Words of Inspiration

Announcements

Research and Creative Activities

Opportunities

Department Media

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

Eastern Connecticut State University Foster Clock Tower

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NEWS
Volume XXV, Fall 2006

Thanksgiving Week, Fall Semester, November 21, 2006

best viewed at  http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/061121.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.

*****

Thanksgiving Week, Fall Semester, November 21, 2006

Words of Inspiration


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

Happy Thanksgiving and

best wishes for a joyful start of the seasons of light to you and yours.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND---THE FOOTBALL VERSION

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the 
championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be 
on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held 
accountable. If, after two years, they have not won the championship 
their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win 
the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the 
same time even if they do not have the same conditions or 
opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made 
for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, 
or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents.

ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without 
instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their 
instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in 
football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like 
football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept 
in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. It will create a New Age of Sports 
where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and 
all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, 
then no child gets left behind. If parents do not like this new law, 
they are encouraged to vote for vouchers and support private schools 
that can screen out the non-athletes and prevent their children from 
having to go to school with bad football players.

shared by Dr. John Caruso, Professor, Education Department, Western CSU, also posted at

http://www.janebluestein.com/articles/football.html

*****

 back to top

Announcements

**********

Position announcements - please also visit http://www.ctreap.net - for the Connecticut teaching position listings

from Mary-Grace Shifrin -  There is a long term substitute position at Washington Elementary School in Manchester. It requires a K-6 Elementary Certification and they are interested in mathematics instruction. If anyone knows a qualified candidate who may be interested, they may contact the school immediately.

****

from Maggie Tarbox, 8th grade Language Arts, Carmen Arace Middle School, Bloomfield, CT:

The following open positions in Bloomfield are available for teacher candidates. The details can be found at www.blmfld.org under Human Resources

  1. 7th grade language arts teacher Available 11/27/06
  2. Elementary School PE  available 1/01/07
  3. Special Education Instructional Assistant at Metacomet Elementary School (Autistic Program)

****

from Art Breault   Ashford School

"I have an opening for a one year, part time English teacher for grade 7. Also due to a maternity leave in the near future I have an opening for a special education teacher to complete the year. (middle school) Wilson reading training would be helpful but not required."

****

from Nory Oakes via Mary-Grace Shifrin -

"There are currently two openings at Windham tech in the English department. Do you know of any potential candidates at ECSU that you feel would be a good fit and might be interested in interviewing? These are the positions that are open:

Full time substitute for 11th and 12th grade Literature (maternity leave)

0.5 position in the Language Arts Lab

I am very happy here at Windham Tech, and it’s all because of your realization that I could succeed in a “different” high school environment."

 

*****

PERMANENT / PART-TIME TEACHERS / TUTORS

WHIZard Academy for Mathematics & English

Urgently need at our Glastonbury location!

Qualifications: Must to able to tutor Math from Grades K to 12 including Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus; and/or English from Grades K to 12; and/or Physics/Chemistry for High School Students; and/or SAT Prep.

Must be fluent in English, have good communication skills, be flexible and reliable.

Full training provided.  Must be available immediately.

Hours:     Weekdays from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm

           Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

e-mail resume to:

whizardresumes@comcast.net

WHIZard Academy for Mathematics & English

*****

Child Care Vacancies

 

The Indian Valley YMCA is seeking Part-time Directors and Assistant Directors for their before and after school child care programs in Coventry and South Windsor.  Please contact Theresa Robinson at 872-7329 x 23 or Theresa.robinson@ghymca.org for more details.

*****

A note from Ms. Mary-Grace Shifrin

 

Bailey’s Garden is Growing!
In tribute to our daughter Bailey Teresa Shifrin (May 3, 1997 – March 16, 2004) my son and husband designed an ADA compliant playground that will be placed at Lebanon Elementary School for all children ages 2-12. Our hope is this will allow a community of children to play together regardless of physical limitations. If you are interested in more information or fundraising efforts please visit Bailey’sGarden.org. We would like to send a special thank you to all who have already planted “seeds” for this garden. Jim, Cooper and Mary-Grace

 

For more information, please visit http://baileysgarden.org/news.html .

****

A message from Dr. Nanette Tummers:

"Bart Mazur is one of our majors who is serving in Afghanistan and a great kid!

I would like to send this to him after the CAPHERD conference (early in the week of November 20).   I have attached a list of acceptable items.

Thank you! We will be collecting items in the main sports center office."

 

Nanette Tummers, Ed.D., Associate Professor Health and Physical Education,

Eastern Connecticut State University

****

1) Upcoming events

a)  ATTENTION STUDENT TEACHER CANDIDATES:

Attention: teacher candidates

Upcoming dates!

 

Student teaching application information

Candidates planning on student teaching fall 2007

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

3:00 PM – 4:00 Pm

Webb Hall room 110

 

Student teacher candidates spring 2007

Mandatory

Student teaching orientation meeting

Friday, December 15, 2006

10:00 AM to Noon

Library Johnson community room

 

2) Congratulations to Victoria Soto, Mathieu O. Collins, and Jonathan L. Diaz for receiving the Connecticut Minority Teacher Incentive Program or Weisman Scholarship.  For more information on this program, and the related Alma Exley Scholarship Program, please visit -

Connecticut Minority Teacher Recruitment Grant information:

http://www.ctdhe.org/SFA/pdfs/MTIP%20Brochure%20and%20Form.pdf

Alma Exley Scholarship Program

http://www.almaexleyscholarship.org/

3) The Eastern CSU chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in Education, will induct new members on Saturday, December 9, 2006 at 10 am in the Paul Johnson Room in the Smith Library.  For information on the application process, please contact Dr. Cathy Tannahill - tannahillc@easternct.edu .

4) Connecticut Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children conference at Eastern CSU, organized by Delar Singh, CT-CEC Chapter President and Associate Professor, Special Education, and Ann Gruenberg, CEC Division for Early Childhood Representative and Associate Professor, Early Childhood Education, held its annual conference on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at Eastern CSU.

Some notes from the conference -

Terrible rain storms had people worried about the roads and flooded basements.

The keynote was presented by Dr. George Sugai, fairly new to UCONN and the east coast, leader of the Positive Behavior program used at Windham Middle School. Project website is at http://www.pbis.org/ . He discussed research measures - RTI - response to intervention, results that are similar to pandemic triangle from public health - most are successful, some will succeed with some intervention, a few will need intensive intervention. Other interesting points - tracking referals in urban schools suggested growth during periods when public assistance checks are distributed, school intervention plans have been successful in changing triangles.

Afternoon keynote - Dr. Kathleen Whitbread, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UCONN, Center for Development Disabilities, who discussed the PJ case in Connecticut

P.J., ET AL Plaintiffs V. STATE OF CONNECTICUT, BOARD OF EDUCATION, ET AL Defendants

http://www.simsbury.k12.ct.us/boardofed/specialservices/pdf/SA_Synopsis02.pdf

and implications on policy. Interesting changes in terminology from mental retardation to ID - intellectually deficient, DD -developmentally disabled?, parental rights for placement in general class, bicultural wedding of DS couple - http://www.sujeet.com/

A very informative and important gathering of special educators.  Congratulations to Drs. Singh and Gruenberg for a well-planned event. 

5) David Stoloff has started a blog that will eventually serve as a supplemental magazine for this e-newsletter.  Please visit http://stoloffd.edublogs.org/ for the opening weeks of this blog on the Social Foundations of Education and Media.

*****

The Education Department Faculty photo is posted at
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/faculty.html
back to top

*****

back to top

The 2002-2006 CSU AAUP-BOT Collective Bargaining
Agreement is on-line at the usual URL:

http://www.easternct.edu/aaup/cba.html

****

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

Good news from Heidi White, Secondary Education/History & Social Studies graduate, Spring 2006:  

I serve as a volunteer teacher and after-school mentor with the AmeriCorps in a seventh grade classroom working at McCormackMiddle School in Dorchester, MA with a women who is not a certified teacher.   I am able to help her and her students out from the experiences I had in the education program student teaching and education classes.   I will earn an Americorps educational award for my work in City Year once I have completed my 1,700 hours of service work.   Americorps is a great way to gain real life experience in urban classrooms in cities across the country and to earn money toward future education.  Tell more education students about this program.

posted on November 2, 2006

*****

Good news from Heather Young, ECE graduate:

I just wanted to give you an update of what I have been up to lately.  In May I finished up my Masters in Elementary Education and I was also able to cross endorse in Elementary Education.    I also just signed with Bethel Public School, as a part time preschool education teacher.  

Sincerely,   Heather Young

posted on October 20, 2006

 

Commendations from Dr. Fred Ashton:

Just a note to let you know that Nory Oakes is completing the first half of her first quarter as a new English teacher here at Windham Tech.  Nory came highly recommended by Dr. Reynolds, and I can see why. She is intelligent, hard-working, and creative and is one of the best first year/first weeks-of-school teachers that I have seen in my 25 years as an administrator.  She is using Bloom’s taxonomy and involving her seniors in all manner of writing.  She has a great web site up and running for students and parents to use when they are away from the school.  Eastern has taught her well and we are the proud and delighted beneficiaries.

Fred Ashton

posted on October 20, 2006

*****

Good news relayed by Dr. Ricklin:

I am teaching 9th grade civics at Norwich Free Academy - I love it so much.. my students are great and its been wonderful so far and I really enjoy the teachers that are in my unit. I have the greatest building principal. They are all so helpful.

It's been really busy so far. My extracurricular activity is being House Council Advisor for the Freshmen house, I have already put together a dance that was two weeks ago and it went great, we made a good amount of profit. Now we are trying to get things together for Homecoming Game this Saturday.

Kelley Creighton

posted on October 4, 2006


****

Good news shared by Dr. Sudha Swaminathan:


Just wanted to let you know that I did get the Head Start Teacher position. I am now into  my second week with the children.  I am still working out the schedule, room arrangement, etc. The neat part is that I get to teach a lesson in the morning, and then improve the lesson for the afternoon.  My supervisors are E.A. Aschenbrenner and Cindy Torrence. 


Hope the start to your teaching year is going well.


Janet Richman

posted on October 4, 2006


****

Great news from Dr. Ann Gruenberg:

Other Early Childhood graduates I have seen lately, employed:  

       Courtney Tuller-  Inclusive Preschool, Gilead Hill, Hebron

       Carly Grauer -  Inclusive Preschool, Chaplin Elementary School

posted on September 20, 2006

****

Good news from Alycia Fargnoli shared by Dr. Sudha Swaminathan:

I just wanted to let everyone at the education department know that I was just hired at Preston Elementary school as a preschool teacher. Thanks for everything that you have done for me to get me here. A year ago I couldn't have imagined having a position this quickly. Thank You!   Alycia Fargnoli -- (class of 2006)

posted on September 14, 2006

****

Good news from Jennifer Brokaw shared by Dr. Tannahill:  

I teach at Horace W. Porter School in Columbia.  I am the seventh grade math and prealgebra teacher.   I also just received word that I passed my BEST portfolio.  I am so excited!!   Jennifer Brokaw

posted on September 8, 2006

****

 

News from Colleen A. Moran shared by Dr. Singh,

I am writing to tell you that I have just been hired in FL to teach 5th Grade  at Lamarque Elementary School.  Although I would have prefered to stay in CT there were more opportunities for employment in FL.  

Colleen A. Moran

posted on September 8, 2006

****

News from Theresa Tiscia shared by Dr. Ricklin:

I landed a long-term sub position at Lauralton Hall in Milford teaching U.S. History to juniors and seniors.  Although I will only have a job until January, it is a great place to start my career.  I'm really excited to be back in the classroom.  I didn't realize how much I missed it since May!   Over the summer I did have the opportunity to go on several interviews and I wanted to let you know that all of the schools were very impressed with my student teaching portfolio.  It definitely would be a useful tool to continue with future classes, and it was great experience for me as well.   I hope that you had an enjoyable summer and wish you luck in the upcoming school year.  Thanks again for the recommendation and all the help that you gave me over the last year!   Theresa Tiscia

posted on September 10, 2006

****

News from Rebecca Stanger:

I wanted to inform you that I have had a wonderful first week of teaching a new pilot position at GH Robertson School in Coventry.  I co-teach third grade in the afternoons, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  This position allows me to focus more on Numeracy, while the morning teacher, Jen Emerson, focuses on Literacy (Reading and Writing).  I know the skills I have learned through ECSU will help co-teaching become more available in other districts.  Who says, "You can't have your cake and eat it, too?"  Thank you to all the faculty in the Education Department.

posted on September 1, 2006

****

Great news shared by Dr. Ricklin and Dr. Ashton from Hope Zettwoch -

"I just wanted to let you know that I accepted a long term sub position in the 4th grade at Parker Memorial School in Tolland. I am very excited and have been busy preparing for the upcoming year. I just wanted to thank you for introducing me to The First Days of School by the Wongs. I have found it very helpful as I am planning my classroom for this fall. I have also been using The New Teachers Complete Sourcebook (Grades K-4) by Bonnie Murray which is a great resource for new teachers.

I hope that this email finds you in good health and ready to assist a new group of student teachers. I can't thank you enough for all your advice and support last year. 

Sincerely,

Hope Zettwoch"

****

Great news from Bethany Champagne Holland, former student assistant in the Education Department -

Hi David.  I just wanted to share some good news with you.  I have been offered a position in Enfield with Nathan Hale Elementary School as the k-6 School Counselor.  I signed the contract today.  I am very excited to start my career and have been looking forward to this for a long time.  Thanks for all of your kind works and support over the years.  Bethany Holland (new email - bethany3holland@yahoo.com)

****

Great news from Kathy D'Amelio relayed by Dr. Fred Ashton:

Hi Dr. Ashton,

Just had to let you know that I was hired as a first grade teacher (possibly a 2nd grade if another person rejects the offer) at Sweeney Elementary School in Willimantic. I will be traveling my favorite route that I traveled to Eastern for 4 years. I am so excited about my new career. I will be working with a great group of people. The principal and staff were so kind and supportive even before they offered me a job. I will have a diverse group of students that will challenge me as a teacher and as a person that cares. I thought of our student teaching seminar and the teachers who visited from Hartford, when I was interviewing and teaching a lesson during the selection process. After an initial offer had been made and I had to leave, a teacher said to me "Our students need a teacher like you." I was so moved. I never felt so much true support and interest. I am so happy. I have to say that it is not easy out there. I went to 7 interviews and taught two lessons. The process was not easy. I learned a lot from it. 

.... It also is good for people to hear that despite the difficult odds of getting a teaching position, it can be done. Boy, did I have some unbelievable experiences out there. If you would like, I would be willing to come back in the fall and talk about the interview/application process that I went through for your students. let me know if I can be of help. I believe we always need to give back the help we've been given. It can be depressing when you hear it takes three years. That is not always the case. Also hearing from other people helped me, inspired me and motivated me to strive even harder. ...

I wanted to thank you for all your ideas, tips and thought provoking sessions. I learned so much at Eastern. Thanks again Dr. Ashton. 

Sincerely, Kathy D'Amelio

posted on June 21, 2006

*****

More good news from Fred Ashton:

"How I love to convey good news…

Ryan Webb, one of my subs and a recent ECSU graduate student grad, just stopped by. He has just been hired to teach social studies at Vinal Tech in Middletown.

Fred"

posted on June 21, 2006

 

Good news from Noah Ventola, shared by Dr. Ricklin

I am writing to tell you that I have been offered a social studies position at RHAM high school! The position will be either 9th grade global studies or 10th grade world civilization. I am thrilled with the position. It is the position that I wanted in the district that I hoped to work in. I owe part of my success in landing this position to my experience at Eastern as our education department has prepared me for a great future in the public schools. Thank you for all your help and support throughout the last 2 years.

Thanks again!
Noah

posted on May 22, 2006

Past Alumni News is posted at
http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html

****

 

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. 

*****
Other Events

back to top
****

ECSU - CultureQuest

                                       

Faculty members and students from Eastern Connecticut State University are participating in an international consortium of teacher education institutions to explore ways to make use of the web to enhance global understanding.  Please visit our projects at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/culturequest.html .

       

Earlier this decade, we participated in a US Department of Education grant to Prepare Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology with ThinkQuest.  Our projects' homepage may be found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/dept/pt3.html.


back to top

****
Long Term Announcements

Alumni news may be found at http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html.
back to top



*****


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 to start in Fall 2007 pending approval -


two full-time Reading/Language Arts tenure track faculty members
and

Early Childhood Education faculty member

******

For opportunities for technology resources and recognition for exemplary leadership, please visit http://www.futureready.org/about/ .

back to top 

******
Recommendation from Diane Reale, OnlineCSU instructor, to subscribe to Edutopia:

"You may already be familiar with Edutopia, but I recently received an invitation to a free magazine subscription from them, in the mail, so I thought I would send the link along to you....(re: exemplary programs in K-12 schools)....thought your faculty and students might be interested.

http://www.edutopia.org/foundation/foundation.php

Diane"

*****

Reference from Walter Diaz, Director, Career Services:

Teaching Jobs at SchoolSpring.com

Description: Free educator job search. Apply online, get email job alerts, find 1000s of teaching jobs from dozens of sites with the SchoolSpring SuperSearch. Apply to any job, anywhere with SchoolSpring PLUS!

URL: http://www.SchoolSpring.com

*****

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!"

******

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

*****

Teacher Substitute Openings in Windham Public Schools

Windham Public Schools are seeking Eastern graduates, with a bachelor's degree in any major, to substitute for absent teachers.  Please link to the district's home page

@  http://www.windham.k12.ct.us 

 and the district personnel policy page @ http://www.windham.k12.ct.us/DSS_Web/Personnel/Policies.htm

for more information. 

 
There are also substitute possibilities listed without the degree. 

Posted on November 27, 2005

*****

Alma Exley Scholarship Program

This scholarship program supports and encouraged persons of color who are committed to a career in public school teaching.  A scholarship award of at least $1,500 a year for two years will be granted to an individual who has been admitted to a teacher-preparation program in a Connecticut College or university.  For more information and an application, please contact David Stoloff in the Education Dept, Webb 129 or visit http://www.almaexleyscholarship.org .

*****

Connecticut Minority Teacher Recruitment Grant information:

http://www.ctdhe.org/SFA/pdfs/MTIP%20Brochure%20and%20Form.pdf

 

back to top


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

1) Thanks to the 2006 SIFT faculty, RAs, and staff, available for borrowing for summer reading -

Letters to the next president : what we can do about the real crisis in public education / edited by Carl Glickman ; prologue by Bill Cosby, New York : Teachers College Press, c2004, LA217.2 .L48 2004 .

 

back to top

*********
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.