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n Sch o o l o f e d u cat i on
Innovative Program Attracts Graduate Education Majors by Robyn Rime
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Henrietta—are all clamoring for ducation is a competimore fellows than are available, tive field, and for recent and more districts have asked to graduates, landing that be included, says Dunn. “This is dream job has grown a chance for us to give back to increasingly challenging. Recogour community partners,” she nizing this, Nazareth’s School of adds. “Not a district said no to Education has instituted a new the program.” program specially designed to In addition to providing strong grant graduate students more collaborative opportunities with than their degree and teaching local school districts, the teachcertifications. ing fellows program has met The innovative teaching felone of its goals by increasing the lows pilot program, offered this number of students in its gradufall through the School of Eduate program. cation’s Department of Inclusive Fellow Melissa Gambino ’11, Childhood Education, is a new ’12G says the hands-on nature initiative leading to professional of the program first attracted certification in inclusive childher. “Working directly in the hood education and situating classroom will help me put my graduate school learning in Left to right: Marc Nelson, principal of Harris Hill Elementary School learning from Nazareth College public schools. Students comin the Penfield School District, a teaching fellow program collaborator; into practice, and essentially plete a one-year intensive study Dr. Timothy Glander, dean of the School of Education; and teaching surpass the borders of a typical while spending two days a week fellow Allie Lunt ’11, ’12G. four-walled classroom.” Jenniin a school collaborating with fer Bloom ’11, ’12G appreciates teachers and leaders on action how the program allows her to research projects and schoolwork with students from various grade levels while providing the supbased initiatives that address needs of young learners. port of other education professionals. And Kiri Trotto ’11, ’12G sums “We don’t know anyone else who’s doing this,” says Kerry Dunn, up the appeal: “I want to be able to share the zeal I have for teaching, Ed.D., assistant professor and director of graduate inclusive childhood the passion I have for students, and the confidence I have in my ability education. “Fellows get a year of study in graduate work, plus they to make a difference with the community where I have grown up, here add the value of professional experience to their Nazareth degree.” in Rochester.” The program is highly selective, requiring students to demonstrate Word of the teaching fellows program has spread region-wide, and unusual excellence and initiative during both their academic studies Dunn intends to grow the program in the future. “I hope it becomes a and student teaching assignments. That selectivity has made the prosustainable part of an ongoing program while maintaining the highly gram very competitive. Only ten students, all undergraduate leaders, selective standards that we have in place,” she says. “This offers educawere admitted for the fall semester, and the program maintains a waittion graduates the next step. They’re getting a unique experience that ing list. “Students are taking pride in being part of the program,” says will make their resumes glow.” Timothy Glander, Ph.D., dean of the school of education. Participation by school districts in the pilot program has been For more on inclusive childhood education, visit go.naz.edu/ICE. competitive as well. The five school districts collaborating with Nazareth—Rochester City, Canandaigua, Penfield, Webster, and RushRobyn Rime is the editor of Connections.
14 CONNECTIONS | Winter 2011-12 2011-12
www.naz.edu