JULY 2024

College of Education & Professional Studies Newsletter

ADVANCING WOMEN TO THE TOP

Jax State College of Education and Professional Studies were well-represented at “Advancing Women to the Top.”

What is your brand?

How do you own your originality?

Pictured from CEPS (left to right) Dr. Christie Calhoun, Dean Kimberly White, and Dr. Linda Mitchell

Jax State's Regional Inservice Center Unveils State-of-the-Art Model STEM Lab

07/26/2024 Jacksonville State University (Jax State) and its Regional Inservice Center (RIC) officially opened a new model STEM lab on Thursday morning, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by several dignitaries. The lab is the culmination of a visionary partnership between Alabama Technology in Motion and the Jax State RIC.

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MEGA 2024

The annual MEGA Conference was held this month in Mobile, AL. Dr. Christie Calhoun presented an informational session on registered teacher apprenticeships with colleagues from across the state.

Dr. Christi Trucks and Dr. Christie Calhoun joined again with former Jax State colleague, Dr. Stacie Wolbert, to present a session on student feedback.

MEGA Conference is always an exciting time to collaborate and network with colleagues at all levels of education from across the state.

TECHNOLOGY CIRCUS

Mrs. Aimee Weathers presented at the Technology Circus- Empowering Educators to Explore Tech Conference. The session aimed to equip classroom teachers with foundational knowledge and practical skills in artificial intelligence. By the end, participants felt more confident in using AI to create, differentiate, and brainstorm. The session had a lot of attendees, and the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and excitement!

Staff Spotlight- Mrs. Aimee Weathers

Mrs. Aimee Weathers has been a resident of Calhoun County for 24 years. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and an Education Specialist degree from The University of West Alabama, and two Master's degrees in Elementary Education and Instructional Leadership from Jax State. She is currently working on completing her Doctoral degree.

Mrs. Weathers joined Jax State in August 2015 and serves as the Early Childhood Block Coordinator. With experience teaching first grade and pre-K, she brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her role. She is a Nationally Certified STEM teacher and an active member and site reviewer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She participates in ongoing professional development to stay current with the latest advancements in the field.

Recognized for her excellence, Mrs. Weathers received the George Mehaffy Excellence in Learning Technology Faculty Award (2021) and the Cleo and Carla Thomas Faculty Award (2023) for Service Learning from Jax State, as well as recognition from the Gadsden Chamber of Commerce for her work in STEAM education.

Her favorite quote by Rita Pierson reflects her teaching philosophy: "Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be." Mrs. Weathers is passionate about early childhood math and science, STEAM education, and experiential learning through community service.

Outside of her professional life, she is active in her church and community and cherishes spending time with her family. She and her husband, Carlton, have five children: Hannah Grace (21), Noah (19), Lily (18), Hope (14), and Lottie (10).

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Randy Owen Center

Jax State celebrated a momentous occasion on Tuesday with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Randy Owen Center for the Performing Arts, known as The ROC. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to inspire a love of arts in all students and enrich the Jax State campus community, all while honoring the legacy of one of its most distinguished alumni, Randy Owen.

Car Show at Jax State's Child Development Center

The Child Development Center had a blast at the car show event that included food trucks from Let's Be Sweet and Julie's Kitchen. They were also visited by the UPD. Such a fun and exciting day for the students!

Jax State's College for Kids Summer Program

Students learned the science behind supernumerary rainbows, ghost rainbows, double rainbows and monochromatic rainbows at Jax State's College for Kids Summer Program. In the photo below, students share their thoughts and reflections after the experiment. Mrs. Weathers led the session, with assistance from teacher candidate Destiny Wiley.