Words of Inspiration

Announcements

Research and Creative Activities

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Eastern Connecticut State University - Foster Clock Tower

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NEWS
Volume XXVII, Summer 2007

Last Week of Summer 2007, August 22, 2007

best viewed at  http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/070822.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

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Last Week of Summer 2007, August 22, 2007

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

 

Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.

Hal Borland 

As quoted at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/halborland389782.html

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Announcements

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

Dr. Zadranyn Gordon, Principal of Hartford Public High School, is seeking Secondary Mathematics Teachers. - shared by Mary-Grace Shifrin

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1) Upcoming events and announcements -

Fall calendar dates -

On Friday, August 31, 2007, the Fall University Meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Betty Tipton Room in the Student Center.  Refreshments will be available at 9:00 a.m.

The University Convocation is scheduled for Friday, August 31 at 12 noon in the Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium. The Convocation serves to reinforce a sense of community and celebrates the start of a new academic year. It is attended by students, parents, and the entire faculty and staff of the University.

The traditional University Picnic will follow the Convocation at 1:30 p.m. The picnic is open to students, faculty and staff at no charge.

Diversity seminar is scheduled for September 28, 2007, 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. in the Johnson Community Room, J. Eugene Smith Library.

2) This year's Summer Institute for Future Teachers was featured in a Hartford Courant article on Monday, July 30, 2007, with an accompanying video posted at http://www.courant.com/news/education/hc-futureteach0730.artjul30,0,3216121.story .

***

3) Congratulations to Dr. Tuesday L. Cooper, now Associate Dean of the School of Education and Professional Studies, who will become the Dean of the Long Island Center, Empire State College (New York), http://www.esc.edu/longisland, at the end of August.  Congratulations, Tuesday!

 

4) Rob Levin, a former faculty member in the Education Department at Eastern CSU, wrote that he has "begun a position called School Designer for New York City Outward Bound's Expeditionary Learning small secondary schools in the NYC Public Schools.  NYCOB ( www.nycoutwardbound.org ) is a nonprofit affiliate of the national Outward Bound program that has typically been best known for its wide-ranging outdoor education / adventure / team-building programs, in wilderness and urban areas around the nation (and the world; OB was founded in Germany).  In New York City, NYCOB is a partner in the few-years-old movement to remake very large, often ineffective public high schools into much smaller new schools with no more than 100 students per grade ( http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/30/nyregion/30grads.html ).  The job title "School Designer" is a bit misleading, in that the principals, teachers, and communities are the true school designers, while my role is to help a small portfolio of Grades 6-12 or 9-12 schools -- recent start-ups, or brand new ones taking on one grade per year -- to hit their stride and make the best possible use of Outward Bound's "Expeditionary Learning" model for engaging learning within and across the academic disciplines.  "EL" schools work at implementing several familiar aspects of quality teaching -- such as "understanding by design," authentic assessment, and balanced literacy -- with one special New York State twist (Regents exams!) and one Outward Bound hallmark (personal and character development, including outdoor challenges and a "crew, not passengers" approach to building school climate).   It's about trying to blend some of the best inspiration of the Outward Bound heritage to "regular" academic and special-needs programs within small, often urban public schools, typically in struggling neighborhoods."

Congratulations, Rob!

5) Julie Alexandrin, a former faculty member in the Education Department at Eastern CSU, has accepted a position as Associate Professor in Special Education at the University of Southern Maine.  Her email address is juliealexandrin@yahoo.com . Congratulations, Julie!

 

6) For Connecticut-based scholarships for minority teacher candidates, 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/

The deadlines for these applications are usually in the Fall semester.

7) Opportunity shared by Hope Marie Cook, Head of Curriculum Center:

Dear GEMS Associate,


We need your help!  GEMS is recruiting field trial teachers and we are hoping that you will either qualify or know someone who does.  We need teachers who are teaching reading in grades 2 through 4.  Please pass this message on to anyone you know who can help us with testing this exciting new program from GEMS:


Reading About Science
-Field Test Teachers Welcomed!


The University of California at Berkeley is developing an innovative new reading curriculum as a joint effort between the University's Lawrence Hall of Science and Graduate School of Education. The focus of the program is teaching literacy skills using content rich student books that address compelling science topics.


We are now actively recruiting reading teachers in Grades 2-4 to participate in field trials of a number of exciting units in the Reading About Science curriculum. In exchange for testing and providing feedback on a single unit, participants will receive free field trial materials and later the unit's published teacher's guide and student books.
Reading About Science is part of the University's promising new research and development program Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading.  To learn more about this ground breaking program and to participate, please visit
http://seedsofscience.org/about/FieldTest2.htm

We are recruiting for the units listed below. We will use teacher preferences expressed in the applications to make assignments. Please note that a class session is typically an hour in length.

Title

Grades

Unit Length

Window for
Field Trial

Reading About Soil Habitats

2 and 3
Only

29 sessions

9/3/2007 through 11/30/2007

Reading About Shoreline Science

2 and 3
Only

29 sessions

9/3/2007 through 11/30/2007

Reading About Designing Mixtures

2 and 3
Only

17 sessions

9/3/2007 through 11/2/2007

Reading About Variation and Adaptation

3 and 4
Only

14 sessions

9/3/2007 through 11/2/2007

Reading About Weather and Water

3 and 4
Only

29 sessions

9/3/2007 through 11/30/2007

Reading About Light Energy

3 and 4
Only

29 sessions

9/3/2007 through 11/30/2007

Reading About Gravity and Magnetism

2 and 3
Only

14 sessions

1/7/2008 through 3/7/2008

Reading About Digestion and Body Systems

3 and 4
Only

17 sessions

1/7/2008 through 3/7/2008


Thank you.

Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) Setting Standards for Excellence in Education Lawrence Hall of Science, #5200 University of California Berkeley, CA 94720

 

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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 CSU-AAUP/BOT Contract, covering the period from August 25, 2007 to August 25, 2011, can now be found on-line at http://www.ccsu.edu/aaup/csu/AAUP2007-2011FINALContact2007[1].pdf  Hard copies of the contract are in the process of being printed.

 

A summary of the changes can also be found on the CSU-AAUP website at http://www.ccsu.edu/aaup/csu/SummaryOfChanges2007.doc



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

Good news relayed by Dr. Swaminathan from Emily Gregson:

Emily Gregson has been offered a job at Birch Grove in Tolland (where she student taught) as a 1/2 time kindergarten teacher.

 

Posted on August 22, 2007

****

 

Good news from Beverly Chapman -

 

I have been offered a position at Windham Middle School where I will be teaching 5th grade, and I’ll still be close to my “home” at ECSU!

 

posted on August 15, 2007

****

 

Good news from Mary Noryk shared by Dr. Tannahill

 

Dr. Tannahill,

 

      I thought you might like to know that I accepted a position teaching math at Rockville High in Vernon.  I had to turn schools down once I had decided to go to Rockville.  The school is only 6 miles from my house.  They impressed me during my interview while answering the questions I had for them.  My main concern was professional develop and support for new teachers.  They were the only school that went into detail about what they offer.  The other schools only said that they offer it.  I'm a little scared about teaching my own class.  I know that I have been well prepared and should do fine.

 

     I enjoyed being in your classes.  I always took away a great deal of information from.  I think it's funny that you taught the first course and last course I took in the program.  I was so nervous walking into your classroom when I took EDU 553 in the fall of 2005.  I hadn't been to school in 16 years. 

 

    EDU 570 helped me.  I had difficulty in some of my classes because I did not have experience teaching.  After my student teaching, I had a different view on things and understood the theories I learned in my courses better.

 

     I wish the best for you in your future.  You are truly an example of what a good teacher is.

 

Take Care,

Mary Noryk

posted on August 15, 2007

****

 

Good news shared by Dr. Leslie Ricklin -

Cindy Vallarelli has "accepted a teaching position with the Bloomfield Public School System as a 6th grade science/social studies teacher!!!!!! I am so excited to begin my teaching career influenced by such dedicated professionals such as yourself. I will be picking up my curriculum this week and setting up my classroom very soon.

I wanted to thank you and the education staff at ECSU for all of your support, guidance, and expertise over the past years!

Please share my great news with the staff! Thanks again."

shared on August 6, 2007

*******

Good news shared by Dr. Delar Singh, Dr. Fred Ashton, and Dr. Leslie Ricklin:

Jennifer McPhee writes that she will be "teaching 5th grade at Carmen Arace intermediate school on a team of three teachers.  I am in charge of teaching just science and social studies which are the two subjects I enjoy the most so I am excited.  I have been going through The First Days of School book.  I think I'm ready though.  ... Thank you for everything, having you as a part of my life last semester made such a huge difference and I am sure that if I hadn't taken the seminar with you I wouldn't be where I am today.  Thank you."

 

Jennifer McPhee

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More good news shared by Dr. Ricklin:

I have heard from 3 of our students about their new teaching positions:

Frank Macchi--social studies at Bloomfield HS
Lindsey Hepple--social studies at Windham HS
Jennifer Lopez--4th grade teacher at Montville Elementary School

 

shared on August 3, 2007

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Good news from Melissa DeMarco, past president of the Education Club and December 2006 elementary education graduate, on July 31, 2007:

"I just wanted to let you know that I got a job as a 6th grade teacher at Elizabeth Shelton Elementary School in Shelton. Right in my home town! I couldn't be happier. Just wanted to give you the good news....

As far as advice . . I would say that networking helps.
I got a job as a special ed tutor and was able to meet a lot of other professionals and form a relationship with the principal (Ms. Arpin). She later became a strong advocate for me when it was time for the interviews."

Congratulations, Melissa, and best wishes for your continuing success.

****

Dr. Fred Ashton at Windham Tech shares that "Matt Zagura ... has been offered a teaching position in health and P.E. at Goodwin Tech.  The interview committee was impressed with his demeanor, attitude, and health/phys. ed. skills and knowledge.  Of course, special recognition goes to Connie Clabby and the rest of the Windham Tech health and P.E. department for the preparation that was given to him here in the final round of his student teaching.  It will be great to have Matt as a colleague in the Connecticut Technical High School System!"

posted on July 30, 2007

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Good news shared by Leah Barbuto

"As of Monday, July 23, 2007, I have accepted a second grade permanent position for Manchester Public Schools at Robertson Elementary School. I appreciate all of the support you and the university have given me over the years and the ample amounts of resources that I have gathered with my knowledge from your courses." - Christina Litrico

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Good news shared by Dr. Richard Reynolds:

Kristen Sixbey, one of our graduate students has found a position at South Windsor High School.

****

Thanks from Chelsea Jasek:

I recently graduated with my elementary certification, having student taught in Coventry, Connecticut and I just wanted to tell you how happy I was with the Education Program at Eastern.  I truly felt that the professors in my CORE set me up for the challenges that came my way.  I would especially like to note three that really aided me in my teaching steps, Dr. Richards, Dr. Kauffman and Dr. Ashton.  All three of these professors provided me with actual life skills that I have been able to use in my teaching. Dr. Ashton especially allowed us time in his class to have real discussion about actual events that were occurring to us during our student teaching - all things that we could learn from.  This class certainly prepared me overall for the challenges I did face and will face in my years to come.  

I am so thankful that I made the right choices to come to Eastern four years ago and receive the education that I have.  What a wonderful experience I have had and I would give a great amount of credit to the Education Department.  

Thank you for making my time at Eastern as exceptional as possible,   Yours,   Chelsea Jasek

****

Good news about Greg Carter:

Greg Carter, a 2003 graduate of our secondary education/social studies program, is currently teaching at the Polaris Center in East Hartford.  After his studies at Eastern, he continued to receive certification in special education.  He was a recruiter at the CREC Minority Teacher Recruitment Career Fair at the Two Rivers Magnet Middle School on Saturday, March 10, 2007. 

*******

For other past good news, please visit http://www.easternct.edu/depts/edu/news/alumninews.html

 

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

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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 - 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.


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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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Research and Creativity Activities

chronicling the ongoing progress of the Education Department at Eastern Connecticut State University

Commencement Research Report - May 20, 2007

This an unofficial research report on a comparison of Eastern CSU graduates at Commencement on May 2007, determined by counting names in the commencement program.  It would be an estimate because some of the students listed in the program are listed in two sections and the official count will depend on final grades from the spring 2007 semester.  These statistics do not take into account the number of teacher candidates that the Education Department shares with other departments.  Teacher candidates are more often listed as graduating with their liberal arts major.

These statistics are compared with last year's commencement count.  Some preliminary generalizations include that there was growth in graduates from the School of Education and Professional Studies and the School of Continuing Education, but a slight decline in graduates from the School of Arts and Sciences. There was also a slight over-all decline in the number of graduates from Eastern. 

Unofficial Statistics on Eastern CSU Graduates, May 2006

Unofficial Statistics on Eastern CSU Graduates, May 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#

% of total

 

 

 

 

#

% of total

Change between 2006 and 2007

School of Continuing Education

 

 

 

School of Continuing Education

 

 

 

 

 

Associate in Science 

9

0.80%

 

Associate in Science 

11

0.98%

22.22%

 

Bachelor of General Studies

75

6.63%

 

Bachelor of General Studies

98

8.73%

30.67%

 

 

Total School

84

7.42%

 

 

Total School

109

9.71%

29.76%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School of Education and Professional Studies

 

School of Education and Professional Studies

 

 

 

Master of Science

 

105

9.28%

 

Master of Science

 

112

9.97%

6.67%

 

Bachelor of Arts

 

20

1.77%

 

Bachelor of Arts

 

28

2.49%

40.00%

 

Bachelor of Science

 

344

30.39%

 

Bachelor of Science

 

341

30.37%

-0.87%

 

 

Total School

469

41.43%