College of Education Newsletter

I've been reading the book, The Prophet, by the Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran. As I read the section on work, I was struck by how much of it resonated with me and my feelings about working at UCA in the College of Education. Gibran suggests that work is an expression of love made visible. He emphasizes that when you work with love, you weave a piece of yourself into your creation. I see this every day. When faculty design classes, create lectures, organize events, mentor students, and provide feedback they leave a part of themselves in each endeavor. Although evaluating the tenure and promotion dossier is time consuming, it's also deeply rewarding because I can see all the places where faculty weave themselves into their work and create tapestries that are complex and beautiful. I get to see faculty reflect on the joy they find in their work and I can see their passion for teaching, scholarship, and service. The same is true for our dedicated staff who go above and beyond to make our work spaces inclusive, safe, and comfortable. They take care of all kinds of things that just make life better for our community. Gibran's ideas on work in The Prophet convey a thoughtful understanding of the significance of work in human life, emphasizing its spiritual, social, and personal dimensions. His reflections reminded me to approach work with love, purpose, and a sense of responsibility towards myself and others. To that end, thanks for the work you do and the commitment you bring to that work each day.

- Vicki

The UCA Mashburn Center hosted a professional development session on January 25, 2024 attended by 19 Arkansas educators from Warren, Watson Chapel, and Helena-West Helena school districts. Participants included a range of individuals holding a variety of positions: an assistant superintendent, principals, teachers, instructional facilitators, and technology coordinators. The UCA Mashburn Center team provided an overview of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) and taught all attendees how to use the FRAMing Routine. The professional development featured a message from Dr. Jeff Adams, State Director of Special Education for Arkansas, and activities provided through the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. All participants were invited to use the routine and participate in follow up coaching. A second routine will be taught on February 29, 2024.

For more information about the Mashburn Center and SIM you can go to https://uca.edu/else/mashburncenter/.

Junior Block had a professional development day on Tuesday, January 23 where they learned all of the requirements of being a junior intern in the K6 elementary education program. Faculty including Ms. Dee Dee Cain, Ms. Jamie Dallas, and Dr. Stefanie Sorbet (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) provided guidance in field teaching requirements, discussed collaborating with supervisors and mentor teachers, and reviewed professional dispositions. Ms. Amber Brantley (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) delivered a presentation on organizing various assignments into one calendar to help juniors with time management and their field and coursework organizing. We are so excited for this group of juniors to jump right in and begin their semester.

Students in Mrs. Amber Brantley's (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) Foundations of Reading transitioned through stations as they learned about each strand of Scarborough's Rope with "get-to-know-you" activities. Throughout this semester, the Junior Block students will continue building on this knowledge as they journey together through the science of reading.

Students in Dr. Stefanie Sorbet‘s (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) ELSE 4309 Positive Classroom Environment were immersed in SEL-themed activities and materials. These juniors are learning about classroom management strategies for center rotation, how to assign student roles in centers, and how to utilize social and emotional learning materials in planning for their Morning Meeting lesson in their field placements. The Morning Meeting lesson they are working on will provide these junior interns with their first teaching experience while helping them gain understanding of their students they teach and build rapport with them in their field placement this semester.

College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) graduate students in Dr. Evan Faidley's (Department of Leadership Studies) Academic and Career Advising course met with higher education practitioners across the country to engage in a scholarly book chat around how to support our students and the profession. Throughout the semester, students have been paired with a student affairs or academic affairs worker to summarize and critique a recently published book for the opportunity to submit for publication in an academic journal. According to Dr. Faidley, "I am a firm believer that professional training exists in and out of the classroom. What better way is there than to connect our students to people in the field who bring different life experiences and perspectives? Represented by professionals geographically located between California and Ohio, I am proud to see more scholar-practitioners entering and innovating the higher education enterprise."

Emily Barnes, a student in the MSE in Literacy program, recently made a perfect score on the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI) exam. According to the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI), the KPEERI measures an educator’s knowledge of the principles and practices of Structured Literacy™.

Emily coordinates and teaches K-5 reading interventions at an elementary school in Centerville, MN, a suburb north of Minneapolis/St. Paul. She added, "The UCA program has helped me grow in the art and the science of my work as a reading teacher. Thank you, ELSE professors, for creating rigorous and engaging learning experiences within an affordable IDA accredited program."

For more information about the KPEERI exam you can go to https://effectivereading.org/kpeeri-exam-disabled/.

Carl Ratliff, a 2018 UCA College of Education graduate, was recently named Teacher of the Year at Carver STEAM Magnet Elementary in Little Rock, AR.

Carl graduated from UCA with a BSE in Elementary Education (K-6) and received a Graduate Certificate in Gifted, Talented & Creative Education. He started his career teaching 4th grade writing at Collegeville Elementary for Bryant School District before transitioning to Benton Middle School for Benton School District. While at Benton, he was the 5th & 6th grade EAST Facilitator and 5th grade Language Arts teacher. Carl currently serves as the STEAM Specialist at Carver STEAM Magnet Elementary for the Little Rock School District as well as an after-school administrator for their science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) program. He has facilitated two district-wide science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professional developments and serves on his school’s Guiding Coalition Leadership Team, Lighthouse Leadership Team, and PTA Executive Board.

Outside of education, Carl serves as the director for his church’s Youth and Young Adult

Ministry. He enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and working out.

Dr. Nykela Jackson (Department of Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Stefanie Sorbet (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) presented at the January Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership (CETAL) lunch and learn.

Their presentation titled “Navigating the Tenure and Promotion Process” provided participants with ideas on organizing artifacts as well as documenting service, scholarship, and teaching from the very beginning of the journey. They facilitated conversations centered around publishing, service, and continuous improvement in teaching. This presentation also provided a space for attendees to share with one another their own personal experiences as they are going through various stages of the process.

*Photo Info: (Left/Right) Dr. Sorbet and Dr. Jackson

Erika McMahan brings over 14 years of invaluable experience in education to her new role as the Director of GEAR-UP Arkansas. Her journey in education has spanned both K–8 school settings and higher education institutions, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape at various levels.

Passionate about fostering educational equity, Erika is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for all students in the state of Arkansas. As a first-generation college student herself, she understands firsthand the transformative power of education in breaking barriers and creating pathways to success.

Erika holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from the University of Central Arkansas, where she embarked on her academic journey as a trailblazer in her family. She later pursued a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, further honing her expertise in driving positive change within educational institutions.

Currently, Erika is dedicated to furthering her knowledge and impact by pursuing a doctorate in Adult and Lifelong Learning from the University of Arkansas. Through this doctoral program, she seeks to deepen her understanding of educational practices and policies that support lifelong learning opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds.

In her role as Director for GEAR-UP Arkansas, Erika is poised to leverage her diverse background, unwavering dedication, and academic pursuits to empower students across the state to realize their full potential and achieve their academic aspirations. She is committed to championing initiatives that promote access, equity, and excellence in education for all Arkansans.

For more information about GEAR-UP you can visit https://uca.edu/news/uca-selected-for-30-million-usde-funding/.

Dr. Michael Mills, (College of Education Associate Dean and Interim Graduate School Dean), was recently interviewed for Empowering Teaching which is part of Apple Education Community: Learning Center.

In the interview, Dr. Mills discusses the 1:1 Apple iPad Initiative and empowering/empowered teaching. You can read his interview by going to https://education.apple.com/learning-center/T052774A.

Sunny Styles-Foster (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) is in the process of completing her second year of participation in the inaugural “Inquiry Initiative” sponsored by the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE). The Initiative was the “first of its kind” collaborative exploration of teacher education practices and research, focused on “opportunity gaps” in education. The Inquiry Initiative concludes its second year of work at ATE’s annual meeting March 27-30 in Anaheim, CA.

Sunny was one of only 72 university- and school-based teacher educators and education scholars from around the United States chosen to participate in the Initiative. The Initiative has cultivated and supported collaborative research inquiries across geographic and institutional contexts for the last two years. Some preliminary data has been shared at state, regional, and national conferences associated with ATE and in other education-oriented conference venues.

Sunny is in her 10th year at the University of Central Arkansas. She is a Clinical Instructor II and has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level in both the Department of Teaching and Learning (T&L) and Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education (ELSE). Sunny is currently serving as the Interim Chair of ELSE.

She is an active member of ATE, serving on the Association, Development, and Membership Committee, as well as several conference planning committees. “ATE is an organization where you feel like you are part of a family of educators who truly care about the future of our profession.” If you are looking for an organization, Mrs. Styles-Foster strongly encourages you to consider joining ATE, which will have their annual conference in New Orleans in 2025.

Sunny is currently finishing up her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction: Language, Diversity, and Literacy Studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Her dissertation is titled: Thinking Outside the Core: Exploring How Physical Education Teacher Education Candidates Engage with Literacy Practices within a Disciplinary Literacy Course.

Missed an issue? You can view past issues of the COE Newsletter by going to https://uca.edu/education/coenewsletter/.