SPRING 2016 NEWSLETTER
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Faculty Spotlight
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Alumni Spotlight
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Media Studies
06
Parent to Parent
faculty
SPOTLIGHT: Nita Matzen
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eet Nita Matzen, an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies who specializes in Library Science. Dr. Matzen received her B.S. in social work and a minor in art. Aer starting her own stained-glass studio, she discovered her love for teaching by helping others create their own art pieces. is realization led her back to school to receive her B.S. Ed. with a concentration in middle grades mathematics. Following graduation from her B.S. Ed. program, Dr. Matzen began her career in education as a middle school mathematics teacher which later led to her becoming a library media coordinator. Her stint as a library media coordinator lasted 16 years. Aer working in a statewide role with the Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA), she made the transition to Project Director with the Technology and Learning Program at the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro. Dr. Matzen arrived at the Reich College of Education in 2007. When asked what her favorite thing about teaching is at Appalachian State, she replied: “As an innovator, my favorite thing about teaching at Appalachian State is that faculty are encouraged to implement innovative teaching practices in their courses. For example, faculty in the MLS (Masters in Library Science) program choose to teach in a 3D immersive virtual environment because the technology enables us to build a sense of community that is similar to face-to-face among the graduate students enrolled in our completely online program.”
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“My favorite thing about teaching at Appalachian State is that faculty are encouraged to implement innovative teaching practices in their courses.” Dr. Matzen's technological focus has allowed her to break down barriers for students interested in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM). She has been the principal investigator on an NSF grant, STEM and ICT Instructional Worlds: e 3D Experience (STEM-ICT 3D). is grant examined a model for incorporating the use of 3D virtual worlds in middle schools. Middle school students who participated in this project became technical experts who worked with their instructors to construct 3D virtual environments to use for instruction. More than 48 students and 73 instructors from North and South Carolina participated in the program. Collaboration is essential for Dr. Matzen who works with graduate students interested in Library Science. “e majority of the students enrolled in our program are working adults and are very dedicated to their current or future work in libraries. I get to see these students come into the program with very little understanding of what a school or public librarian does to leaving the program to go on to become leaders in the eld.” With a wealth of knowledge and experience in her career, Dr. Matzen has offered some advice for future teachers, “Remember that you do not have to close your classroom door and teach in isolation. Your students can have the bene t of two experienced educators when you collaborate with your school media coordinator to integrate instruction.”
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he James Center provided an enrichment trip for the Appalachian Community of Education Scholars (ACES) November 13-16, 2015. is professional opportunity allowed the ACES Senior Class to travel to the Outer Banks of North Carolina focusing on signi cant topics in education. Topics included teacher leadership, brain-based research, the NC teacher evaluation instrument, and classroom management strategies. e sessions were held at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) on Ocracoke Island. Guest speakers included Alton Ballance, NCCAT Center Fellow; Keana Triplett, 2015-2016 NC Teacher of the Year and Appalachian Alum, NC Teaching Fellow; Brian Bettis, Alum and NC Teaching Fellow; and Sonya Rinehart, DPI Northeast Regional Educational Facilitator. Along with the professional development components and team building exercises, the students were able to explore the village of Ocracoke to discuss and analyze history,
...the students were able to explore the village of Ocracoke to discuss and analyze history, culture and geography of this unique barrier island. culture, and geography of this unique barrier island. It was also valuable for the students to visit Ocracoke School, a preK-12 school, that thrives despite the lack of resources and conveniences to the “mainland.” Trisha Caviness, Assistant Director of the James Center for Appalachian Educators, taught at Ocracoke School for two years. She shared with the group about the importance of school culture and community. Jan Stanley, Director of the James Center for Appalachian Educators, hopes this will become a regular tradition for the ACES Organization. e James Center remains appreciative of the supporters of this trip. Submitted by Trisha Caviness
Appalachian Community of Education Scholars
ACES Visit the Outer Banks
alumni
SPOTLIGHT: Ashley Pennell
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shley Pennell is a current student in the doctoral program at Appalachian State University where she is studying Educational Leadership with a concentration in Reading and Literacy. In addition to taking classes she is also an adjunct instructor in the department of Reading Education and Special Education (RESE). Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Reading Education, both from the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University. Making the decision to stay at Appalachian was not necessarily planned, but when looking at other schools she always found herself gravitating back towards AppState. As a classroom teacher, Ashley was inspired to lay the foundation for her own classroom by implementing the tools professors in the Reich College of Education instilled in her throughout her experiences as an undergraduate, graduate, and now doctoral student. “e courses I took and my experiences in the Reading Clinic were what made the master's program a pivotal period for me as a teacher. e theoretical and practical knowledge I gained allowed me to think deeply about how I was teaching and what my students were learning.”
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“Never understimate the impact you will have as a future teacher.”
Today Ashley works hard to balance her teaching load which includes several undergraduate courses while taking classes herself in addition to doing research. It's no easy task, but Ashley manages it very well. She is also a member of various professional organizations. A few of these include e North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), North Carolina Reading Association (NCRA), International Literacy Association (ILA), and the Literacy Research Association (LRA). Ashley offers the following advice to pre-service teachers, “Never underestimate the impact you will have as a future teacher. e children you will one day teach will look up to you in ways that you cannot yet fathom and it is your duty to give them the best version of yourself. Be a person of integrity and strive to look for the best in others.” is perhaps is the drive that pushes Ashley to go the extra mile.
Scottish Rite and Accelerated Admissions
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he Scottish Rite has been partnering with Appalachian State University, speci cally with the Anderson Reading Clinic and the Charles and Geneva Scott Communication Sciences and Disorders Clinic for the past twenty-six years. Over the course of that time, they have given over $2 million to Appalachian State. is year alone, the Winston Salem Valley chapter of the Scottish Rite awarded the Anderson Reading Clinic $6,500 for our Accelerated Admissions program in Reading Education. e Reich College of Education houses four Accelerated Admissions programs, one being Reading Education. e Accelerated Admissions programs allow students the opportunity to begin their master's coursework while nishing their undergraduate degree. is is bene cial for students who have maintained a GPA of 3.4 or higher because they can save tuition money by taking graduate courses while a full-time undergraduate student. Plus, the GRE and MAT tests are waived. Additionally, a master's degree in Reading Education speci cally, quali es a teacher for a second area of licensure. is second area of licensure allows a teacher to work as a Reading Specialist in elementary, middle, as well as high school settings.
build an outstanding collection of reading materials (grades 1 - 6) and provide quality, hands-on supervision to the undergraduate and graduate students who tutor the children. We are very appreciative of Scottish Rite's long-standing support of our reading clinic. We could not have achieved our goals without the organization's help. e Winston Salem Valley Chapter holds an annual golf tournament to raise funds that are given to Appalachian State and the Reich College of Education. You can learn more about future golf tournaments by visiting http://www.scottishritews.org/annual-golf-turnament.html e Reich College of Education is appreciative of the generous and loyal support of the Scottish Rite. For more information on our Accelerated Admissions programs, please visit the following link: https://rcoe.appstate.edu/prospective-students/ accelerated-admission-41.
Annually, Appalachian State University receives approximately $45,000 from the Scottish Rite. Dr. Darrell Morris, director of the Anderson Reading Clinic, shares how this continued support has made a difference for Appalachian and children in the community: e Scottish Rite organization began supporting the operation of the AppState Reading Clinic in 1989. Over the past twenty-six years, Scottish Rite's generous yearly stipend has been crucial to our efforts to help struggling readers and train expert reading teachers. e Scottish Rite dollars have been used over time to
S. Ray Ashby (General Secretary of the Winston-Salem Scottish Rite Valley), Dr. Devery Ward (Accelerate Admissions Coordinator in Reading Education and Undergraduate Director of the Anderson Reading Clinic), and Michael J. Fischer (KCCH Clinic Liaison of the Winston-Salem Scottish Rite Valley)
Stay Involved. Give Back. Make a Difference.
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If you would like more information on student scholarships, naming opportunities, or adding the Reich College of Education to your estate plan, please contact Gina Harwood, Director of Development, at harwoodrl@appstate.edu or (828) 262-6563.
program
SPOTLIGHT: Media Studies
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n any given weekday, throughout the halls of the Reich College of Education, you are likely to nd yourself in the midst of a media event, with groups of students wielding digital cameras, camcorders, and microphones. You might be interviewed for a documentary by students in Mr. Jeff Goodman's Audio Documentary Production class, or nd yourself featured in an experimental green screen video in Mr. John Henson's Video Production class. Step into Digital Photography class and see students with ashlights and lightsticks, creating impressionistic light paintings. Or, you might join Media Literacy class where Drs. eresa Redmond and Damiana Pyles are leading a spirited discussion of media representations of race, gender, and identity. All of these classes and more are part of the College of Education's Media Studies Programs. We feature a campus-wide Media Studies Minor and a Second Academic Concentration in Media Studies available to education majors. We even have an online graduate program in Educational Media that attracts students from a range of professional elds all over the state! e heart of our Media Studies Program is a commitment to media literacy education that includes both the critical analysis and creative production work that have historically encompassed literacy. Students become skilled and enthusiastic media creators and curators, as well as thoughtful consumers of media messages in all forms. In both face-to-face and online courses, students collaborate, helping each other grow as artists, thinkers, and critical participants in the digital age. Indeed, the spirit of collective action, focus, and play, will be obvious if you happen to catch a Media Studies class in progress. Come join us as we explore how, in this age of digital overload, we can use media tools to pay better attention to one another and the world around us! Website: http://medialit.appstate.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appstatemediastudies/ Twitter: @appstatemedia
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Contributed by Jeff Goodman and eresa Redmond
Students conducting interviews for a documentary lm. Photo credit: Jeff Goodman
Students exploring water absorbing gel lenses in Sight and Sound class. Photo credit: Jeff Goodman
Students set up and shoot long exposures in the Charles R. Duke Rotunda. Photo credit: John Henson
Students analyze, evaluate, and create media, reading between the lines, in Media Literacy class. Blackout Poem: Andrew Vogl, Class of 2016
Students focus on perspective and framing in Video Production class. Photo credit: John Henson
Parent to Parent “ere is nothing like knowing, without a moment's hesitation, that there is someone who really understands what you are facing.” - Helen B.
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arenting is challenging work. It has been said it is probably the “toughest job you will ever love.” For parents who have a child born prematurely, have a special need, a chronic illness or have experienced the loss of a child, one of the best resources is another family who has walked in similar shoes. Reaching out to families in the High Country and helping them get connected to other caregivers, information or resources is the mission of Parent to Parent Family Support Network-High Country (www.parent2parent.appstate.e du). e program, funded through donations and a grant-supported outreach organization of the RCOE, has been helping families in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey since 1988. e program uses collaboration with service providers and ASU students to help increase understanding and acceptance of diverse abilities and special needs.
Students from all across the campus have been involved with the program as interns, service learning volunteers and fundraiser organizers/ participants. e students have been amazing! rough their fundraising they have become one of our major nancial supporters. Rhonda Russell, a lecturer in the Child Development program said, “e willingness for Parent to Parent to embrace the students during their student teaching internship has been invaluable. One student put it best, 'I honestly did not realize how big of an impact Parent to Parent has on the community and surrounding counties. It is a wonderful gi for families, caregivers, and the children.' Not only does Parent to Parent have an impact in this area, but the experiences our students gained are now in uencing their careers as they work with young children and families.“ Submitted by Kaaren Hayes
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Stay Involved CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University
Teacher Education Career Fair î‚ťursday, March 18th Scholarship Luncheon Friday, April 15th Open House Saturday, April 16th
@appstateRCOE
@appstateRCOE
Commencement Friday, May 13th NC Scottish Rite Golf Tournament & Fundraiser Friday, June 10th Winston Salem Rhododendron Society Induction Saturday, July 30th
Reich College of Education, Appalachian State University
Reich College of Education