Stephanie Best:
Stephanie has been a resident of Arkansas her entire life and of Conway for the past decade where she has served as an Education Specialist at Arkansas PBS, a classroom teacher, and a reading interventionist. She and her husband have three daughters, the oldest of which will be a UCA freshman in the fall.
She holds a B.A. in English Education and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology with a concentration on K-12 Library Media - both from Arkansas Tech University. In the Fall, Stephanie will begin her journey to receiving a Ph.D. in Change Leadership for Equity and Inclusion with a concentration on Digital Age Curriculum and Instruction from UCA. Her interests include Library Media, Leadership Studies, Virtual Education, Student Success, and Professional Development.
Outside of education, Stephanie enjoys reading, traveling, and all things summertime. She is a proud wife, mother, and member of the Conway community, and is excited to be joining the team!
Amber Brantley:
Amber has worked for Greenbrier Public School District for the last 17 years as a teacher, instructional facilitator, and administrator. She has two kids, Maddox and Ady, and her husband, CL. Amber said, "I am passionate about learning and growth for ALL students and I’m so excited to join the UCA family! GO BEARS!"
Olivia Bundrick:
Olivia Bundrick joins the Department of Teaching and Learning as a Clinical Instructor in the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
Olivia comes to UCA after teaching middle level math for eight years in the South Conway County, Little Rock, and Conway Public School districts. She holds a Bachelor's, MA in Teaching, and Ed.S degrees from UCA. A native of West Memphis, she now resides in Conway with her husband and daughter. In her free time, she enjoys her family, traveling, baking, and gardening.
Evan Faidley:
Born and raised in Ohio, Dr. Faidley earned his B.A. (French) from The University of Akron and his M.A. (French Literature), M.Ed. (Higher Education & Student Personnel), and Ph.D. (Higher Education Administration) from Kent State University. He is an active member in the career community and academic affairs, currently serving and supporting graduate students in their academic and career development in his role as the Graduate Student Affairs Officer at the University of California-Berkeley of French and Romance Languages & Literatures. His past experience in undergraduate and graduate advising and teaching across various disciplines, as well as his interactive work in gauging graduate student career readiness across all populations show his commitment to college student development, personal exploration, and professional identity construction. His research interests comprise professional preparation in CSPA programs, career development in higher education, and graduate student development and socialization. Dr. Faidley’s dissertation explores higher education administration with a focus on professional socialization and master’s higher education students’ specialty choice in transition from student to full-time student affairs staff. His background in advising, college teaching, and conducting research has proven his self-concept and purpose: helping others find their success as they transition into new chapters of life.
Robert Habimana:
Robert, a Rwandan native, has been teaching mathematics for more than six years. After receiving a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from University of Central Arkansas (2016), he joined the Department of Mathematics at University of Arkansas at Pulaski Technical College. Robert taught courses including Calculus I and II, College Algebra, and Mathematical Reasoning. His teaching philosophy fosters a positive learning environment that instills confidence, encourages participation, provides a solid foundation for problem solving, and encourages independent critical thinking. He has a passion for applying mathematical tools in the field of computer science, biostatistics, and data science. He is driven by curiosity to delve into the world of numbers, finding beauty and meaning within data sets. With a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and rigorous analytical skills, he uncovers hidden patterns and trends that lie beneath the surface. Whether he is exploring the complexities of population health or deciphering the impact of interventions on clinical outcomes, his enthusiasm for the field is palpable. He continuously pushes the boundaries of statistical analysis, using innovative techniques and cutting-edge tools to extract insights that have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach research and decision-making.
When he is not working, Robert spends his free time with his wife Oumalher and their two sons Aidan (four years old) and Adam (ten months old).
Shari McGehee:
Shari said, "I am honored to be returning to UCA as a clinical instructor after earning both my BSE and MSE from the University. As an educator for over 30 years, I have chosen opportunities that allowed me to work with a diverse group of students in a variety of service settings. My favorite UCA Bear is my husband, Shawn McGehee. In my free time I love reading, hiking, fishing, and spending time with our families.
Bear Claws Up!"
Matthew White:
Prior to joining the College of Education, Dr. White served in teaching and administrative roles in a variety of settings around the state. After receiving his K-12 education in an Arkansas public school district, Dr. White earned a B.A. in History and Political Science from Arkansas Tech University, an M.S. in School Leadership, Management, and Administration and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from UCA, and an Ed.D. in School Leadership from Arkansas Tech University. He began his career in education as a behavioral specialist in a day treatment center for teens before earning his teaching license. As a classroom teacher, he taught a variety of grade levels (7-12) and courses (English, Social Studies, and Oral Communication) at the secondary level, including special education inclusion, honors, and remediation courses. Dr. White also served as a middle school assistant principal. According to Dr. White, “Supporting, mentoring, and coaching teacher candidates and novice teachers has been some of the most important and rewarding work of my career. In each role, I worked to ensure equity for all students, support my fellow educators, and advocate for our schools. These are the same values and commitments I will bring to the Department of Teaching and Learning.”
Ashley Wilson:
Ashley Wilson joins the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education as a Clinical Instructor.
Ashley is from Greenbrier and has been married to her husband, Adam, for eight years. They have three daughters, Hadley (14), Kinley (8), and Everley (1). She has taught 1st grade and kindergarten for the last 11 years. Ashley graduated from UCA with her Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master's in Reading with dyslexia endorsement.
Ashley said, "I am dedicated to helping students reach their fullest potential and feel like successful, participating members of the classroom community. I enjoy camping, watching my kids play sports, and crafting. I am so excited to come and join the College of Education at UCA this Fall."
Carli Cooper:
Carli Cooper, a 2010 graduate of UCA's Middle Level Education program, was recently named Teacher of the Year at Sylvan Hills Middle School. According to Pulaski County Special School District's (PCSSD) Facebook page, "Through a rigorous selection process, each of PCSSD’s 25 brick-and-mortar schools as well as the DRIVEN Virtual Academy and Center of Innovation selected one educator as their school teacher of the year."
Michael Garlington:
Michael Garlington, a recent graduate of UCA's School Leadership, Management, and Administration program, was featured in the local media due to his inspiring story of becoming a teacher. Below is Michael's story in his own words.
"I was born in Conway, Arkansas, and attended Conway High School as a part of the 2015 graduating class. I went on to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where I graduated in 2019 with my Bachelors degree. During my time at UAPB , I majored in Secondary Education focused on Social Studies. I had always wanted to be a teacher since my final year in high school. I believe that a teacher is one of, if not the most powerful career profession in the workforce. At UAPB, I passed the Praxis I and PLT 7-12 exam, but had major trouble passing my content test. I ended up graduating in four years with my bachelors but was forced to switch majors even after I had begun my student teaching in my last semester. Nonetheless, I remained focused on becoming a licensed teacher. It took me over six failed attempts to finally pass my content test after I had already begun in the teaching profession at eStem Public Charter Schools. With the help of Fletcher Education Solutions and major determination and focus , I was finally able to pass my content and in the process was accepted in the School Leadership, Administration and Management graduate program at the University of Central Arkansas. Becoming a principal and school leader has always been a goal of mine in the field of education, and with the help of the wonderful professors and discipline and hard work, I was able to graduate with my Master of Science in SLMA on May 6, 2023. What an honor it has been to be a part of this great university during my graduate experience."
KARK (NBC) 5/5/2023 10:06:16 PM
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KLRT (FOX) 5/5/2023 9:06:49 PM
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Brooke Harris:
Brooke Harris, a UCA Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) graduate, was recently named Teacher of Year for Virtual Arkansas.
Brooke is a second-year Science Teacher with Virtual Arkansas. Brooke said, "Most of my students are learning from home and have had fairly limited opportunities for STEM education in the past. My passion is sparking joy for learning in all of my students, regardless of their backgrounds. At VA we have a great amount of time dedicated to tier-two interventions as well as working one-on-one with students. I take advantage of this time and use it as a way to get to know my students and work with them to help determine learning strategies that will work best for them. Once students are able to gain confidence in their ability to learn, they then have the mental energy to be able to seek out subjects that they are interested in and find out their own passions."
When asked about her time in the UCA MAT program Brooke said, "The UCA MAT program was able to provide me with support and guidance on my journey to becoming a teacher. Many of my courses stressed the importance of not only recognizing diversity but also honoring it. We can’t use a 'one-size fits all' approach to teaching when every single student in our classroom is unique. My professors in the MAT program did a great job of preparing me for meeting the needs of my students. They also have been there to cheer me on for my successes and support me with my struggles."
Noël Gieringer:
Noël Gieringer was recently hired as a Clinical Instructor for the Middle Level program in the Department of Teaching and Learning.
Noël lives in Little Rock where she taught middle and high school English for eleven years before beginning to work with pre-service teachers at UCA. She holds a BA in English, a BA in Cultural Anthropology, and an MAT in Secondary Education (ELA), all from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Some of her interests outside of the classroom are crafting, reading, and all things pop culture. She is excited to be part of the team at UCA!
Sunny Styles-Foster:
Sunny will begin her 10th year at UCA in the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. During her time at UCA, she has moved from Clinical Instructor I to Clinical Instructor II (2019) and taught at both the graduate and undergraduate level in both the Department of Teaching and Learning (T&L) and ELSE. Since the 2017-2018 school year she has been the Program Coordinator for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program where she has continued to coordinate the program and teach MAT classes and the undergraduate Literacy Seminar course for Middle Level.
Prior to coming to UCA, Sunny taught 3rd and 5th grades for six years at Dardanelle Elementary in Dardanelle, Arkansas. Teaching was her second career and UCA is where she received her training and both her MAT in Elementary and MSEd in Reading degrees. Sunny will graduate with her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction: Language, Diversity, and Literacy Studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX in Fall 2023.
Brandy Walthall:
Brandy started her career teaching early childhood special education preschool where her love for teaching students to read and her love for special education was born. She has taught early childhood special education, kindergarten, 5th grade reading, and higher education. She was the first in her family to earn a degree: BSE and MSE in Early Childhood Education, Education Specialist in Reading and a PhD in Reading. Her greatest achievement is her marriage of 31 years and her three wonderful children. Although, her goal as an assistant professor is to continue on her career goal of changing the world one student at a time; however, the student she teaches today will change a classroom of students tomorrow.