S P R I N G 2 018
BR I DGES
MAGAZINE
CELEBRATION OF EDUCATION:
Former Victoria’s Secret CEO Sharen Jester Turney, featured speaker and 2018 Award of Distinction winner
JEANNINE RAINBOLT
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA
Dear Alumni and Friends of the College, As we bring another academic year to a close, it has been a dynamic year, to say the least. One thing is clear: investments in education are a top priority. This spring, education came to the forefront in the state of Oklahoma as a teacher walkout dominated the headlines for the month of April. While the good that comes from the walkout remains to be seen, one undeniable fact is we saw how important teachers are in our communities.
DEAN’S
Even as schools were closed, teachers continued to care for children in many ways. We saw it in teachers visiting their students’ homes to make sure they had the food and support they needed. We saw it in teachers holding classroom sessions on the lawn of the state Capitol to make sure they were not missing out on teaching an important lesson in civics and active voices. In return, we saw community members marching alongside their teachers. We saw local businesses donating food and services to educators. This wasn’t just about the teachers. It wasn’t just about a pay raise. This was about making sure all of our children, and children to come, are supported with the tools they need to succeed and receive the education they deserve. I am proud to say JRCoE faculty and students were among those at the Capitol making their voices heard.
WELCOME
What is important now is to make sure this state-wide momentum does not fade away. Between now and Election Day on Nov. 6, we must keep education at the forefront by familiarizing ourselves with candidates and supporting those who commit to make an investment in education. Several school districts in Oklahoma are taking steps to rearrange their school calendars so that classes are not in session on Election Day. Not only does this give educators the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, but it also teaches students that voting, and the democratic process, is important in shaping the world in which they want to live. If you don’t like what you are seeing, vote to change it. On April 20, I had the honor of attending the celebration honoring the legacy of President David L. Boren. The keynote speaker was noted historian and author David McCullough, and something he said really stood out to me. McCullough has met and worked with leaders from around the world, and studied people who have made significant contributions to the history and leadership of this country. And yet this is what he said about teachers: “The more I reflect on the history of our country and the challenges of the present day, the more I am convinced that teachers are the most important people among us. They are doing the work that matters in the long run.”
Gregg Garn, Dean
CONTENTS Celebration of Education 2018........................................ Teaching After Tragedy: A Student Perspective...........................................................
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2018 Social Justice in Education Conference....................................................................................
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2018 Humphreys Lecture............................................... JRCoE Student/Alumni Standouts.........................
Faculty Research: Why Are Teachers Leaving Oklahoma?............................................................ 2017 Fall Convocation...................................................... Lee Roland: Making a Difference.............................. JRCoE Board of Advocates........................................... Faculty/Staff/Alumni Updates....................................
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CONTACT BRIDGES University of Oklahoma Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education 820 Van Vleet Oval, Room 138 Norman, OK 73019-2041 (405) 325-4844 ou.edu/education DEAN Gregg A. Garn ASSOCIATE DEANS Lawrence Baines Teresa DeBacker T. Elon Dancy Vickie Lake ASSISTANT DEAN Sherry Cox EDITOR Melanie Schneider GRAPHIC DESIGNER Shayna Pond CONTRIBUTORS Barbi DeLong Chandler Lindsey Victoria Malcolm PHOTOS BY Travis Caperton Hugh Scott Melanie Schneider The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to: admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. Inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies may be directed to: Bobby J. Mason, University Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator, (405) 3253546, bjm@ou.edu, or visit http://www. ou.edu/eoo.html. This publication, printed by OU Printing Services, is issued by the University of Oklahoma. 7,500 copies have been prepared and distributed at a cost of $6,390 to the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma.
2018
CELEBRATION of
in Oklahoma T
he Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education honored educators and supporters of education at the annual Celebration of Education in Oklahoma April 27 in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom of Oklahoma Memorial Union.
College of Education graduate and former Victoria’s Secret CEO Sharen Jester Turney was the featured speaker as the 2018 Award of Distinction winner. Other award-winners included Anissa Angier (Rising Educator), Lori Graham (Outstanding Educator), Linda Sue Warner (Career Achievement), Faith Clune (Meritorious Service), Suzanne Nelson (Alumni Hall of Fame) and Joy Thomas (Alumni Hall of Fame). Faculty and staff from the college also were honored for their work. Winners were Professor Barbara Greene (LeadershipCitizenship), Associate Professor Doo Hun Lim (Research-Scholarship), Associate Professor Crag Hill (Teaching-Advising), Assistant Professor Siduri Haslerig (Junior Faculty), Wendy Walker (Staff Service), Associate Professor Stacy Reeder (Jon E. Pedersen Excellence in Graduate Mentoring) and Assistant Professor Ben Heddy (Patricia L. HardrÊ Graduate Mentoring).
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Celebratory • Patty and Larry Bartell Summa Cum Laude • Danni and Dan Boz • Cathey and Donald Humphreys • Sharon and Kenneth Lease • Linda and Ronn Lytle • Jenny and Jerry Thompson • Sharen Jester Turney and Charles Turney
Magna Cum Laude • Alpha Plus - CEO: Jan Barrick • First Bank - Roberta and Steve Burrage • Faith Kelly Clune • Jenny and Edward Dakil • Suzanne Nelson • Margaret and Donald Pape • In Memory of Barbara B. Paul • Maxine and Jack Zarrow Foundation
Cum Laude • Sally Bentley • Lori Graham • Jordan and Crosby Families • Jane and John Kenney • Linda Clarke Anderson and Huntley Anderson Kubitza • MacArthur Associated Consultants • Linda and Bill Rodgers
University Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Clarke Stroud served as master of ceremonies for the evening. He is joined by State Superintendent for Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister.
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Emily Breathwit, Outstanding Senior, Early Childhood Education (Norman)
Rebecca McClure , Outstanding Senior,
Early Childhood Education (Tulsa)
Kristen Graybill, Outstanding Senior, Elementary Education
Trey Cabler, Outstanding Senior, English Language Arts Education
Aaron Alonso, Outstanding Senior, Mathematics Education
Henry Ratliff, Outstanding Senior, Science Education
Eric Parker II, Outstanding Senior, Social Studies Education
Abigail Palmer, Outstanding Senior, World Language Education
Sterling Barrow, JRCoE Outstanding Senior
Christina Foshee, Outstanding Intern, Early Childhood Education (Norman)
Kendahl Asberry, Outstanding Intern, Early Childhood Education (Tulsa)
Lindsay Sharp, Outstanding Intern, Elementary Education
Tonya Stevenson, Outstanding Intern,
Abby Krach, Outstanding Intern, English Language Arts Education
Rebeccay Layman, Outstanding Intern,
Kallie Sager, Outstanding Intern, Science Education
Elementary Education
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Mathematics Education
Joey Foote, Outstanding Intern, Social Studies Education
Meaghan Taylor, Outstanding Intern,
Special Education
Charissa Palank, Outstanding Intern, World Language Education
Doo Hun Lim, Ph.D. Research-Scholarship Award
Crag Hill, Ph.D. Teaching-Advising Award
Siduri Haslerig, Ph.D. Junior Faculty Award
Wendy Walker Staff Service Award
Stacy Reeder, Ph.D. Jon E. Pedersen Excellence in Graduate Mentoring
Ben Heddy, Ph.D. Patricia L. HardrĂŠ Graduate Mentoring
Anissa Angier Rising Educator Award
Lori Graham, M.Ed. Outstanding Educator Award
Linda Sue Warner, Ph.D. Career Achievement Award
Faith Clune
Suzanne Nelson, Ed.D. Alumni Hall of Fame
Joy Thomas, Ph.D.
Sharen Jester Turney Award of Distinction
Meritorious Service Award
Alumni Hall of Fame
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O L to R: Barbara Thompson, Jan Barrick Plant, David Stratton and Emily Stratton.
n Feb. 14, 2018, a message popped up in the group chat that I share with friends from my hometown. I graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2014, and since then my friends and I have have stayed in touch as we spread out all over the nation to attend college or accept jobs. As I headed to my next lecture, I opened the chat, expecting a video of a friend’s puppy or a funny story. Instead I saw the words “active shooter at Douglas,” and countless replies from other friends asking for updates. I sat through my lecture in complete shock, trying to reconcile the quiet suburb over 1,000 miles away, the one that no one at OU seemed to have even heard of, with the articles that were popping up on my newsfeed, one after another. Over the next few hours, I would learn that 14 students and three staff members had been murdered in the same hallways and classrooms in which I had spent four years. Like the rest of the Douglas community, I was devastated and spent the next few days obsessively combing news and social media sites for any and all information I could find while I tried to get in touch with old friends and neighbors.
“ L to R: Joe Siano, Pam Deering and David Goin
Seemingly overnight, some of my favorite teachers became public figures as they spoke about their own harrowing experiences, their efforts to protect students and advocated for policy changes.
” L to R: Johnny McClure, Rebecca McClure, Kendahl Asberry and DiAndre Asberry.
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My senior year AP government teacher, Jeff Foster, who taught me about interest groups and the NRA, became a de facto adviser for newly minted student activists who have already created new policy in Florida and stimulated national debate. I
read dozens of first-hand accounts from students as young as 14 who suddenly found themselves in the national spotlight and admired the ability of these students to persevere as they were forced to grow up way too quickly. Perhaps more importantly, I watched students and teachers come together to grieve and support each other in the worst time of their lives. Current and past teachers and students from all over the country joined forces to raise money, hold vigils and organize charities and protests. I saw how critical teachers and schools are in their communities, and how many people were touched by the events and their aftermath. On a good day, it can be easy to forget how many lives educators touch throughout their career. But just as this tragedy revealed the very worst of our community, it also highlighted all of the goodness that has always been there. Many of us realized that there will not always be more time to tell our favorite teachers how much they helped, inspired and encouraged us.
TEACHING AFTER TRAGEDY By Victoria Malcolm
As a future teacher, I have a heightened awareness of the impact I can have on students, and the opportunity I have to not only teach, but to nurture and support the emotional growth of students. While I hope that my future students will never endure anything similar, I know that my job as a teacher will be much more than teaching content. My most important takeaway is to never underestimate what students can accomplish. In less than two months, I have watched students start national movements, demand the attention of their state and national representatives, and run charities and fundraisers. I will not be a teacher who tells my students what their limits should be because I have seen that school-aged kids are more than capable of generating change. Victoria Malcolm is a senior at OU majoring in social studies education.
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OU WINS STUDENT RETENTION AWARD
DANCY PUBLISHES BOOK ON HBCUs Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Academic Inclusion T. Elon Dancy II recently coedited the book Black Colleges Across the Diaspora: Global Perspectives on Race and Stratification in Postsecondary Education. This book is one of the first ever to take a look at the role of historically black colleges and universities in a global context. The slave trade of West Africa resulted in people arriving at locations around the world, including the United States, the Caribbean and Brazil. In all locations arose the need for an educational system for those formerly enslaved. “The stories of HBCUs globally is really the story of the diaspora,” Dancy said. “The book gives us an opportunity to look at the shared and divergent issues between them.”
L to R: Jeremiah McKinley, Assistant Dean Sherry Cox and Sandra Whalen at the CSRDE Awards in Destin, Florida.
The Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange at the University of Oklahoma presented four awards during the 13th Annual National Symposium on Student Retention, held in November 2017 in Destin, Florida. The University of Oklahoma won the Institutional Research Leadership in Student Retention Award. The paper, “Retention and Recruitment: Using a Predictive Analytic Model to Build and Implement a Strategic Graduation and Retention Action Plan,” was written by Sherry Cox, Jeremiah McKinley and Glenn Hansen. This award is given to the paper best demonstrating the importance of institutional research to the field of student retention. The Office of Business Analytics worked with the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education to build a predictive model. Based on historical data, it identifies strong candidates for teacher certification programs. It also predicts the likelihood of graduation and program completion from the College of Education. Academic advisers and administrators use the model to develop and carry out action plans to assist at-risk students. Cox is the assistant dean for undergraduate advising in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education.
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While there were shared aspects, enslavements looked different across different countries, which led to differences in the structures of the colleges, and the timing of their creation. HBCUs were founded earlier in the United States than in parts of the Caribbean, even though enslavement took place at roughly the same time. Part of the focus of the book is to look at why that was the case. “What I also appreciate are the similarities,” Dancy said. “There are chapters that focus on HBCUs in the context of apartheid in South Africa. So many of the policy changes and shifts that impact HBCU work and practice look very much the same. You can see the issue of a racialized justice struggle is not just in the United States. It is a global structure.” One of Dancy’s motivations for writing the book was his own experience as a graduate of an HBCU, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He never felt as centered as he did while attending an HBCU, and encountered a curriculum where the reading was broad and inclusive.
Another motivation for the book is his academic work studying college students in various contexts. His scholarship has focused particularly on students of color in historically white institutions and HBCUs and how their identity was differently impacted. The book was co-edited by M. Christopher Brown II, president of Kentucky State University. Brown’s area of expertise is policy issues related to higher education, allowing the book to take a look at students and activism in HBCUs, as well as policy. “One of the audiences we really hope this book reaches is policy-makers,” Dancy said. “Those are the people that structure the parameters around HBCUs that have everything to do with funding. If you are not sure what HBCUs do or you continue to ask questions about their relevance, that can play out in allocations and funding. The book, we think, has a golden opportunity to clarify myths about HBCUs, their rich history and what they really mean in the larger dialogue about American higher education.”
(L to R): T. Elon Dancy, Cynthia B. Dillard and Dean Gregg Garn
JRCOE HOSTS SOCIAL JUSTICE CONFERENCE An audience filled the JJ Rhyne Community room for Cynthia B. Dillard’s keynote lecture at the JRCoE Social Justice in Education Conference.
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Rodney Bates (below) was joined by Brian Corpening, Eric Sourie and Chris Wright for a panel on critical perspective on race in higher education at the JRCoE Graduate Student Symposium.
Chris Wright (left) and Eric Sourie.
Assistant Professor Siduri Haslerig moderates the panel discussion.
he Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education played host to the 2018 Social Justice Conference Feb. 6-9. The event was organized by Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Academic Inclusion T. Elon Dancy, as well as graduate students in the college.
has focused in Ghana, West Africa, where she established a preschool and an elementary school.
The event kicked off on Feb. 6 with a keynote lecture from Cynthia B. Dillard, Ph.D. Dillard is the Mary Frances Early Professor of Teacher Education and department chair, educational theory and practice at the University of Georgia.
On. Feb. 8, Dancy was joined by JRCoE colleagues Kirsten T. Edwards, Ph.D., and Neil Houser, Ph.D., for a workshop for OU faculty focused on social justice in the classroom and inclusive teaching praxis.
Dillard’s talk focused on learning from the work and lives of women of color. Dillard’s major research interests include critical multicultural education, spirituality in teaching and learning, epistemological concerns in research, and African/African-American feminist studies. Most recently, her research
Prior to her talk, Dillard held an advising session for graduate students interested in education justice and equity.
The conference wrapped up on Feb. 9 with the JRCoE Graduate Student Symposium, organized and presented by JRCoE graduate students. The symposium offered students from across the OU campus the chance to present their research and lead discussions related to social justice and equity.
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DEPARTMENT CHAIR ,INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC CURRICULUM
GET TO KNOW...
STACY REEDER, PH.D.
Why did you choose your field? The inherent patterns in mathematics, the problem solving that felt like puzzles, and working with proofs made me fall in love with mathematics in high school. Because I attended a small rural school, I was fortunate to have Mr. Jerry Hutchings for all my high school mathematics classes. Throughout those years he challenged me, encouraged me to strive to work hard and do my best, and showed me that he cared about me in a variety of ways; he had a tremendous impact on me. As a first-generation college student from a small town, I was a little unsure when I began college what career would be best for me. However, within a couple of semesters I settled on becoming a mathematics teacher, and it turned out to be a great choice for me. As a mathematics teacher, I worked to empower my students mathematically with the hope that they would come to view mathematics as beautiful, worthwhile and useful.
What are your research interests/what are some projects you are currently working on? My research focuses broadly on improving mathematics teaching and learning. Much of my work has investigated the mathematical understanding of preservice and inservice mathematics teachers and their beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning. I am currently working on a project that engages preservice teachers in drawing themselves as future teachers of mathematics to shed light on their beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning. In addition, I am working on another project with colleagues in education and in the mathematics department that examines the algebra challenges college students face while taking calculus. What are some critical issues that teacher education programs need to address at this time? Like teacher education programs across the nation, we have seen a decrease in the number of students entering the teaching profession. Since providing a good education for everyone is an important endeavor, it is imperative that every classroom, every child, have a well-prepared, well-supported teacher. Now more than ever, support for education and education funding are a critical issue for our state. Hopefully, we can begin to improve support and funding for education, and will see the number of young people interested in teaching improve as well. 10
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What are the needs for math education programs? Are there enough students coming through the pipeline to address these needs? Since I began teaching in the early 1990’s there has been a shortage of mathematics teachers. The need for more mathematics teachers has grown as the baby boomer generation retires and seemingly fewer young people are interested in teaching. This shortage has reached critical levels as classrooms in Oklahoma and across the nation are being filled with increasingly more emergency certified and alternatively certified teachers. What have been some highlight moments during your time at OU? The thing I enjoy most about my work at OU is engaging with students, faculty and staff. We have great faculty and staff in ILAC and in the college. It is a pleasure to work with them every day. In my 12 years at OU, I have had many mathematics education majors and graduate students go on to work in middle and high schools in Oklahoma and beyond, and their work impacts the lives of countless students. Many of them have been recognized as outstanding with state and national awards. When I hear their stories of success, or have their students in classes at OU, I am proud of the work we do preparing teachers at OU and the work I get to do as a mathematics educator. I have also had the privilege of working with numerous mathematics education doctoral students who, after graduating, have gone on to work in universities around the world. Each year at conferences in the state and across the nation I meet up with them and enjoy hearing about all the great things they are doing. What are some goals for your area in the coming years? I continually strive to increase the number of people interested in becoming mathematics teachers. In order to have a mathematically literate citizenry, people must encounter good mathematics teachers in school. A wellprepared mathematics teacher who is passionate about what s/he is doing with students can transform students’ ideas about mathematics and in turn influence their students’ careers and quality of life. What would be your message to students considering the education field? Teaching is a noble profession that shapes the character and future of individuals. A good teacher can ignite the imaginations of their students, inspire hope, and instill a love of life long learning. There is no other profession that allows you to have the impact on the lives of individuals and your community that being a teacher will!
Julia Torquati
2018 HUMPHREYS LECTURE The 2018 Humpreys Lecture was a two-part series, focusing on the topic of early childhood education. This year’s featured speakers were Julia Torquati, Ph.D., professor and graduate director at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln; and Karen La Paro, Ph.D., professor of human development and family studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
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orquati visited the OU campus on Feb. 15, meeting with faculty members and community constituents in early childhood development before giving her talk at the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation Auditorium. Her talk focused on her research of children’s development related to natural environments. Her research looks at how natural environments provide opportunities to develop funds of knowledge and empathy and respect for all living things. Those funds of knowledge differ for children who, for example, may have never visited a lake and aren’t able to reason that throwing trash in a lake would harm living things. Related to schools, research done by Torquati and colleagues shows that students who have window views of green space perform better on attention tasks. A comparison of 56 Canadian schoolyards before and after “greening” showed more physical activity and more prosocial behavior and less hierarchical play. A Boston schoolyard initiative resulted in significantly improved standardized test scores.
In Torquati’s study, students were exposed to cognitive fatigue, followed by exposure to nature, either through a walk or photos. They were then given cognitive assessments after the exposure to a nature setting. Impact of Urban Nature on Executive Functioning in Early and Middle Childhood (Schutte, Torquati, & Beattie, 2015) showed that preschoolers’ spatial working memory was more accurate after a nature walk.
Karen La Paro
(L to R): Dean Gregg Garn, J.P. Audas, Don Humphreys and Cathey Simmons Humphreys
After La Paro’s initial talk was postponed due to weather, she made it to campus on April 10 to give a talk on intentionality and meaning making in early childhood education. Her work focuses on the intersectionality between the quality of early care and education programs and teacher preparation and education. The talk was split into two sections, focusing systems of observations in the classroom and the processes and outcomes of what is taught in teacher preparation programs. The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (Pianta, La Paro, & Hamre, 2007) examines interactions and relationships as the foundation for quality at the classroom level through emotional support, classroom organization and instructional support. The second observation system, Early Childhood Quality Improvement Pathway System, observes through curriculum and pedagogy, teacher-child interactions, peer interactions, routines and transitions, and availability and use of space and materials. The second half of La Paro’s lecture moved to making meaning and the intentions and experiences that go into preparing early childhood education teachers. Questions asked of research participants included how to cooperating teachers communicate with teacher candidates, in what areas to teacher candidates report receiving communication and how does communications occur related to the teacher candidates’ experience. Teacher candidates were also part of an identity study where they were asked for their perceptions, influences and views related to the teaching profession.
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BEERS EARNS DISSERTATION AWARD
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ssistant Professor Courtney Beers, Ph.D., was named the 2017 National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators Outstanding Dissertation Award winner.
Beers’ dissertation, Early Childhood Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge of Children’s Cognitive Development and Developmentally Appropriate Pedagogical Practices: Understanding the role of clinical experiences, was submitted to Florida Atlantic University, where she earned her doctoral degree in August 2016. Beers is in her second year at OU, teaching early childhood education in the department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum. Her research and teaching interests include child development, cognitive development, teacher preparation and developmental implications of non-familial care.
SINCLAIR NAMED CEC GRADUATE STUDENT OF THE YEAR
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eannine Rainbolt College of Education Ph.D. student Tracy Sinclair was named the 2018 Council for Exceptional Children Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year. Sinclair is a student in the special education program.
The CEC Student Awards recognize CEC’s outstanding college student members — undergraduate and graduate students — and chapter advisers who make outstanding contributions to CEC and to exceptional children. The Outstanding Graduate Student award honors a student CEC member for his or her dedication and contribution to children and youth with exceptionalities and to student activities. Student award recipients received a plaque at an awards ceremony during the CEC Annual Convention & Expo, held Feb. 7-10 in Tampa, Florida. Sinclair currently is a Sooner Scholar at the OU Zarrow Center for Learning Enrichment and entered OU’s doctoral program as a threetime teacher of the year at multiple grade levels, special education department chair and RTI coordinator. “Tracy is constantly formulating new ideas to improve our field,” said Amber McConnell, Ph.D., assistant director of learning enrichment at the Zarrow Center. “When other doctoral students are working on projects, they often seek feedback from Tracy. She strategically guides conversations to solutions. This is such an important quality when so many people can only see problems.” “Tracy has excelled in her courses, scholarly undertakings and in professional service,” said Jim Martin, Ph.D., former director of the Zarrow Center. “She has become a peer leader of those in her doctoral cohort, and this becomes obvious in class and community projects.”
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Sinclair also was elected by student members as the student representative to the representative assembly for the Council for Exceptional Children. Her term of office began on Jan. 1.
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OWENS NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR manda Owens was named the 2017-18 Teacher of the year for Lakeview Elementary in Norman Public Schools.
Owens graduated from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education at OU in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. In her 15th year as an educator, Owens taught kindergarten in the Oklahoma City Public Schools for five years before returning to Norman to teach Pre-K. “I believe the most important part of teaching is building relationships with students and families,” Owens said. “Every year, my goal with each child is for them to love school and want to become life long learners.”
Front Row (L to R): Matthew Becker, Zac Cameron and Dillon Stanley. Back Row (L to R): Dayali Corrales, Chanel Glasper and Rachana Bhat. OU INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS WERE SELECTED TO ATTEND THE NCAA EMERGING LEADERS SEMINAR, JAN. 24-26 IN INDIANAPOLIS. The ELS is an annual professional development event that provides effective leadership, educational and transitional programing for more than 200 current graduate assistants and interns from NCAA membership schools, conference offices and affiliate organizations. At ELS, students explore the role of NCAA governance, including the differences in the divisions and the role of conference offices, and also get the opportunity to identify, and network with, key decision makers within college athletics.
URICK EARNS EARLY CAREER AWARD
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ssistant Professor Angela Urick has been named the 2018 American Educational Research Association Division A Early Career Award winner. She was recognized during the Division A business meeting at the AERA annual meeting in April in New York.
Each year, Division A of the AERA presents an Early Career Award. This award recognizes an early career scholar within his/her first seven years after the award of the doctorate or in the first five years of tenure-track position and who has made outstanding research contributions to the field of leadership, administration, or organizational theory. Scholars are nominated for this award. Urick is in her fifth year as an assistant professor at OU. She graduated with her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies in 2012 from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her research is rigorous, grounded in testing and expanding theories important to education leadership research, theory and practice, and considers large educationally relevant national and international datasets. In her research, she considers the multiple dimensions of school leadership, and how leaders impact student learning, thus creating actionable recommendations for research, policy and practice. Alex Bowers, Ph.D., Urick’s dissertation adviser and now colleague, nominated Urick for this distinguished honor because of her commitment to research in the field, as well as her involvement in volunteerism, mentoring and service positions. “I have known Dr. Urick for 10 years,” Bowers said. “I believe that Dr. Urick is one of the top new faculty in education leadership nationally.” To date, Urick has published 15 scholarly works, including 11 peer reviewed journal articles, two book chapters and two technical reports, along with six peer-reviewed journal articles under review. She has published in multiple top journals in the field, including Educational Administration Quarterly, the Journal of School Leadership and the Journal of Educational Administration.
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FACULTY RESEARCH: Why Are Teachers Leaving Oklahoma? One of the great things about being a faculty member in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education is that you get to develop a rich network of graduates who are teachers throughout Oklahoma and the region.
In looking at the future of our educational system, Cullen was concerned when she found that more than half of the teachers who left had an advanced degree, most were traditionally prepared and most had been been teachers in Oklahoma for five years or more. In contrast, in the same academic year, Oklahoma approved almost 2,000 emergency certified teachers, so the loss of experienced teachers was an even greater concern.
In the past several years, as cuts to education in our state increased, Associate Professor Theresa Cullen noticed that more and more students were leaving Oklahoma to teach in other states. “I was personally moved by their stories and the reactions they got from their communities when they left to teach elsewhere,” Cullen said. During the summer of 2017, Cullen watched on social media communities such as Facebook and in the #Oklaed twitter hashtag as educators like the 2016 Oklahoma teacher of the year Shawn Sheehan shared announcements that they would be leaving. She was struck some of the negative things that were being said to these educators, knowing it was not an easy decision for them to leave their homes and communities and put their families first.
“I honestly started this project to honor our educators in our state,” Cullen said. “I knew that the teacher shortage was a risk to Oklahoma and to our kids. By doing this study, I was able to help fulfill the mission of the university to be of service to our state and society. I hope that my work contributed to some of the necessary conversations that we have had and will be having to keep our state competitive and our students well prepared.”
That led to her decision to send out a survey via social media to collect data about those teachers who left the state. She sent it out during the first week of the 2017-2018 school year and had almost 300 replies in less than 72 hours. “I was really careful to limit the study to those had already taught in Oklahoma, formed community relationships and then decided to teach in another state,” Cullen said. “There is a big difference between starting a career in a new place, and uprooting your family or routines because being a teacher is so important to you.”
What she found is that teachers did not regret their decision to leave but missed their communities. About 30 percent said they would be willing to return if Oklahoma fixed education. While a lot of the media coverage focused on the average salary difference of $19,000 for teachers teaching in another state, Cullen also found that feelings of hopelessness and lack of respect were major contributors to teachers leaving the state.
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The teachers who left Oklahoma were 85.37% traditionally certified, having completed a full degree in a teacher education program. 51% had a degre beyond their bachelor’s. The certifications they held represented some of the most high-need areas in the state, including Early Childhood, Elementary, Special Education, Math and Science (OSSBA, 2017). The highest number of years of teaching in Oklahoma was 41 years with 49% being vested in Oklahoma teacher retirement (5 or more years).
2017 FALL CONVOCATION Students, faculty, staff, family and friends gathered at McCasland Field House on Dec. 16 to honor graduates for the fall 2017 semester. Doctor of Education in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision graduate Stephanie Hinton was the featured speaker as a representative of the graduating class.
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LEE ROLAND WORKS TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF STUDENTS IN OKC BY CHANDLER LINDSEY
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ee Roland grew up in Oklahoma City and was always interested in teaching. After being invited to substitute teach for a school, he felt that education was his calling.
Roland, who earned his master of education degree. in educational administration, curriculum and supervision from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education in 1993, has lovingly labored as an educator and administrator for 30 years. He currently serves on staff at The Parish in Oklahoma City, and is a motivational speaker, education consultant and adjunct professor of sociology at Southern Nazarene University. Roland formerly spent 12 years as principal of Tulakes Elementary in the Putnam City School District. His new book, Fantastic Voyage: A Story of School Turnaround and Achievement by Overcoming Poverty and Addressing Race, chronicles the success enjoyed by he and his staff in an at-risk community in northwest Oklahoma City that had only known failure prior to his arrival. Before Roland’s arrival, Tulakes Elementary was known for having the highest suspensions and lowest test scores. Because of Roland’s innovative leadership, Tulakes has dramatically shifted in morale and academic performance. In his last two years, the school’s transformation resulted in competitive test scores and its lowest suspension rate with only one suspension. He credits this kind of success to shifting the way he and his teachers discipline and ultimately perceive their students. By focusing on getting to the root of the problem and understanding why a student is misbehaving, Roland believes teachers and administrators can positively change the student body morale and performance. His idea was to ask the teachers to “teach” the students how to behave rather than to discipline them when they misbehave. “It’s the same way you would teach mathematics or how to play the violin,” Roland said. “You get the bad behavior to stop, and then you teach them how to do the right thing.” After he and his teachers started treating their students with the same respect they expected their students to treat them, Tulakes started to flourish.
“My philosophy is, I can’t make anyone do anything, but I can be an influence with my own behavior,” Roland said. “If I reach a hand out to you first, you will most likely want to reciprocate.” Though it once used to be an undesirable environment, Roland realized his own teachers started enrolling their own children into the school. This new way of teaching and leading not only changed the overall performance of the school, but it also created a never-before-seen morale boost for Tulakes. “It shows that passion and leadership can really turn a school around,” Roland said. “Tulakes became a school where teachers and kids wanted to be. Teachers wanted their own kids to be there, too.” Roland has always labored exhaustively in the field to both serve and meet the needs of students, teachers and parents. His dedication and determination are evident as he endeavors to inspire and propel others who serve, to touch lives and to make a difference, particularly for children. “My blessing and my curse is I remember my emotions of being a child,” Roland said. “I can remember what it felt like to be at that age, so it’s easy for me to be able to look at their situations differently.” In addition to enjoying success in his roles as a special education teacher, principal, and area superintendent, Roland has spoken and presented at numerous conferences, venues and workshops across Oklahoma and the United States, particularly on the subjects of character education, working with children of poverty and teacher efficacy. Roland continues to serve on several city, civic and community boards, most of which involve the welfare of children. He believes it is America’s moral obligation to improve our society via the public school. To read more about Roland’s inspirational work at Tulakes, his book can be found on Amazon.com.
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BOARD OF ADVOCATES BOARD OF ADVOCATES MEMBER BARBARA THOMPSON WAS INDUCTED INTO THE WILL ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ON APRIL 6. Members of the Rogers Hall of Fame are selected by the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation, and they’re honored with a display in the hallways of the school. Thompson graduated from OU with a bachelor of arts degree in French and teaching certificates in French and history. She taught French in the Oklahoma City and Putnam City public schools and on educational television, as well as writing curriculum and training other teachers. The Oklahoma Chapter of American Mothers, Inc. named Thompson Oklahoma Mother of the Year in 1995, and she was selected from the 50 state Mothers of the Year as National Mother of the Year.
Thompson served as Honorary Counsel of France for Oklahoma for 10 years, helping French citizens living in Oklahoma, and representing the government of France at diplomatic functions. She initiated a memorandum of understanding between the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the school system of the region of Picardie, France. Thompson was awarded Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French president, and later was elevated to Officier of the Legion of Honor. France’s Legion of Honor was created by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802 and is the highest honor given by France to military and civilians for outstanding achievements in cultural, scientific, academic and humanitarian endeavors Thompson’s honors include being named Distinguished Alumnus of the OU College of Arts and Sciences, and receiving the JRCoE Meritorious Service Award and OU Regents’ Alumni Award for leadership in service. She’s also served as president of the OU Bizzell Library Society,
Front Row (L to R): Sharon Lease, Barbara Thompson, Linda Lytle, Emily Stratton, Roberta Burrage. Back Row (L to R): Dean Gregg Garn, Patty Bartell, Danni Boz, Margaret Pape, Charlotte Jones, Faith Clune, Jane Kenney, Lori Thrower, Jenny Dakil, Cathey Humphreys, Jan Barrick Plant. Not Pictured: Sally Bentley, Joe Castiglione, Katie Dunlap, Ruth Ann Fate, Shawn Hime, Huntley Kubitza, Kristin Lipe, Janise McIntyre, Linda Rodgers, Marilyn N. Sullivan, Jennifer Thompson.
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TRIO OF PROFESSORS EARN FACULTY HONORS Three Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education professors were recognized at the annual Faculty Tribute ceremony hosted by the OU Board of Regents and President David L. Boren on April 10. DIANE HORM - DAVID L. BOREN PROFESSORSHIP Diane Horm, Ph.D., is the George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Education, as well as director of the Early Childhood Education Institute at OU-Tulsa. Horm joined the OU faculty in 2006 and was the founding director of the ECEI. She is a past winner of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Leadership/ Citizenship award, as well as the JRCoE Research award. KRISTY BRUGAR - ROBERT L. AND NAN A. HUDDLESTON PRESIDENTIAL PROFESSORSHIP IN EDUCATION Kristy Brugar, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of social studies education in the Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum. Brugar joined the OU faculty in 2014 and was awarded the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Junior Faculty award in 2016. PAULA MCWHIRTER - UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD Paula McWhirter, Ph.D., is a professor of counseling psychology and professional counseling, as well as the training director for counseling psychology. McWhirter came to OU in 2006, after time spent as a clinical director and therapist. A Fulbright scholar, McWhirter completed her dissertation on intervention strategies with high-risk youth while training at a school-based community mental health center in Santiago, Chile.
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BRUGAR RECEIVES EARLY CAREER AWARD
ssistant Professor Kristy Brugar has been awarded the Early Career Award for the College and University Faculty Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies.
This award, made to a scholar in the early (pre-tenured) stages of his/her career (with degree awarded during or after 2010), recognizes a significant program of research on important problems of theory and/or practice in the area of social education. The recipient of this award must be engaged in scholarly inquiry that extends a significant line of research, addresses new and/or persistent issues of concern to the field, fills a gap in current knowledge or raises significant questions about extant knowledge. In addition, the awardee should be engaged in studying problems or questions that are timely and that contribute to current debates or dilemmas of theory and/or practice. The scholar’s body of work must be characterized by conceptual and/or empirical significance, rigor, coherence and sophistication, and must hold potential to contribute significantly to scholarship in the field. Said one reviewer on the awards committee, “What put Kristi on top for me was the quality/quantity of her work, years past doctoral study and overall service to the profession.” College and University Faculty Assembly is an affiliate group of the National Council for the Social Studies. CUFA consists of higher education faculty members, graduate students and others interested in working with social educators (K-16) such as social scientists, historians and philosophers. It also is an advocacy organization for social studies education.
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JRCOE HOLDS SCREENING OF HBCU DOCUMENTARY, OFFERS PANEL DISCUSSION
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he Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education on April 4 welcomed faculty, students and the public to take part in a screening of the documentary Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities. The screening was followed by a panel discussion. The film takes a look at America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their influence over the course of the nation for more than 150 years. Despite their rich tradition of education that began before the end of slavery, the history and influence of these institutions remains largely unknown. The event was organized by Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Academic Inclusion T. Elon Dancy. He was joined on the panel by Assistant Professor Mirelsie Velazquez, Assistant Professor Kirsten T. Edwards, and graduate students E. Cheryl Ponder and Eric Sourie. While the film touched on much of the history of HBCUs, the discussion after delved into topics that were either glossed over or ignored by the film, including the erasure of the role of Black women in the founding of these schools and the role women at HBCUs played in the Civil Rights Movement. The panelists and audience also discussed the role of HBCUs today, and the desire for the film to expand to show the work of HBCU faculty in the 21st century.
(L to R): Eric Sourie, Mirelsie Velazquez, Kirsten T. Edwards, E. Cheryl Ponder and T. Elon Dancy led a panel discussion after the film screening. Sourie, Edwards, Ponder and Dancy are all graduates of an HBCU.
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SCEC PROM 2018
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he Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education’s Student Council for Exceptional Children held its annual prom on April 13 at Oklahoma Memorial Union. Guests ages 17 and up from around Norman enjoyed a festive atmosphere with food, dancing, games and a photo booth.
This year’s prom was named in honor of Joyce Brandes, who retired in December after more than 13 years as a special education faculty member in the college. Brandes worked closely with SCEC and the development of the prom event throughout the years. The prom was made possible thanks to Jerry Durbin, attorney at Durbin, Larimore, and Bialick; Brandes and Yancy, PLLC; Miller and Johnson – Attorneys At Law; Underground Printing; and all of the supporters of the Brandes Fund.
THE BIG EVENT 2018 S
tudents and staff from the college took part in The Big Event 2018 on April 14. The group gathered at Prairie Queen Elementary in Oklahoma City, spending the day brightening the halls with a new coat of paint.
The Big Event is the University of Oklahoma’s official day of community service. The Big Event strives to unify campus and community through one big day of service and gratitude.
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BOWERS BRINGS DATA MAPPING TO JRCOE
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lex J. Bowers, Ph.D., associate professor of education leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, brought his data expertise to OU March 7-8 as part of the JRCoE Endowed Lecture Series. Bowers led a workshop and gave two talks on topics related to cluster analysis heatmaps, examining school leadership as a congruency and using big data visual and education analytics to inform evidencebased improvement cycles in schools.
Department of African and African American Studies Named in Honor of Clara Luper
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niversity of Oklahoma President David L. Boren announced the naming of the Department of African and African American Studies in honor of longtime educator and civil rights leader Clara Luper, who made many contributions to diversity and inclusion efforts in Oklahoma. The announcement was made at the March meeting of the OU Board of Regents.
“We honor Clara Luper as a trailblazer for human rights and as a symbol of the university’s commitment to equal opportunity for all people,” Boren said. Known as the “Mother of the Oklahoma Civil Rights Movement,” Luper was a tireless advocate of education and civil rights, having led the first sit-in of the modern Civil Rights Movement on Aug. 19, 1958, at the thensegregated Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City. Luper was one of OU’s very first Black graduates, attaining her master’s degree from the College of Education in
Assistant Professor Ben Heddy enjoys his pie as a celebration of Pi Day.
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1951. She was instrumental in leading the fight to end segregation in Oklahoma and led campaigns to gain equal banking rights, employment opportunities, open housing and voting rights. She also personally integrated hundreds of restaurants, cafes, theaters, hotels and churches. For 41 years, Luper taught history and public relations at Dunjee High School in Spencer, Oklahoma, and at John Marshall and Classen High Schools in Oklahoma City. Luper was the first African American vice president of the Oklahoma City Social Science Teachers Association and the first African American vice president of the Oklahoma County Teachers Association. Luper, who passed away in 2011, grew up in Hoffman, Oklahoma. For more information, visit ou.edu/cas/afam Release courtesy of OU Public Affairs.
JRCoE Celebrates Pi Day
JRCoE math education faculty members Stacy Reeder and Kate Raymond treated JRCoE students, faculty and staff to pie as a celebration of Pi Day on March 14.
HAPPENINGS SPRING 2018 O
n Dec. 13, the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education celebrated Julie Comer as she retired after nearly 20 years of service to the college. Originally starting as a temporary hire in March 1998, just one month later Comer came on full time as assistant to then-Dean Joan Smith.
“I will always be grateful to Dean Joan Smith for giving me the opportunity to work for OU and this wonderful college,” Comer said. As her duties expanded thanks to the numerous responsibilities of Dean Gregg Garn, Comer was never without a smile on her face and a warm greeting for all who entered the Dean’s Suite. “Julie made this office run,” Garn said. “We will miss her and wish her the best in retirement.”
FACULTYANDSTAFF SANDRA ANDERSON, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Anderson, lead housekeeper for Collings Hall, was awarded the Molly and David Boren Award for Excellence in Housekeeping. AMY BRADSHAW, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Bradshaw was elected to a second three-year term as vice president for research and publications of the Culture, Learning, & Technology Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology.
• Invited panelist (with OU colleagues) for a session of the
Midwinter Meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication: Media, Information, and Citizenship Literacy: An Interdisciplinary Discussion.
• All You Need is Love?, presentation at “Oklahoma
Education: A Call to Action” an event cosponsored by the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education and Women’s and Gender Studies Center for Social Justice.
MIKE CROWSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Crowson was one of 13 recipients of University Libraries’ Alternative Textbook grants for implementing open educational resources for their classes in the 2018-2019 academic year. The grants from these projects alone are projected to save OU students more than $850,000 over the next three years. Previous recipients of the Alternative Textbook Grant have already saved OU students over $1.9 million since the program began in 2014. Crowson specializes in research methods and statistics and received his doctorate in educational research at the University of Alabama. He has been with OU since 2002. He primarily teaches courses in introductory, intermediate, and advanced statistics. Crowson will be developing a website combining openly licensed videos, textual information, access to powerpoints and embedded practice problems for EIPT 5023, “Analysis of Quantitative Data.” BARBI DELONG, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS DeLong was named the JRCoE Staff Service Award winner for the fourth quarter.
• Published a recent book chapter: Minding the stories we
KIRSTEN T. EDWARDS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES Edwards recently published the book College Curriculum at the Crossroads: Women of Color Reflect and Resist (Critical Social Thought).
• In press: Reconsidering the instructional design & technology
Edwards and Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Academic Inclusion T. Elon Dancy published the article Historically white universities and plantation politics: Antiblackness and higher education in the black lives matter era in Urban Education, 53(2), 176-195.
tell: Acknowledging and addressing implicit narratives in IDT, in Hokanson, Clinton, & Kaminski (eds.) Educational Design and Narrative: Story and Instructional Design (pp. 231-247). New York: Springer.
timeline through a lens of social justice. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning.
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HAPPENINGS SPRING 2018 BILL FRICK, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES Frick recently published a book titled Developing Ethical Principles for School Leadership with co-authors Lisa Bass and Michelle D. Young. XUN GE, PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Ge was part of a two-week scholarly visit to the University of Hong Kong from Nov. 20 -Dec. 2, 2017. Ge was selected as recipient of Faculty Visitor and Robert Black College Outstanding Visiting Fellow awards by the university. During her visit, Ge gave two presentations titled A Design Architecture for Supporting Collaborative Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning with ICTs and Design ICT-Enhanced Scaffolding Mechanisms Focusing on Self-Regulation Processes in Problem-Based Learning Environments. In addition, she had opportunities to visit with the faculty of education discussing research projects and providing mentoring sessions to their doctoral students. BENJAMIN HEDDY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Heddy was selected to serve on the Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education for the American Psychological Association. This is a committee of scholars who meet twice a year in Washington, D.C., to implement plans to use psychological theory and practice to improve schools. SUSAN LAIRD, PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES Laird’s AESA Executive Council presidential lecture School Lunch Matters: Encountering the New Jim Crow and the Anthropocene, has been published in the latest issue of Educational Studies 54(1):17-33, 2018. She currently serves on AESA’s Executive Council as past president, leading deliberations about awards and nominations in 2018. She also serves on the editorial board of the international journal Studies in Philosophy and Education. DOO HUN LIM, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES Lim received the 2018 Cutting Edge Award from the Academy of Human Resource Development. His study titled Motivational Mediation Process and Moderating Effect of Career Planning on Training Transfer was selected as one of the best eight papers presented at the 2018 AHRD International Conference. NANCY MARCHAND-MARTELLA, PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY RON MARTELLA, PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Marchand-Martella and Martella were invited to speak as a series of conferences in fall 2017:
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• Multi-tiered behavior support: A primer (Session 1). Invited
address presented at the Early Childhood Conference of Oklahoma, State Department of Education, Oklahoma City.
• The big ideas of effective instruction within an MTSS
framework. Invited address presented at the Fall Oklahoma School Psychology Association Conference, Oklahoma City.
• When it comes to providing instruction, remember to be
like Kevin Bacon. Invited address presented at the Fall Oklahoma School Psychology Association Conference, Oklahoma City.
• Providing behavior support for all students: Navigating
behavior management in today’s classrooms. Invited address presented at the Fall Oklahoma School Psychology Association Conference, Oklahoma City.
EMILY REED, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Reed was given a Distinguished Performance Award from the Organizational Staff Council. TRUDY RHODES, DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC CURRICULUM Rhodes was given a Distinguished Performance Award from the Organizational Staff Council. ANNA STEELE, ACADEMIC ADVISING Steele was given a Distinguished Performance Award from the Hourly Employees Council. MIRELSIE VELAZQEZ, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES During the fall 2017 section of EDS 6973 (Documentary and Narrative Research), Velazquez worked with a cohort of students to create a digital humanities project. The resulting course project offers a brief visual history of education in Oklahoma. The website can be found at: http://docnarr. oucreate.com/. Velazquez received a Junior Faculty Fellowship Award from OU Research Council. The award provides financial support to develop her research on Coming out of the margins: Oklahoma communities of color and the quest for educational justice. The Junior Faculty Fellowship is a distinct and distinguished honor that recognizes faculty making a substantial contribution to the field and community through their scholarship. Fewer than 16 of the 54 proposals were funded. DONNA WILLIS, ZARROW CENTER FOR LEARNING ENRICHMENT Willis was given a Distinguished Performance Award from the Hourly Employees Council.
HAPPENINGS SPRING 2018 STUDENTS HAJAR ALMUTLAQ, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Almutlaq presented a poster titled Effectiveness of Using the Social Stories Application to Improve Social Skills in ElementaryAged Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the 40th annual TED Conference. TED 2017 was held in Savannah, Georgia, Nov. 7-10, 2017, at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront. BELKIS CHOISEUL-PRASLIN, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Choiseul-Praslin, a Sooner Scholar in the special education program, was designated an Hispanic Scholarship Fund scholar. She also was a two-time presenter and facilitator at Oklahoma Transition Institute 2017, as well as presenting at the Division on Career Development and Transition conference. MAKAYLA HUNTER, B.S. ED. STUDENT, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Hunter was named one of five recipients of the 2017 Rita H. Lottinville Prize. She was honored at a luncheon in December at which OU Senior Vice President and Provost Kyle Harper and OU Foundation President Guy L. Patton presented the awards. Winners were selected from a pool of 553 sophomores who took a minimum of 12 credit hours and maintained a 3.8 grade-point average or better both semesters of their freshman year. The annual prizes were established in 1952 and endowed in 1982 by the late Savoie Lottinville in honor of his wife. A 30-year trustee of the OU Foundation, Lottinville was director emeritus of the OU Press and Regents’ Professor Emeritus of History. LONI LEFORCE, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY LeForce was named winner of the American Council for Rural Special Education John Schuster Research Award.
JOSHUA PULOS, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Pulos was part of a group awarded a $3,000 grant for Advocating for Change: The Development and Dissemination of a State Special Education Legislative Summit Toolkit. (Council for Exceptional Children, Division on Career Development and Transition Sept. 20, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.) It was awarded to the Oklahoma-Division on Career Development and Transition (OK-DCDT) State Chapter. BETHANY RANDEL, B.S. ED. STUDENT, SPECIAL EDUCATION Randel was named the Alumni Scholars Scholarship winner for fall 2017. DEREK SCARSELLA, B.S. ED. STUDENT, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Scarsella was given the Regents’ Award for Outstanding Juniors at the OU Campus Awards ceremony on April 6. SARA SEALS, B.S. ED. STUDENT, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Seals was one of six students given the President’s Award for Outstanding Transfer Students at the OU Campus Awards ceremony on April 6. SEHRISH SHAHABUDDIN, B.S. ED. STUDENT, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Shahabuddin was named to the PE-ET Top 10 Senior Honor Society at the OU Campus Awards ceremony on April 6. ERIC SOURIE, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES Sourie has been accepted to the AERA Division F (History and Historiography) 2018 Mentoring Program. He will have the opportunity to work alongside some of the leading figures in history of education. Sourie also presented his research on the history of education in Oklahoma Black towns at the 2017 History of Education Society meeting.
EBONY C. POPE, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY STUDIES Pope received the Provost Certificate of Distinction in Teaching for Outstanding Graduate Assistants. ASHLEY PROCTOR, PH.D. STUDENT, EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Proctor was a facilitator at Oklahoma Transition Institute 2017. She also is currently a board member for the Down Syndrome Association of Oklahoma. Proctor is a special education teacher/case manager for Noble Public Schools. Undergraduate students in the Literacy for Primary Grades class performed reader’s theater as well as read storybooks to the children at J.D. McCarty Center in Norman to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
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HAPPENINGS SPRING 2018 ALUMNI JOE CASTIGLIONE (M. ED., 2007) Castiglione was named to the 2018 Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. Founded in 1986, each year a selection committee chooses a ballot of 20 from the list of nominees. Castiglione has been OU’s athletics director since 1998, and leads a department that has won 16 national championships this century. In addition, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced Castiglione as one of four recipients of the 2017-18 Under Armour AD of the Year Award for the Football Bowl Subdivision. The award recognizes accomplishments from February 2017 through January 2018. In its 20th year, NACDA’s Athletics Director of the Year Program highlights the efforts of ADs at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, campuses and their surrounding communities. This marks the third time in Castiglione’s OU tenure that he has won a national athletics director of the year award. BREANNA FARIS (M.ED., 2016) Faris, assistant director of American Indian Student Life at OU, was named Outstanding Emerging Professional by the American College Personnel Association Coalition for Women’s Identities.
JOHNNIE KEEL (B.S. 1995; M.ED. 1998) Keel, a teacher at Truman Elementary School, is the 2018 Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. Keel switched careers from an office job in the oil business 22 years ago. Today, she is the gifted resource coordinator at Truman, which includes providing enrichment programs to all third-, fourth- and fifth-graders as well as weekly enrichments to more than 146 students in the gifted and talented program. She also teaches advanced math class for fourth- and fifth-graders. SHAWN SHEEHAN (M. ED., 2011) Sheehan was featured on CBS This Morning segment on March 14, talking about school safety, as well as the issues with teacher pay in Oklahoma. Sheehan is currently teaching Algebra I at Lewisville High School in Harmon, Texas. He was the 2016 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year as a math and special education teacher at Norman High School. BRENT UPHAM (M. ED., 2012) Upham earned his Ed.D. in higher education from Southern Methodist University in spring 2018. Upham currently is assistant director of M.S. admissions at the Cox School of Business at SMU. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in letters from OU in 2009. His wife, Erica, earned her bachelors of arts degree in international studies from OU in 2010.
THE HONOR ROLL HAS MOVED! The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Honor Roll recognizing our generous donors can be found online. Visit http://bit.ly/JRCoEHonorRoll for a complete list of our most recent donors.
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HAPPENINGS SPRING 2018
PURCHASE YOUR 2018-19 JRCOE T-SHIRT T-shirts are available for purchase in Collings Hall on the OU campus. • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Not in Norman but still want to represent JRCoE and education? To order a JRCoE t-shirt: • Email Barbi DeLong at bdelong@ou.edu to ensure your preferred size is still available • Send a note with your name, shirt size(s) and mailing address along with a check made payable to the OU Foundation for $12 ($10 for the shirt and $2 towards shipping) to: Barbi DeLong OU College of Education 820 Van Vleet Oval, #150W Norman, OK 73019-2041 • Your shirt(s) will be mailed once the check is received. Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
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By becoming a monthly supporter of the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, you will provide year-round opportunities for students and faculty who are working to improve education in Oklahoma and beyond. Funds donated will be directed to the college’s general fund, which supports student scholarships, emergency student needs and multiple student organizations, among other initiatives.
Donating is easy. By having a small amount charged to your credit card each month, you can make a BIG impact without writing a huge check. You can cancel or change the amount of your monthly gift at any time. Examples of how your monthly gift can make an impact:
• $6 a month can provide refreshments for the college’s weekly Tuesday Tea event for undergraduate and graduate students.
• $12 a month can support a book club for JRCoE students for an entire semester.
• $22 a month can provide annual dues to national student organizations for outstanding students. You can set up your monthly contribution by visiting http://bit.ly/OUOnlineGiving and selecting “Make my gift ongoing” under Payment Options. You also can contact Director of Development Emily Reed at (405) 325-1976, or emilymapes@ou.edu to set up your giving options.
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The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA
820 Van Vleet Oval | Norman, OK | 73019-2041
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