TWENTY
EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Catalyst of Change
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students enrolled in the School of Education and Human Development
middle school students took part in the afterschool academic and enrichment program offered by the FIU After-School All-Stars
FIU alumni have won Miami-Dade’s Teacher of the Year since FIU was founded
of Miami-Dade County Public Schools teachers are FIU alumni
students enrolled in FIUteach
hours spent by SEHD undergraduate students teaching in M-DCPS schools
Message from the Dean In the state of Florida and nationally we face many challenges in education from training enough teachers to improving learning and the well-being of students, from pre-K through university. The School of Education and Human Development — one of the three schools in FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences & Education — is dedicated to developing real world solutions including those that create new opportunities for educators, improve the classrooms and give rise to a stronger education system. While we may not know how changing state and federal policies will impact the classroom, I do know our graduates are prepared to meet the needs of today’s students and schools. In a time of high-stakes testing as well as concerns over teacher pay and retention, we are preparing teachers for the classroom. Our professors are developing new curricula to help students from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs to succeed. The school also received federal grants to increase the number of students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and to expose more students to teaching careers in these fields. Our commitment is strong, but there is so much more we can do! I hope you will be as inspired as I am by the work carried out in the School of Education and Human Development and find a way to get involved!
Michael R. Heithaus Dean, College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Message from the Director The School of Education and Human Development prepares our students to become the best educators, administrators and professionals they can be — from award winning rookie teachers of the year to seasoned school leaders, our graduates are ready to make education a lifelong career that impacts the lives of many. The need for quality educators is real. As the demand for teachers continued to grow, 2016 was set to become the year with the fewest number of teachers available nationally. It’s not the easiest of professions, as Randi Weingarten, president of the National Federation of Teachers, reminded us during a visit to FIU this year. But it’s a rewarding field where the impact educators have on their students is felt from preschool to adulthood. Nowhere is that more evident than at our STEM Transformation Institute, which was recognized by FIU as a pre-eminent program for its efforts to reshape the way educators teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses at every level and for helping students graduate with STEM degrees. Our graduates are more than noble public servants. They are skilled professionals and leaders. Teachers are crucial for our society, assisting all of us in advancing knowledge through learning and inquiry. Of course, our school features more than teacher preparation programs. Our school psychology and counseling professors are making fascinating discoveries based on their research in the community. And our recreational therapy program is making strides by showing that professionals with disabilities can make a real difference in the lives of others. As someone who lives, breathes and is a product of public education, I firmly believe that everyone must have access to a good education. All of us — educators, school administrators, parents, students, local leaders and our communities — are the advocates, champions and protectors of education in this country. We can look back proudly on 2016 knowing that our students, our graduates and our faculty are true professionals who are prepared to face the challenges that come next.
Laura H. Dinehart Executive Director, School of Education and Human Development
Advancing knowledge through learning and inquiry
Laura Dinehart meets then-U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr.
$1 million NSF grant targets STEM students The National Science Foundation recently awarded FIU $1 million for student scholarships to increase the number of graduates in computer and information technology, an important area for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) work force. Historically, STEM degrees take longer to finish than other majors. In some cases, students run out of financial aid before they are able to graduate. With this in mind, some of the scholarships are aimed at preventing students from being derailed by financial pressures as they near completion of their degrees. Professor Zahra Hazari of the STEM Transformation Institute and Department of Teaching and Learning helped secure the grant for FIU, saying the computer and information technology field already has high demand for qualified graduates that will only grow as technology continues to evolve.
Educator advocates for diversity in teaching Laura Dinehart was recently called on by the U.S. Department of Education to help identify ways to attract diverse students to the teaching profession. The executive director of the School of Education and Human Development says having diverse teachers is important for today’s children, who are growing up in an increasingly global environment. During the fall 2016 meeting in Washington D.C., Dinehart pointed out that all children benefit from teachers who are culturally, racially and linguistically diverse. Equally important is that children of color have the opportunity to learn from teachers who look like them. According to the National Education Association, 84 percent of teachers are white and more than 40 percent of public schools in the United States do not employ a single teacher of color. Dinehart advocated for more local and national collaborations among government agencies, schools and universities to increase diversity among America’s teachers.
Professor puts exams to the test A School of Education and Human Development researcher and his colleagues have created a tool that gauges whether an exam is properly designed. This tool could have far-reaching implications on teaching, according to Kyle Perkins, a professor of applied linguistics and teaching English to speakers of other languages. Perkins co-authored a study published in the Journal of Applied Measurement that studied the performance of students on identical exams. Researchers first gave college students a pre-test, had them attend multiple lectures and complete reading and homework assignments. Then students were asked to retake the original test. Perkins and his team dissected the exams. Their findings showed the pattern for which they were looking.
Masters of education Graduates show their mettle in the classroom
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s a kindergartener, Laura Ortiz fell in love with the classroom. It’s a passion that never went away. Today, she is a social studies teacher with a degree from FIU who completes more than double the number of continuing education credits required for recertification and carries multiple certifications that bolster her expertise. Though a love of teaching is what drives her, it’s Ortiz’s education and training that help her change the lives of her students and coworkers. Ortiz shares her knowledge and experiences with her students, organizing trips across the United States filled with civics lessons and history. She incorporates technology to help students create presentations that go beyond the recitation of facts and trains fellow teachers to follow suit. It is for these efforts and her expertise that Ortiz was a recent finalist for Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year. Teachers are often described by their passion and love of teaching, with little mention of their actual expertise and professional accomplishments. But today’s teachers are experts — skilled innovators with resumes packed full of higher education, professional training, continuing education and certifications. Long before our graduates take over their own classrooms, they spend hundreds of hours observing other teachers in action. This immersive experience provides students with the practical experience needed to excel not only in their crucial first year, but to continue in a career that is challenging and rewarding. At FIU, our professors in the School of Education and Human Development are incorporating the latest education research into our classes, ensuring the teachers of tomorrow are prepared for the students of tomorrow. Our research drills down to the challenges of high-stakes testing, where teacher pay and retention are tied to student success on exams. Our faculty members are exploring new ways to improve the teaching profession including better evaluations of daily tools like tests. They are examining ways to improve the classroom experience for the kids, including more creative time. Because today’s classrooms are quickly evolving, we need to invest in continued research that will help our faculty discover what it takes for educators to keep pace with innovation, changing policy environments and the diverse needs of all students.
Teachers are helping to shape our future. At FIU we are committed to connecting our talented graduates with promising careers and creating a quality pipeline of educators that are making a lasting impact in our community. Help support this important initiative, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
Laura Ortiz
The education pipeline Grooming future educators begins in high school, online
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ith America facing an unprecedented teacher shortage, the School of Education and Human Development is on the front lines, preparing the next generation of educators for the challenges of the classroom.
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Each year FIU graduates hundreds of students who are specialists in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, elementary education, reading education, special education and art education. Our faculty are working to develop the pathways that connect more students with fulfilling teaching careers.
Maria Tsalikis, a senior instructor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, is helping to lead students on the path to an education career while they’re still in high school. Tsalikis mentors students at the joint FIU/Miami-Dade County Public Schools teaching academy at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School. Currently there are 52 students in the academy who are discovering and nurturing their passion for teaching. Since the academy’s founding in 2015, they have participated in and won a variety of awards at the annual Future Educators of America conference hosted at FIU, which draws high school and college students from throughout southern Florida. Our efforts to create a pipeline of educators also extends online. For working professionals, we offer an online master’s degree in special education. This is an area where nationally, school districts face a constant shortage of educators. Graduates from our online program earn an autism certificate to help school districts meet the needs of students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, says Elizabeth Cramer an associate professor of special education. Tuition costs are supported by a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. With the success of the teaching academy at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High, FIU is looking to expand its footprint throughout South Florida. By launching more teaching academies, we will be able to expose more high school students to teaching and provide a pipeline for these learners to become education students and ultimately, classroom teachers.
America Needs More Teachers TOP STATES IMPACTED BY SHORTAGES New York
6,189
teachers short
Illinois
6,381
teachers short
California
14,521 teachers short
Texas
8,005 teachers short
Florida
5,708
teachers short
TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS Percentage of States With Shortages In The Following Areas
116,000
Open Teaching Jobs In America
84%
Special Education
78%
75%
Math
Science
The Intangibles of Teaching
57%
x 100
1 teacher impacts 3,000 students over the course of their career
Reading/Language Arts
51%
Foreign Language
Helping educate better STEM teachers is the key to addressing both the critical teacher shortage and the pressing issue of increasing our skilled STEM workforce in the future. FIU is working on making the pathway to teaching more accessible for students. For more information on how you can support these efforts, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
Lives unlimited From South Florida to Europe, recreational therapy students become providers of hope
Joseph Sanchez
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iagnosed with cerebral palsy and Crohn’s disease, Joseph Sanchez has undergone multiple surgeries, making his pursuit of a bachelor’s degree a five-year struggle. After taking an introductory recreational therapy course, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in the field. The 2016 graduate is now working with stroke and Alzheimer’s patients using music therapy and technology-assisted therapy to help them improve their quality of life. The School of Education and Human Development is training students in the latest recreation treatment programs to help people with illnesses, injuries or disabilities, veterans and the elderly improve their physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. Students in FIU’s study abroad program in Europe learn about the challenges the disabled face while traveling. This year, 11 students traveled to France and Italy where they used wheelchairs to get around, participated in blind stimulation activities at museums, and promoted events for disabled athletes. Because European laws
have not called for the same level of accommodations available in the United States, the program helps students empathize with future patients and create a new cadre of activists. Throughout South Florida, our faculty and students are making an impact. Instructor Tania Santiago Perez led school volunteers at Sabrina’s Adaptive Beach events. Held by the Sabrina Cohen Foundation and the City of Miami Beach, the events provide children and adults with special needs or disabilities access to the beach and ocean, yoga and meditation, and art therapy. Santiago Perez also worked with MiamiDade Parks and Recreation to develop a hand cycling therapy program for paraplegics to reap the rewards of bicycling by using their hands. Through innovative coursework, study abroad programs and community engagement, faculty and students in the school are helping local and global communities live active lifestyles, gain accessibility and achieve independence.
Improving the quality of life and access for children and adults with special needs is at the heart of our recreational treatment programs in the School of Education and Human Development. We need your support to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of all people. For more information on how you can support these efforts, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
Access for all
New curricula is key to educating different cultures, students with disabilities
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iverse populations have diverse needs, which often calls for a diverse curriculum. Students and faculty in FIU’s School of Education and Human Development are leading efforts to make education accessible and relevant to students of all ages, ethnicities and abilities. Doctoral student Ivian Destro Boruchowski and her children are among the 77 percent of people in Miami who speak a language besides English at home. The Brazil-native wants these heritage language speakers to have the opportunity to improve their literacy skills. Teachers are part of the solution, Boruchowski says. She has developed curricula that incorporates heritage language learning for teachers at various schools. Today, she is furthering her research by assessing the opportunities and challenges educators face in creating such curricula. Professor Andy Pham, a school psychologist, found that school districts like those in South Florida where national and global immigration drive population growth should be working to help Arab American teens feel more at ease. These teens are more likely to experience anxiety and depression at school because they’re usually trying to balance fitting in with staying true to their native culture. Pham says educators can help minorities cope by valuing and using diversity to enhance learning. An increasing population in our urban centers could also lead to greater instances of youth delinquency and violence, but counselor education Professor Valerie Russell is collaborating with the Little Haitibased non-profit Gang Alternative Inc. to create a curriculum that addresses delinquency while de-escalating situations that might lead to violence. But not all differences are cultural or social. In Florida, 13 percent of K-12 students received special education, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Professor Elizabeth Cramer is studying the success of special education students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ general education classrooms. Cramer’s investigation is helping educators meet the needs of students with learning, developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities. She is also working to understand the support needed to implement new math and language arts standards for those students. The education field is constantly evolving with technological advancement, economic realities, changing political climates and global competition. The need for educational research will never go away because the need to prepare teachers to adapt and succeed with this constant evolution will never go away. Most importantly, we need to conduct education research that focuses on children of diverse backgrounds and learning environments where all children feel welcomed.
Understanding different learning needs is crucial to ensuring equitable access for all students in our community. Cultural differences, students at high-risk for delinquency and students with disabilities are being helped with new curricula designed by students and faculty at FIU. To support these important programs please contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
Ivian Destro Boruchowski
A mind for math,
a passion for teaching National program invites students to explore education
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atasha Blanch began her first year at FIU as a finance major, but quickly realized she did not love crunching numbers. Blanch discovered her passion for teaching while working at a math learning center. After consulting with her academic advisor, she decided to give FIUteach a try. The FIUteach program is part of the National Math and Science Institute’s UTeach program, a nationwide secondary teacher preparation initiative which aims to place more than 9,000 urgently needed science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers in classrooms across the country by 2020. The program enables STEM students like Blanch to earn both a degree in their major and a teaching certification without adding time or expense to their four-year degree program. FIUteach promotes student-centered, inquiry-based teaching and learning. Blanch and other students in the program actively work together to develop new content for lessons while making meaningful connections inside and outside the classroom. Students also rely on master teachers, who are extremely skilled and knowledgeable in their STEM field and have several years of experience teaching in public schools, to provide mentorship and guidance as they navigate through the program and prepare to enter into a teaching career. As the top producer of STEM degrees for Hispanics and one of the top producers of STEM degrees for all minorities, FIU has taken on the challenge of enhancing the recruitment and preparation of math and science teachers for communities that are as diverse as ours. Working together with MiamiDade County Public Schools, FIUteach serves as a pipeline of highly skilled and diverse teachers to the fourth-largest school district in the country. Now a senior, Blanch is set to graduate with a B.A. in mathematics and a teaching certification in the spring of 2017. She looks forward to inspiring her future students to ask questions, to look beyond their textbooks and beyond the classroom to find their passion.
FIUteach leverages FIU’s strength as one of the top STEM degree-granting institutions for minorities to build a pipeline of diverse and skilled math, science, technology and engineering teachers. Supporting FIUteach helps address both our critical teacher shortage and the goal of adding more STEM educated graduates to our community and work force. For more information on how you can get involved contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
“I can be the driving force behind a student who hopes to become a neurosurgeon, a rocket scientist, a physicist or a mathematician.” –Natasha Blanch
FIUteach students Natasha Blanch (top) and Yasmine O’Neal learn to navigate the ins and outs of classroom teaching.
Jennifer Guada
Art education is an important part of student development and learning. At FIU, our Master of Art Education Program is producing the future leaders of a field that is shaping how students express themselves through various media and techniques. To learn how you can support art education, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
Let them play Education experts become advocates for unstructured learning
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ennifer Guada believes in creative chaos. She is just as willing to hand her high school students a can of spray paint as she is a charcoal pencil. She knows the creative process is an important tool that empowers kids in school. Guada has even partnered with science teachers to have students build and paint 3-D models to help them better understand DNA. The 2016 School of Education and Human Development graduate is currently pursuing a master’s degree in art education at FIU. Guada points out a rigid instructional experience doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, it’s rarely ideal for anyone. At FIU, she has been given the freedom to explore her own creativity and learn how to channel that energy into her own classroom. Many educators believe fostering creativity can help children cope with the strict testing environments seen in many schools today. Short breaks built into the school day may also help. Education professor Andrea Adelman works to ensure unstructured learning is included in young children’s education. Having teachers take a step back to let children synthesize lessons during play leads to leaps in creativity and critical thinking, she says. Children become more comfortable asking questions and grow in confidence. It’s a philosophy she shares with all of her FIU students. Efforts like these are gaining steam in Miami-Dade County where the school board has called for more time for young children to play outside, practice yoga, or dance. It might seem like simple play, but the relationships children form during recess are essential in building social skills, according to Charmaine DeFrancesco, an associate professor of physical education, sports and fitness. Education is one of the most serious and important aspects of society. Yet play and creativity are so critical to fostering better students. The School of Education and Human Development is empowering a new generation of teachers that understand, advocate and incorporate creative and unstructured learning in their classrooms where children can work outside the lines.
Roxanna Concepciรณn, left, and Carol Iglesias
The secret to school Mentorship, leadership make all the difference
success
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or Roxanna Concepción, a lifetime of mentoring has helped her become a great educator. Concepción, who recently earned a master’s degree in reading education, works as a teacher at Miami’s Royal Palm Elementary School, the same school she attended as a child and was taught by fellow alumna Carol Iglesias. In fact, Concepción still borrows lessons that Iglesias, Miami-Dade’s 1980 Teacher of the Year, taught when Concepción was just an elementary school student herself. More than borrowing successful lessons from her mentor, Concepción says her students learn because of the passion Iglesias instilled in her for making a difference in their lives. School leaders are in the best position to impact education on a larger scale. Nowhere is that more true than with principals who create environments where students are motivated to succeed academically and test scores rise hand-in-hand with graduation rates. At Miami-Lakes Middle School, 2016 Miami-Dade County Principal of the Year Manuel Sanchez takes this to heart: Treat people with respect and you can help them achieve. It was a lesson learned from his earliest days as an intern teaching students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. Sanchez, who earned a master’s degree in special education in 1995, believes in connecting with his students and his teachers to understand their needs. Omar Riaz, who earned an doctorate in educational administration and supervision, is focused on a similar mission. By building up his teachers and having them work collaboratively on teaching plans and even beautifying their school, Broadmoor Elementary improved its rating by two letter grades during his three-year tenure. Establishing a common vision for the school and setting goals as a team were keys to improvement. The next step to realizing the full potential of mentoring is building a program that ensures our teaching and leadership alumni connect with our current students before they finish their degrees and provides support once they enter the classroom.
Teachers can thrive when school leadership gives them the environment where they are motivated to work collaboratively. School leadership positions have the potential to create the type of impact that can be felt throughout the community. Understanding teacher and student needs and the skills that will enable them to become great educators is central to the mission of the School of Education and Human Development. For more information on how you can get involved contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
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On the cover: Yasmine O’Neal is one of 350 students enrolled in the FIUteach program. You can read more about FIUteach and its goal of placing 9,000 new math and science teachers in classrooms across the country by 2020 in this School of Education and Human Development Year in Review.