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Learn, Grow, Teach

Newsletter - Spring 2024 - Teacher Education at Coe College

Learn, Grow,TeachNewsletter - Spring 2024 - Teacher Education at Coe College

Welcome!

This newsletter begins with heartfelt celebration of our 24 Coe Teacher Education graduates. You'll soon find them teaching and learning in classrooms across Iowa and working throughout the U.S. This 2024 spring newsletter recognizes semester achievements of Teacher Education students, school/community partners, and Coe faculty.

Coe College Honors Convocation

Four seniors received the 2024 Teacher Education Awards during Convocation on May 4.


Schloeman Award (two) - This prize was established in 1976 by Dorothy Schloeman Towner, Coe Class of 1921, in memory of her sister, Linnie E. Schloeman. Towner was a teacher in special education and very active in the Presbyterian Church, the American Youth Foundation, and the U.S. Special Olympics. Awards are given to students who show the most promise of becoming outstanding and dedicated teachers.


  • Samantha Coleman - (Elementary Education major) "Samantha demonstrates maturity and wisdom, beyond her years, that allow her to create optimal learning environments for her students. Veteran teachers and the Education Faculty recognize her professionalism and courageous risk-taking as a learner and as a teacher."

  • Skyler Stookey (Elementary Education and K-12 Kinesiology major) "We honor Skyler Stookey as our secondary awardee for her flexibility, resilience, and forward thinking. Veteran teachers and the Education Faculty recognize Skyler's innovative stance, providing students rich learning experiences, even when faced with unique circumstances."


Human Relations Award - Awarded to a teacher education student who demonstrates sensitivity to the needs of diverse learners and promotes respect for all individuals in schools and society.


  • Emma Graczyk (Elementary Education major) “You will probably see her eyes light up as she shares how much she LOVES meeting her students’ diverse learning needs. She would likely tell you how she builds trusting relationships with her students. She might surprise you when she tells you she loves using assessment to pinpoint student needs. And, you would most definitely hear her dedication in honoring every student’s unique learning process until they get to “the moment” when it all comes together.”


Educational Leadership Award - Presented to a graduating senior who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities in a preservice teacher. The department recognizes the recipient as an individual with an exceptional commitment to excellence in all facets of classroom practice.


  • Reagan Boyken (English major, Secondary Education minor) “Reagan, we see your depth of commitment for your students' learning and their well being. You quite literally cheer them forward. We also see you rising in a leadership style that is analytical, reflective, and builds this profession, even while initiating tough, yet important, conversations.”

(Above) Coe graduates teach across Iowa. Posted outside the Teacher Education office, a map accounts for current K-12 placements. Additionally, in the last three years, graduates have accepted teaching jobs in Illinois, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, Maine--and a Fulbright in Spain.

Coe Teacher Education: Snapshot data

  • Department Achievements
The State of Iowa regularly reviews all Iowa colleges and universities engaged in practitioner preparation to ensure strength in programming, instruction, and assessment. Our program received excellent feedback and guidance from the state team. Our faculty welcomed state education leaders to campus in March as part of the state's accreditation cycle process, which also included a multi-year department self-study, written report, and presentation (slated for Spring 2025). During the on-campus review, the state team met with current students, faculty, alumni, Coe administration, teaching program supervisors, and K-12 area cooperating teachers.

  • Celebrating our K-12 School Partners
Cedar Rapids' area K-12 educators, administrators, and school leaders rock! Both in the fall and spring semesters our office works with school partners to schedule dozens of Coe students for school visits, observations, long-term field placements, and student teaching. We truly value the energy, flexibility, time, and professionalism of districts.


  • Prepping for Student Teaching
This spring, Coe students received their upcoming placements---needless to say, the 19 student teachers are excited! Students experience two placements, organized to broaden and deepen professionalism and skills for planning, instruction, parent communication, and classroom management. As examples, a secondary student teacher may spend the first eight weeks of the semester teaching a 7th grade social studies class, then move schools to teach 10th and 11th U.S. History and World History. An elementary student teacher may begin a fall placement with a kindergarten class and move buildings for the last eight weeks to teach a third grade class. To prepare for placements, Coe students take part in a three-day Student Teaching Institute on Coe's campus. This year's institute begins Aug. 14.
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Reading Practices

Learning to read and reading to learn are significant to child and adolescent development across grade levels and disciplines. In particular, Elementary education students engage in direct reading with children, assess skills, and support K-6 students in continuous reading growth. Coe's Methods, Diagnostic Reading, English Language Learners, and Children/Adolescent Literature courses each provide students with a foundation of research, instruction, practice, and preparation to support young readers.
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Exploring Learning

How do we learn? How do teachers create meaningful learning experiences? How are schools changing? Coe students in Educational Foundations focus on such questions. Throughout the semester, students observe and explore approaches to teaching and learning. Spring classes visited Summit School, Johnson Elementary, Erskine Elementary, Roosevelt Middle, McKinley Middle, Washington High School, and Metro High School---and tagged along with Pre-K learners for a lesson in Iowa plants on the trails of Creekside Forest School.
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Parent and Families

Teachers and parents/guardians are teammates in a child's learning and progress. Students in Reading Methods carefully outlined their plans for spring parent/guardian conferences and practiced their communication skills in mock conversations. The course assignment is one that emphasizes preparation and content knowledge, strengthens approaches to communication with families, and demonstrates the teacher's assessment of the learner.

Above, high school teachers share teaching expertise. Recognition to Michelle Frye - African American Literature, Kennedy High School; Traci Mooney-Shaffer - Spanish, Washington High School; Nora Taylor - Physics, Jefferson High School; Chris Rowles - History, Jefferson High School; Jon Mitchell - Social Studies, Marion High School; JoAnn Gage - English, Mt. Vernon High School.


Leading in college professional development

Coe Teacher Education faculty organized and led a three-part professional development series this spring, inviting all Coe College faculty to discussions about teaching, learning, and educational change. The work, supported by Coe Faculty Development Committee, drew faculty attendance from across disciplines. Sessions were held at Coe's Center for Health and Society.

  • Saved by the Bell: Secondary Teachers Share Approaches to Working with Students (April 2)
  • Silence is Really Not Golden: Get Students Talking (April 9)
  • Celebrate! The Value of Reflection for Student Learners--and Your Teaching (April 23)

Iowa's Teacher of the Year

Krystal Colbert (front, third from left) is Iowa's 2023 Teacher of the Year and this spring visited with several Coe students and faculty for a session titled, "The Importance of Choosing G.R.A.C.E". The interactive workshop emphasized the values of growth mindset, relationships, 'all means all', celebrate, and evolve. "Focusing on these five priorities helps me find success and joy in the classroom on a daily basis," Colbert explained. "They are also things I wish someone would have told me as a new teacher!" She is a second grade teacher in the Southeast Polk Community School District.

Friends and Colleagues in Teacher Education - Some quick pictures from Stuart Hall.

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May there be no missing piece, please

Many education classes take place in Stuart Hall 403--it's a bit of a back-to-back location for students throughout the day! As such, a nook for hanging out between classes includes an area where creative thinking often takes place, including collaborative effort to solve puzzles.
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Surprise class connections

Guest speaker Stephanie Stulken (left) of Kids on Course did not anticipate the surprise recognition from a former elementary student. Kaylei (now a May 2024 graduate) and Stulken reconnected during a spring class in Human Relations for the Classroom Teacher.
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Thankful for the help

We congratulate Grace Lueken (right) on her May 2024 graduation, successful school year, and volleyball leadership. Grace, who will pursue a career in dentistry, was a student worker for our office this past year. Thank you, Grace!

Alumni and friends, we want to keep in contact.

Your work matters and your mentorship makes a difference. We appreciate that you let us know what you're doing and how you're doing. Give us an update: https://forms.gle/F1xVSyCnCxpgk1BSA

Education at Coe
Coe College Teacher Education
https://www.coe.edu/academics/majors-areas-study/education