Monthly Updates From the Center for School Partnerships and Teacher Certification
MAY ’14
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As the semester comes to an end, the Center for School Partnerships would like to congratulate all of our education candidates and especially the May 2014 graduates. The end is in mind or should we say a new beginning. With that said, May 2014 graduates should take a few minutes to review the following: Ensure that all coursework has been completed and submitted to your student teaching supervisor(s). Your official grades will be submitted once your supervisors have completed all evaluations on TaskStream. 1.
Review your TEACH account to ensure that you completed all certification requirements, applied and paid for the certificate(s). Many districts required candidates to access their job applications on the On-line Application System for Educators (OLAS); therefore, you may want to register for an account and become familiar with the process by accessing the site at http://www.olasjobs.org/. Contact Amy Guiney at 315-267-3450 or guineyaj@potsdam.edu if you have any student teaching or certification questions.
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“BITE BY BITE”
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17th SUNY Potsdam Masters Commencement 4
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SUNY Potsdam Bachelors Commencement
Do you have any dates that you would like us to publicize in 2014? Please send the event title with dates times/location to: Chris Vrooman (vroomacm@potsdam.edu)
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Pick of the Month ”
Spotlight on Salmon River Central School District Julie Reagan Outstanding Partner School Award Recipient Salmon River Central School district was honored this year at the annual SOEPS awards ceremony for its continuing support and collaboration with SUNY Potsdam on many fronts.
St. Regis Mohawk and Salmon River Elementary Highlights At the elementary level, the support of the faculty and staff at both the St. Regis Mohawk School and the Salmon River Elementary school remains steadfast and strong. The elementary faculty mentored over 30 SUNY Potsdam education candidates throughout the school year. Additionally, the teachers at the St. Regis Mohawk School are collaborating with me on two initiatives. The first initiative is the redesign of the Block II placement requirements. Our goal is to tailor our requirements to meet the specific needs at each grade level. The teachers are very dedicated and passionate about their work in the classroom and their sponsorship of our students. Each grade level has a unique flavor and set of demands; therefore, we decided that our SUNY students should have an understanding and be receptive to those demands. The other initiative involves a week long session in August that will allow the teachers and I to examine the ELA modules in response to the first year of teaching the Engage NY modules.
Salmon River Middle School Highlights In 2013- 2014, the Salmon River Middle School, through a grant with TLQP, have continued two valuable programs begun last year. The sixth grade STEM team, comprised of Ben Barkley, Janice Santamore, Danielle Chapman, David Bish, Charlotte Zappia and Jane Kuhn, rolled out their inaugural projects planned in the summer of 2013 with the support of TLQP. These projects are designed to incorporate science, technology, engineering and math concepts in an integrated, problem-solving approach to education. Students are asked to develop their 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity and have been very successful in doing so. They have mastered the green screen video system supplied by TLQP and are creating their own newscasts. Student teams carried out the research and design necessary to conduct an elaborate and well-attended Greek Festival in the fall. This winter, students partnered to create projects for the first Salmon River Sixth Grade Science Fair and 12 students continued on to Syracuse to compete in the Ying Tri Region Science and Engineering Fair. According to Potsdam alumnus and STEM team teacher David Bish, “The kids did awesome. One team received high honors, another highest honors and one team received the United States Air Force Excellence in Science Award.” TLQP looks forward to a sustained partnership with the Salmon River Middle School as they roll out the STEM program in 7th grade next year. Salmon River Central School Applications for Employment: http://www.srk12.org/district/employment2.htm
“Planting Seeds”
Elizabeth Ringer Graduate Assistant Sheard Literacy Center
After the joyous celebration having received the news I had been hired as a Graduate Assistant at the Sheard Literacy Center, I thought about my fifteen graduate credit course load. A sudden moment of panic came over me in which I thought, “Oh my goodness, what did I get myself into?” I am happy to report I not only survived the year, but am also walking away with irreplaceable experiences that have helped me to become a more confident, knowledgeable, and prepared educator. It is hard to put into words all of the wonderful experiences and opportunities the graduate assistantship at the Sheard Literacy Center has given me. At the Literacy Center, children are a top priority, a belief of which I whole-‐heartedly share. Not only was I able to get to know and share special moments with all of the children that attended the mentoring program, I was also able to become acquainted with their parents, the school personnel that worked so hard to help keep the program running smoothly, and finally the motivated mentors that created engaging lessons filling the room with a love for literacy in which the Center strives to achieve. My responsibilities as a Graduate Assistant gave me the opportunity to co-‐teach a literacy lab course, oversee one of the most inspiring mentoring literacy programs in the North Country, and work closely with the outstanding people within the Literacy Department as well as many other departments around campus and beyond. I truly believe my graduate assistantship was a once in a lifetime opportunity that helped me to build a solid foundation for my lifetime career in education. It is my goal to emulate the love for children, learning, and literacy that the Center radiates with its many programs offered throughout the community. Working Through Graduate School Unfortunately there are few graduate assistantships available and many graduate students. I was particularly lucky in that I was able to work in a position that immersed me in education, keeping me up to date with the many changes happening throughout the field. Luckily in the Potsdam area there are many schools that hire both undergraduate students and graduate students as substitute teachers and teacher’s assistants. I would highly recommend going the extra mile and getting involved in the field you are studying. Is it stressful to add to the workload? Yes, but the opportunities to apply and expand upon the knowledge gained in classes are immeasurable. The best way to remember and understand information is to apply it. Whether lucky enough to have a teaching job, be a substitute within a district, or work as a teacher’s assistant in a classroom, the opportunity to apply and test your ever-‐growing knowledge gained from graduate courses is priceless. Although I wish that everyone could share the graduate assistantship experience and have the opportunity to interact with both college and school-‐age students, there are many other ways to get involved and make the most of the college experience. By working throughout graduate school you are truly giving yourself an advantage over other candidates and allowing yourself to master your field of study.
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Alumni Spotlight:
Mrs. Laura Griffin Grade 4 Teacher St. Regis Mohawk School
I have been teaching for 19 years. Teaching is not only a career choice, but a passion. I have been blessed to have taught 12 years in North Carolina and to presently teach at the St. Regis Mohawk School. “I have been given the best of both worlds.” The best advice ever given to me was during my first year of teaching is to remember that every child in your classroom is someone’s baby. They are all different. Get to know your students individually and how they learn. Use that information to plan your instructional strategies. If you do this, every child will be a success story.
My Fourth Grade Team (left to right):
Laura Griffin, Rebecca Huiatt, Amanda Cook and Troy Mitchell
Amy Guiney, Director 111 Satterlee Hall (315) 267-3450 guineyaj@potsdam.edu
Nicole Feml, Assistant Director 112A Satterlee Hall (315) 267-3022 femlna@potsdam.edu
http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/fieldexperiences/index.cfm