MEET THE FACILITATORS

Brainerd Learning Community

Dr. Dennis Lamb is in his 41st year in education and his 21st year with SMSU. His teaching background is in elementary education, having taught 5th and 6th grade for eight years and served as elementary principal for four years before transitioning his career to higher education. He taught in two private colleges in Iowa before joining SMSU in 2002, where he directed an offcampus elementary education degree program at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. He now facilitates learning communities in the north central part of the state. A career highlight occurred in 2013-14 when he was granted a sabbatical and was a visiting professor at Udon Thani Rajabhat University in Thailand for five months. He currently resides in Baxter, MN with his wife, Joni, and has two daughters and one granddaughter.

Presentation # 52 Session # 7 Room # SC 207

Title: Kagan Cooperative Learning and the Effects on Engagement and Achievement

Description: Do you have students that withdraw and don’t participate? Do you ever wonder how to get more kids involved during a lesson? In this presentation you will learn about the impacts Kagan strategies had on the students in my first-grade classroom.

Learning Community: EDAL Specialist

Presenter/s: Susan Wick

Grade level/Content: Lower Elementary (1-3)

Certification Topic/s: Accommodations, Modifications, and Adaptions of Curriculum, Materials, and Instruction

School District/Organization: Sioux Falls Public Schools

Email: susan.wick@k12.sd.us

West Central Learning Community

Dr. Tanya Yerigan is a career-long educator with a background in education, business, and social work. With 25 years of K-12 and higher education experience, she is a well-rounded professor that has worked with educators from several states. Tanya’s favorite part of working with practicing educators is watching them become full blown researchers. As an avid researcher and author, Dr. Yerigan’s current areas of interest include toxic stress, childhood trauma, educator misconduct, and critical thinking through reflective practice. Fall 2022 marked her 24th year with SMSU. Tanya also serves as the Education Department’s Graduate Director.