The Thelma P. Lally School of Education at Saint Rose

Thelma P. Lally School of Education

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE SAINT ROSE

Education isn’t just a major at The College of Saint Rose.

The Thelma P. Lally School of Education is known throughout the Northeast for having a top education program. We offer the best preparation for students to be effective, confident educators in this competitive era because our dynamic programs provide each student with a unique experience inside and outside the classroom. Mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities begin in a student’s first year on campus. Our rigorous academic and field experiences have led to more than 28,000 alumni who have been trained as teachers, and countless CSD students who are thriving in their careers. We’ve cultivated strong relationships with many employers across the Capital Region, and since we’re located in the heart of Albany, New York, we’re within walking distance of many student-teaching and fieldwork opportunities (in addition to our on-campus speech clinic).

Many education students need a master’s degree to advance in their careers, which is why we offer competitive graduate degree programs as well. In addition, to support professional development, students can join prestigious education honor societies and student groups, which help them develop the leadership skills needed for a successful career.

Our expert faculty work one-on-one with each student to make sure they’re successful — failure is not an option. Whether you dream of teaching a classroom full of young, impressionable minds or helping the speech impaired find their voice, you’ll find success at Saint Rose.

Dr. Theresa Ward Interim Dean Thelma P. Lally School of Education

Student Testimonial

Hosannagrace Davis ’22 Early Childhood and Childhood Education, (B-6, 7-9)

We have a reputation for producing top teachers and speech pathologists.

“When I began the education program here, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was nervous that I would be overwhelmed by information.

However, once I began classes, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

In my time here, I’ve noticed that many professors in the education department take time to really dig deep into key topics, rather than cover a wide variety of topics vaguely. This has really helped me grow deeper in my knowledge and have a more in-depth understanding of teaching and the science behind it.”

What goes into graduating top-notch teachers, counselors, school psychologists, speech pathologists, and school administrators who get hired?

• Fieldwork that starts in year one • Access to the latest technology (and the inside knowledge to know what’s being used in today’s classrooms) • One of the highest pass rates on the New York State certification exams School districts and organizations hiring speech pathologists call us looking for top job candidates. If you’re going to put one college’s name on your resume, it should be ours.

Dr. Kristi Fragnoli Professor of Education

We’re in a class of our own.

Choose from any of these education programs: BA, English Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12 Certification) Combine your love of literature and writing to teach English to middle and high school students. You’ll sharpen your teaching skills through hands-on experience and a semester of student teaching.

BA, Social Studies Adolescence Education (Grades 7-12 Certification) Gain a solid foundation with courses in history, economics, geography, government, and civics.

You’ll progress from classroom observations to full semester-length student-teaching placements.

Adolescence Education and Special Education BA/MSED Dual-Degree ASPIRE program Earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years, accelerating your time spent in a college classroom and launching you into your career as an educator.

You will be eligible to receive two New York State certifications while specializing in either an English or social studies content area.

BS, Childhood and Special Education (Grades 1-6 and Special Education Grades 1-6 Certification) Expand your career options with the potential to earn two New York State certifications in childhood (1-6) and childhood special education (1-6).

You’ll work with your professors and peers through our program, which strategically combines coursework and coordinated, supervised fieldwork with learners of all abilities.

BS, Communication Sciences and Disorders Build a strong foundation in communication sciences and disorders with course-embedded clinical observations and handson practice (in-person and via teletherapy). You’ll study speech, hearing, and swallowing disorders, language development, research methods, voice disorders, and speech-language-hearing programs while gaining professional experience through local school and home-based field placements. Plus, access to an extensive curriculum library means you’ll have the resources you need for success at your fingertips.

BS, Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 6) Prepare to earn two New York State teaching certifications (Birth-Grade 2 and Grades 1-6) and receive hundreds of hours of course-embedded fieldwork. You’ll observe teachers and students in real-time and participate in an intensive student-teaching experience. You’ll graduate prepared to lead your own class.

BS, Inclusive Early Childhood Education (ECE Birth-Grade 2 and Special Education Birth-Grade 2 certification) Learn to teach diverse learners and prepare to earn two certifications: early childhood and special education. You’ll have the opportunity to gain more than 200 hours working with young children with two student– teaching placements.

Dr. Frances Ihle Associate Professor of Special Education

What else?

Gain hands-on experience as early as your first year Mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities in schools are part of the student experience.

You’ll participate in extensive student teaching and fieldwork in professional settings that include PreK-12 schools, colleges, counseling practices, and the Pauline K. Winkler Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

Maximize your education Interested in receiving your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a compressed period of time?

For teaching students, the College’s five-year ASPIRE program prepares you for New York State certifications in general education and special education. For speech therapy students, the CSD dualdegree program shortens your undergraduate study by one semester and offers automatic acceptance into our competitive graduate program.

Be confident about your experience All of our faculty are New York State certified educators. With years of field experience, they’ll help you find the right student-teaching and field-placement opportunity. Our students’ pass rates on the New York State Teacher Certification Exam exceed New York State averages.

With decades of experience, our CSD faculty are experts in their field and provide students with one-on-one support from start to finish. You can be confident we provide a rigorous and rewarding academic experience.

Leverage on-campus resources Find all the resources you need to complement our expert classroom instruction. CSD students gain hands-on experience working with clients at our on-site speech clinic while teaching students can access a wide array of material at our curriculum library.

Teaching innovation Our education experts get it. Today’s teachers need to know how to use more technological tools than ever before. Through hands-on experience, you’ll incorporate a variety of digital tools into online instruction and learn how to successfully engage students in hybrid learning.

Addressing the needs of the times Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 29 percent from 2020 to 2030 while the median annual pay is $80,840 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

With a CSD degree from Saint Rose, you can be part of this fast-growing field that puts your passion for helping others to work.

New York State officials project more than 180,000 teachers will be needed in the next decade (NYSUT). We’re ready to fill that gap by graduating top teachers who districts want to hire.

Undergraduates can do scholarly research Take a deep dive into the educational or speech issues that matter most by participating in undergraduate research. You’ll have a chance to publish your work and present at professional conferences. We strongly encourage all undergraduate students to make research an integral part of their education by supporting travel to conferences, awarding summer research grants to undergraduates, publishing an annual Undergraduate Research Journal, and holding an all-College undergraduate research symposium each spring.

Add prestige to your resume Membership in our honor societies, such as the National Society of Leadership and Success, means access to a network of alumni, local officials, and professionals who are leaders in their field. Studentled clubs, such as the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), will bolster your academic experience. You’ll meet new people who share your interests, participate in rewarding community service activities, and add to your development as an educator.

Alumni Stories

Find out what our education alumni are up to

Jessica Forbes, Ph.D., G’11 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Florida

Caitlin Stillwell ’05, G’06

Director Of College Counseling, Content Director For College Seminar 11 and 12 at Uncommon Schools-North Star Academy, Washington Park High School, Newark, New Jersey

“Saint Rose over-prepared me for teaching in schools.

I got so much insight and knowledge about the education system that I was well equipped to walk into any classroom to teach. I had such a hands-on experience in all of the local curricula that I really felt comfortable when graduating. I also knew many alumni in the local schools, which made it easy to connect when entering a new building.”

Nick Comproski G’16, G’21

Social Studies Teacher, Troy Central School District Adjunct Professor, Saint Rose

“Saint Rose was the best fit for me. I had a general education social studies certification, and I knew I wanted a degree in special ed. If you talk to anybody throughout the Northeast, they know Saint Rose is one of the top premier teaching colleges out there. I would 1,000% say go to Saint Rose. They have the experience and years of knowledge to turn you from someone in college to being a leader in the field, in your community, and in the world.”

“At Saint Rose, the CSD professors were all practicing clinicians. They teach you in class, and then you would watch them in their evaluation with a client. You learn how to handle a disruptive client, or a child. They’re not only teaching; they’re demonstrating what they just taught you. At many other schools, the two things are separate. Ten years after graduating, I still talk to my old CSD professors. You always feel like you’re part of the family. I am so happy to have had the experience I had there. Saint Rose has really shaped me for the better. It’s near and dear to my heart.”

“It is role diso real stud and with to be educ

Anna Giardenelli G’04

Speech Language Pathologist, Guilderland School District

Nadia Rubino ’19

Justine Vaitas ’14

Special Educator, Brighter Choice Charter Elementary School

Pre-K Through Second Grade Special Education Teacher and 2020 Teacher of the Year at River Ridge Academy in Bluffton, South Carolina

“I still have relationships with my professors. I had a tremendous advisor who I’m still in close contact with, along with other staff in the field placement office. One of the core things Saint Rose always taught us is, the work is never done. I’m constantly reflecting on how I can be better for myself and for the scholars that I serve and their families.”

“I started as a first-year teacher at a brand-new school with another firstyear special education teacher. This setting had me falling back on what I had learned at Saint Rose and really made me realize how well prepared I was to be in the classroom. Saint Rose made sure to give us a variety of student-teaching placements, exposing us to the full picture of what it means to be a special education teacher.”

so important that everyone is a person with a voice. It’s our e to really help [children] make it through their communication order and make life easier for children and families. Saint Rose lly brought home the value of being a really good person. These dents want us to be creative, and want us to be resourceful, d want us to be able to change really quickly and come up h something fun. They really, at the end of the day, just want e loved. I think that all those values were woven through our cational classes at Saint Rose and will be with us forever.”

Luke Riccio G’20

K-5 Language Teacher, Eugene, Oregon

“I have wanted to teach since I was 11 years old and ALWAYS heard from adults around me that ‘Saint Rose is an incredible college for teaching.’ It seldom happens in life that one’s expectations are met with complete and full accuracy.

The level of preparation that I can confidently say I received in my 2 1/2 years at Saint Rose has to be some of the best in the country. Saint Rose allowed me to take my dream and run with it. It allowed my confidence as an educator to blossom. I appreciate all of the faculty who pushed me to become the educator I see myself as today. If I had to pass on one piece of advice to those first-semester students it would be this: Stick with it, and believe in what your professors are telling you; if you trust the process and put in the effort, then you will undoubtedly be transformed into the educator you always hoped to be.”

Faculty Spotlight

Five things to know about

Christina Pfister Professor of Education Professor Christina Pfister teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses across a variety of programs at the Thelma P. Lally School of Education and brings a wealth of knowledge to her classrooms. She also serves as a mentor, academic advisor, and supervises student teachers. This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, Pfister was honored for her dedication to Saint Rose, her students, and the field of education.

An 18-year member of the New York State Association of Teachers (NYSATE), she joined as a doctoral student and was recently elected to the board. But there’s a lot more to Pfister than her education acumen and innovative teaching methods. Here are five things to know about Pfister that make her such an excellent professor to learn from.

5

1. A sense of humor is required.

Fieldwork can be challenging, and doesn’t always go as planned. Pfister believes a good laugh eases the tension and relaxes everyone. “I don’t try to bring humor in. It just kind of comes out sometimes,” she said. “I enjoy what I do. I think there are so many fun and humorous things that can happen in teaching.

If I can get students laughing, we can move on to problem solving and focus on the issue at hand.”

2. Mentoring is important. Pfister takes a holistic approach to helping both her current and former students. She’s offered advice on everything from finding the right graduate school to how to read an apartment lease. “I see myself as a mentor in all aspects of a student’s life. It’s about what is important to them and what they need.”

3. Her snack drawer is legendary and open to all students. Stocked with granola bars and microwavable

mac and cheese bowls, everyone is welcome to stop by, say hi, and fuel up. “It’s a way to get to know students more personally,” she said.

“They’ll grab a snack, sit down, and tell me something that’s going on in their lives or maybe have a question about class. Then it will evolve into discussing their field placement or student teaching. I really care about my students and want to know what’s happening in their lives.”

Many of Pfister’s students meet each other while spending time in her office and go on to develop strong friendships.

4. Her favorite course to teach is Curriculum and Instruction, which includes 15 hours of fieldwork with local elementary classes. Pfister said she focuses on lesson planning and invites her students to think about who their future students will be and what will engage them. “My students get the opportunity to see live instruction early in their Saint Rose education,” which helps

make the connection between what they’re learning in class and how that applies in the real world.

5. One piece of advice she would give to all of her students is to bring their unique self to the classroom. “I tell students who you are as an individual matters and should be reflected in your teaching.

Your lesson plan reflects you and what you value, and this is important for your future students. This helps students see themselves reflected in the curriculum.”

Facilities

Your future happy place One of the brightest spots on campus provides all the tools you’ll need

We know that materials for your student-teaching and other hands-on experiences can be expensive. That’s why the Patricia Standish Education and Curriculum Library supplies all the state-of-the-art instructional resources you’ll need. We have 12,000 K-12 textbooks in all major subject areas, award-winning children and young adult books, periodicals, course reserves, classroom manipulatives, and audio-visual materials. See and use the materials that are being used in today’s classrooms.

Amplifying all voices An on-campus speech clinic that changes lives while preparing students for success

You’ll receive 25 hours of clinical observation and up to 50 hours of on-site, supervised clinical work as an undergrad, making you a competitive candidate for our CSD master’s program. And you’ll want to stick around for our master’s program: Our graduate students rave about their experiences, including the in-depth, hands-on practical training at the on-campus Pauline K. Winkler Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, working directly with adults and children with speech sound, phonology, language, voice, fluency, and hearing disorders.

Under the supervision of faculty and staff nationally recognized for their expertise, you’ll participate in client evaluations, assessments, and therapy for adults and children of all ages.

Get a head start on your career as a speech pathologist by using the latest technologies to assist people who had a stroke and clients who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, as well as a variety of communication and swallowing disorders.

Renate Hartman, left, with Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate student Ann Nguyen and Professor John Pickering, co-founder and director of the program.

Saint Rose voice modification program helps ease transition for transgender individuals Well before discussions about transgender rights were common, a transgender voice modification group was taking shape at Saint Rose. The program started in 2008, when Arlene Lev, a local mental health counselor, told Dr. John Pickering about a few transgender clients who were unable to find assistance modifying their voices. He agreed to help, though he had never worked with transgender individuals. His research quickly showed the need for a group.

The College’s transgender voice modification group is entering its 13th year and about 100 individuals have now taken part. In addition, 180 Saint Rose graduate students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program have developed clinical skills, and the cultural competence needed to do the job well, by assisting in the weekly groups in the College’s Pauline K. Winkler SpeechLanguage-Hearing Clinic.

Pickering, a 28-year professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, says it is work that balances science, psychology, and theater. During the two-hour groups, the transgender women do vocal warms-ups that help them gradually change their pitch from, say, a C note up the scale to a G or A. Clients then work individually with a graduate student to, essentially, make the vocal folds “play” higher notes without undue tension or strain.

They also work on inflection while actively working on a voice that matches their identity.

“The program was perfectly consistent with the mission of the Sisters of St Joseph, to help the dear neighbor,” said Pickering.

A member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, he advocates for health care for people with nonconforming gender identities. Pickering believes students are paving the way. At a talk he gave at Columbia University, the audience broke into applause when he said that 180 Saint Rose students had helped transgender people modify their voices. Many, he notes, have gone on to start their own programs.

“This is the most important clinical work I’ve done. It’s fascinating, and it satisfies the mechanic in me, the artist in me, and the human in me.” - Professor John Pickering

Giving back “Helping the dear neighbor” is a founding value that our education students take to heart. They get involved in the community, enhancing their classroom experience and providing a multitude of meaningful services.

STEM@PineHills: Students who participate in this program collaborate with teachers at area schools to design STEM projects and implement them. It is not a requirement, but another way for students to gain experience in the field.

Best Buddies: Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. On our campus, Best Buddies is a vibrant and active student-run organization that won an award for being one of the most active chapters in the nation.

Friday Knights: Friday Knights gives those on the autism spectrum a chance to play and socialize in a supportive setting. School of Education students give back and gain applicable experience by volunteering to be counselors and activity leaders for students with autism spectrum disorders and social challenges.

Moving Message: This initiative raises awareness of communication difficulties that arise from brain injury, stroke, and other neurologic conditions. Students can volunteer to participate in an event that raises money for the Moving Message Fund, which goes to individuals who have survived brain injury, stroke, and other neurologic events and are left with a long-term need for speech therapy and/or supportive adaptive equipment.

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