College of Education Newsletter

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. As we embark on this exciting month of October, I want to take a moment to reflect on our collective accomplishments.

First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering dedication to our College of Education. Your commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service is what makes our College exceptional. Your hard work and passion for education are truly commendable.

As we progress further into the academic year, I encourage all of us to remain focused on our mission of nurturing first-year students and the next generation of educators and leaders. It is through our collective efforts that we can continue to inspire positive change.

I'd like to thank all of you who have participated in our professional development activities. I've been thrilled to see so many of you at the Tech Mex Tuesdays. Several of you have worked with Jessica Herring Watson in Coaching Circles and Co-Teaching Activities. I've seen the pictures and I've overheard students talking about the activities. Our new faculty continue to meet twice a month and enjoy learning and supporting one another. The research scholars groups are moving forward and I'm excited to see the results of those research studies. And I can't go without mentioning the Chili Cook Off. Thanks to Tyler Brott for his organization (and pumpkin chili). I loved getting a chance to visit with everyone and share Olivia Bundrick's brownies.

-Vicki Groves-Scott

Forrest City High School hosted the first Librarian Collaborative Community session for the Great Rivers Education Service Cooperative for this school year. This community is facilitated by Ms. Ouida Cunningham, Librarian at Wonder Junior High in the West Memphis School District and adjunct instructor for the University of Central Arkansas Library Media and Information Technologies Master's degree program (LIBM). Dr. Erin Shaw (UCA LIBM program coordinator) and Ms. Ashley Cooksey (Arkansas Tech University LIBM program coordinator) attended to share information on school library laws and best practices in creating selection and challenge policies for school libraries.

Dr. Odunola Oyeniyi (Department of Leadership Studies) recently presented a mental health session to UCA College of Education Internship II students. The session, Mental Health Matters: You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup, focused on ways to help the students take care of themselves when stressed or overwhelmed as they go for Internship II to prevent burnout. It was an interactive session as the students shared their lifestyles, self-care routines, experiences during the practicum, and goals for the Internship. Foods, drinks, and t-shirts were provided from the mental health support funding Dr. Oyeniyi received from the UCA Foundation.

This session hopes to promote social and emotional competency, build resilience, problem-solving, coping skills, hope, caring, and respect for self and others.

On Thursday, September 28, Dr. Stefanie Sorbet and Ms. Dee Dee Cain (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) delivered books collected in a recent book drive to Seventh Street Elementary in North Little Rock, AR.

Organized by Jorden Moody (Elementary Education major and treasurer for the Students of Propagation of Black Culture) the book drive collected books across campus and donated them to Seventh Street Elementary and Theodore Jones Elementary in Conway, AR.

Students in Ms. Catherine Miller's (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) Mathematics and Science Strategies classes explore Current Instructional Strategies for Teaching Mathematics. In elementary math education, the incorporation of hands-on learning and real-world connections is nothing short of transformative. By introducing students to concrete objects, manipulatives, and practical applications, we create an enriching environment where mathematical concepts come to life. Students enjoyed making Root Beer Floats to demonstrate the importance of order of operations, wrapping gifts to explore finding the area, and much more.

Whether it's measuring ingredients for a recipe, counting real-world objects, or building geometric shapes with everyday materials, these experiences not only make math more relatable but also instill a deep understanding of its relevance in our daily lives. This approach not only enhances mathematical proficiency but also nurtures curiosity and an enduring appreciation for the role math plays in solving real-world challenges, setting a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Mrs. Ashley Wilson (Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education) and Dr. Jessica Herring-Watson (Department of Teaching and Learning) co-taught a lesson in Mrs. Wilson's Literacy Assessment class. Teacher candidates explored how to create and implement a "word work" interactive digital notebook in Keynote on their iPads. Students discussed how the use of audio, video, images, animations, and drawing can be used in Keynote to differentiate formative literacy assessments and provide teachers with more detailed data regarding students reading progress.

Karen Norton from Arch Ford Co-op visited Laura Marshall's (Department of Teaching and Learning) Classroom Management class last week to present and reinforce previously learned course content and introduce trauma-informed care. They discussed perceptions of teachers, TESS Domain 2, diversity, safe classroom environments, and strategies for "will or skill."

Dr. Allison Freed's (Department of Leadership Studies) ITEC 6301 Instructional Design Using Technology class completed a Stanford d.school facilitated design cycle during a synchronous class session. They worked with a partner to design a solution to a low point in their daily life. The photo shows students sharing their design sketches.

You can get more information about Stanford d.school by going to https://dschool.stanford.edu/.

Dr. Rhonda McClellan (Department of Leadership Studies), along with three recent CoE PhD alumni, presented their research at the Human Development and Capability Association meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria. Ten years ago, as new students in the PhD program, Jack Boles, Shanon Brantley, Sarah Argue, and Dr. McClellan presented our initial research in well-being in the Arkansas Delta with other students who worked on the project. This year, they offered a frame to their paper symposium (three papers presented on a similar topic). It is described below:

A focus on vulnerability and disadvantage provides an umbrella for discussing how individuals and societies are compromised by poverty, inequality, and exclusion. The capability approach and the dimensions of empowerment have provided depth for quality of life philosophical foundations (Kabeer, 2020; Nussbaum, 2011; Sen, 1999), assessment (Agee & Crocker, 2013; Robeyns, 2006), and measurement (Biggeri & Mauro, 2018; Comim et. al., 2018; Kabeer, 1999; 2020). Further, the capability approach has focused on human development with an emphasis on social responsibilities and change (Jacobson, 2016; Robeyns, 2005, 2009), but remains greatly elusive to leaders seeking to put it into practice and the field of leadership studies.

Shanon Brantley, Sarah Argue, and Jack Boles presented the following:

Through the lens of capability approach and dimensions of empowerment, three researchers explore how leadership thinks about and acts toward full functioning and social change. Their research questions explore how the capability approach and the dimensions of empowerment may work to explain the leadership in landscapes of disadvantage. In turn, these leaders’ thoughts and actions inform our understanding and conceptualizations of human functioning and empowerment.

Three papers, set within the context of public leadership, examine the disparities faced by vulnerable populations. Each paper offers a different focus for leadership: public education systems, health literacy, and food security. This panel of interdisciplinary papers shows that through engaged and responsible participation, empowerment, and collective capabilities, leaders enhance the accessibility of resources so that individuals can exercise their agency and achieve full capability functioning. Their papers included portions of their dissertation research.

Jose Luna (UCA BSE Special Education and Ed.S. School Psychology graduate) was recently awarded (along with his School Psychology department) the Outstanding Service Delivery in the Practice of School Psychology award honors. This award is given to a School Psychology department in a district or cooperative that demonstrates a high level of sustained excellence in developing traditional or non-traditional programs of school psychology service delivery to meet the varied needs of their students. He was also recognized as Rookie of the Year by the Arkansas School Psychology Association in September of 2022.

Jose is a School Psychology Specialist with Springdale (AR) Public Schools. Before school psychology, he gained impactful experiences in behavioral health and educational settings. He has approximately nine years of experience relevant to his career. He began his career with his home school district, De Queen Public Schools, as an English as a Second Language paraprofessional. Jose also gained valuable knowledge and expertise from mentors at Lakeside Elementary, North Little Rock; Northside Elementary, Cabot, Marguerite Vann Elementary, Conway; and Compass Academy, Conway.

Jose obtained an associate’s degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas - Cossatot in May of 2016, a Bachelor of Science in Education - Special Education K-12 from the University of Central Arkansas in December 2018, and earned his Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from UCA in May 2021. In August of 2022, Jose was certified as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist by the National Association of School Psychologists. He consistently exceeds expectations by being committed to best practices and continuously seeking ways to grow himself and those he collaborates with. Jose ensures that all students receive the necessary mental health, educational, social, and life support to achieve success. Jose puts his heart and soul into everything he does every day, always keeping the students at the forefront, all while in a field many people do not know much about.

Dr. Allison Freed (Department of Leadership Studies) presented with Ms. Wendy Kohler, an ITEC graduate program alum and teacher at Robinson Middle School in the Pulaski County Special School District, at the Arkansas Association of Teacher Educators conference in Jonesboro, AR, on September 15. They presented their experiences completing a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) experience in the ITEC 6380 Supporting Students in Online Learning Environments class last spring. The students partnered with teachers and graduate students in Northern Ireland attending Stranmillis University College. Wendy also had her middle school students collaborate with Irish students to debate children's social media use.

The UCA College of Education (COE) was highlighted as an exemplary program in a white paper published by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Dr. Michael Mills (Department of Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Jason Trumble (Department of Teaching and Learning) were quoted in the excerpt describing our efforts toward building equity in technology and teacher education.

The COE is engaged with ISTE as part of the Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge for Educator Preparation Programs which focuses on transforming teacher education with a shared vision of digital equity and continuous improvement. You can find information about the ISTE EPP Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge at https://www.iste.org/EPP-pledge. You can access the white paper at https://info.iste.org/epp-white-paper.

Dr. Charlotte Parham (Department of Leadership Studies), with support from Dr. Donna Wake (Department of Teaching and Learning), presented Courageous Conversations at Blytheville Schools in Blytheville, AR and at South Conway County School District in Morrilton, AR. These presentations are part of the recently awarded DEEP Outreach and Post-Project Review grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF).

The UCA College of Education is positioning itself as a prominent statewide leader in transforming K-12 schools and educator preparation to positively shape educational opportunities and experiences for children in Arkansas. This grant supports UCA in extending outreach into local community spaces by addressing educational equity with two Arkansas communities.

This project aligns with WRF’s Education Equity plan. Educational Equity will exist when all Arkansans can attain the skills and education needed to support their families and communities, especially those striving to move out of poverty. In order for Arkansans to attain the necessary skills needed for individuals to support their families and communities, Arkanasa have to have access to K-12 school systems with equity minded teachers who believe and implement strategies where all children can be successful.

Dr. Donna Wake (CoE Director of Assessment and Accreditation) recently presented at CAEPCon 2023 in Arlington, VA. Dr. Wake's presentation is titled "Program-Wide and Program-Deep Technology Enabled Learning."

According to its website, The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation's (CAEP) mission is to advance equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning.

https://caepnet.org

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