports that Leslie Labenski has been hired at Andover Elementary in a Kindergarten setting.

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A message from Ms. Leah Barbuto -

Joan Culpin was just hired as a third grade teacher in Columbia, CT.
posted on August 20, 2004.

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Good news from Robyn McKenney, MS in Ed Tech program graduate –

I just wanted to share my great news with you! I have been offered a job as a K-8 Technology Integration Coach. I am very excited about this opportunity and feel that my work at Eastern was invaluable in preparing me for this role (especially the thesis). Some feedback I received was how pleased they were with my understanding of constructivism, project (problem-) based learning, ISTE standards, assessments, and learning environments. I wanted to share that with you because I feel it speaks directly to your program.

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Another message shared by Dr. Fred Ashton –

Once again, I am pleased to share more good news for the Vocational Technical School System and for ECSU: Mary Schlehofer will be appointed to a teaching position in the English Department at H.H. Ellis Technical High School in Danielson, CT. Mary did her student teaching here at Windham Tech this past spring semester with department head Jan Marie Weston and she did an outstanding job.

A message shared by Dr. Fred Ashton -

"More good news for Windham Tech, ECSU, and new graduate David Carter: David has been appointed to a math position at Windham Vocational Technical High School. David finished the year for us in a long-term substitute position that he started just after he finished his student teaching and he did a great job. We are looking forward to him starting the year with us. His content knowledge and pedagogy are strong and he is a most welcome and valued addition to the teaching faculty!"

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A message shared by Dr. Ann Gruenberg from Cara Ravetto -

I took a long term sub position at the Borough Elementary School for a teacher on maternity leave with the expectation of continuing in the fall for her. As the last few days of school arrived one of the teachers in decided not to renew her contract and resigned, thereby creating an open position. After all was said and done, the position ended up being for first grade. I interviewed for it and was offered the job! I am very excited because I wasn't expecting anything in the district to be open! I was fully prepared to sub for the next year. Now reality sets in as I prepare to set up my classroom and plan the curriculum! My fellow colleagues seem very nice and the principal is very supportive. Hope all is well at ECSU and I plan to return in the spring to complete my Capstone. Take care!

Cara Ravetto

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News from Dr. Fred Ashton:
Scott Hill just emailed me. He has accepted a 4th grade position at Sweeney School. Scott was in last semester's student teachers' seminar with me. He is a fine student and will be a great first year teacher.

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News from Dr. Bland Day:
I heard from Rosemary Humes that Cary Langley and Chad Johnson have taken science teaching positions at the Norwich Free Academy. Cary is teaching biology, and I believe that Chad's job is in General Science.

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Call for Graduate News -

A request from Institutional Research -
Please share news about the plans of graduating seniors.
If they are going on to graduate school, please provide the graduate's name, undergraduate major,
graduate university, location (city, state), field of study and degree program sought, and any information
on scholarships and/or fellowships.
If they have been accepted for employment positions, please provide the graduate's name,
undergraduate major, company, location (city, state), position, salary.
Please email the information to David, who will compile it for the department. Thanks.

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Other Events
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ECSU - ThinkQuest for Tomorrow's Teachers Projects

Faculty members and students from Eastern Connecticut State University participated in a US Department of Education grant to Prepare Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology with ThinkQuest
[ http://www.preservice.org/] and 13 other universities throughout the US. This project's homepage may be found at http://www.preservice.org/ecsu/ or http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/pt3.html.
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Long Term Announcements
Alumni news may be found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html.
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Planning

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Past surveys of our graduates are available on the WWW -
an analysis of the survey of teacher education program graduates 1996-98
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/survey9698.htm
results of the survey of teacher education program graduates - 1996-1998 -
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/surveyresults9698.htm, and
results of the survey of teacher education program graduates - 1998-2000 -
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradsurvey2001.htm
survey of interests in graduate programs -1999,
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradinterestsurvey1999.htm
survey of interests in graduate programs - 2001
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/assessment/gradinterestsurvey2001.htm

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Research and Creativity Activities
chronicling the ongoing progress of the Education Department at Eastern Connecticut State University

also found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/rca.html

Searches and Opportunities
for job announcements at Eastern CSU - http://www.easternct.edu/depts/personnel/jobs.html

departmental searches pending approval -
full-time tenure track faculty members to start in Fall 2005
in Learning and Teaching and
Reading/Language Arts

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Looking for an internship, co-op or full-time job? Then check out our new on-line system-eRecruiting at http://eastern.eRecruiting.com

Walter Diaz
Director
Career Services
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
Phone: (860)465.5244
Fax:(860)465.4440
Email: diazw@easternct.edu
University Web Page: www.easternct.edu
Department Web Page: www.easternct.edu/depts/career/

Announcement from Robin Shefts, Career Counselor, Career Services:

"I discovered this website recently which I wanted to share with you, faculty and students. http://careers.education.wisc.edu/projectConnect/MoreInfo.cfm

Project Connect is a national cooperative resource between school districts and universities to assist with teacher/education staff employment efforts on the internet. If you are not familiar with Project Connect, it's worth checking out!"

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For Connecticut teaching opportunities, please visit http://ctreap.net .

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Recently acquired media - in the Chair's Office or on the Web

Ordered for the Curriculum Library -

Comparative guide to elementary and secondary schools: 2005. Millerton, NY: Grey House Publishing.

ACPA & NASPA (2004), Learning Reconsidered: A Campus-Wide Focus on the Student Experience. Washington, DC: ACPA - Advancing Student Affairs, Engaging Students and NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. and other materials from President Carter's Advance on August 17 & 18, 2004.

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Please contact David Stoloff at (860) 465-5501, email: stoloffd@easternct.edu if you have any questions or comments on this newsletter. Please invite others to receive this newsletter and be added to the Education Department e-mailing list by contacting David Stoloff.