Curry Connections Alumni Newsletter

WINTER 2012

CURRY SCHOOL connections Inside

Trailblazers Honored, p. 2 Tess in Shanghai, p. 2 Curry Reminiscences, p. 3 Where Are They Now?, p. 3 Class Notes, p. 4

U.Va. Reunions Weekend May 31 - June 3 For more information, visit www.alumni.virginia.edu/reunions

T.J. Society and Class of 1962 Reunion May 14 - 16 To attend the Curry School luncheon, call the Curry School Foundation office at 434-924-0854 or email curry-foundation@virginia.edu

Curry School Connections is published by the Curry School of Education and is sponsored by the Curry School of Education Foundation, P.O. Box 400276, Charlottesville, VA 22904 http://curry.virginia.edu/curryconnections

/// Dean Bob Pianta, Carol Ann Tomlinson, David Breneman, and Michelle Young.

The Top 101 Five Curry faculty members among top education scholars in the nation.

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urry School dean Robert Pianta was named the 19th most influential university-based scholar in the 2012 Edu-Scholar Public Presence Rankings, published by Rick Hess on an Education Week blog. The rankings name the top 110 university-based scholars contributing to the public debate about education.

Curry professor and world renowned expert on differentiated instruction, Carol Tomlinson, was 27th on the list. Also included was David Breneman (63rd), former Curry School dean and Newton and Rita Meyers Professor in Economics of Education, Sarah E. Turner (95th), professor of Education Policy, and Michelle Young (101st), professor in the Administration & /// Sarah Turner Supervision program and director of the University Council for Educational Administration.

Three other Virginia professors made the list: Daniel Willingham (33rd), professor of psychology, James Ryan (57th), distinguished professor of law and of civil liberties and human rights, and Thomas Dee (85th) professor of public policy and economics. All three are associated with Curry-based education research centers.

The rankings seek to acknowledge excellence in “disciplinary scholarship, policy analysis and popular writing, convening and quarterbacking collaborations, providing incisive media commentary, and speaking in the public square, ” Hess said. They also recognize scholars “who effectively help to move ideas from the pages of barely-read journals into the national conversation around schools and schooling.”

The group of nine education scholars from U.Va. was the third largest group on the list, behind Stanford and Harvard. Three Curry School alumni also appeared on the list: Patrick J. McGuinn (M.Ed. ’01 Ed Policy Studies), Jonathan Plucker (Ph.D. ‘95 Ed Psych), and Michelle Reininger (M.Ed. ’01 Ed Policy Studies).

CURRY SCHOOL CONNECTIONS • WINTER 2012

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Trailblazers Honored

/// James H. Bash and Howard W. Allen were honored for their devotion to educational access and equity for all children enrolled in Virginia’s public schools.

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he work of the Consultative Resource Center for School Desegregation at the Curry School and its leaders was commemorated in January with a panel discussion called Trailblazers for Equal Rights.

Special guests at the event were former directors of the center, James H. Bash and Howard “Hank” W. Allen.

The Curry School opened the center in 1967 with the aid of a federal grant for training teachers and administrators in schools being desegregated. Bash was not only a founding faculty member of the center, but served as its director from 1967 to 1971.

After creating a solid curriculum, center staff conducted institutes and meetings, facilitated school and community groups, and when possible, talked with local media to disseminate information about desegregation and the work of the center across the region.

Bash was responsible for creating a nationally recognized teaching model for cross-racial understanding. During the event, he reflected on the valuable work accomplished by the center. He also urged those in attendance to continue the fight to ensure that high-quality education is available for all children.

Allen served as the center director from 1973 until grant funding ran out and the center closed in 1982. As he reflected on his experiences during desegregation, he said he learned more about the human spirit during that time

Tess in Shanghai

than at any other time in his life. He was inspired by the people with whom he worked at the center, even when they encountered resistance during their training sessions.

Also honored at the evening’s events was Nathan Johnson, the first African American faculty member hired at U.Va. He served as the associate director of the center for six years.

The evening ended with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the work of the center, which will hang in the Bavaro Hall atrium.

2012 Outstanding Alumni Awards Do you know an outstanding Curry School alum?

Help us recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Curry School alumni by submitting your nomination no later than May 4, 2012.

Nomination forms and additional information are available at curry.virginia.edu/foundation/awards

Alumna Becomes Historian of Western Presence in Old China

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ess Johnston (B.S. ’61) has been in Shanghai, China, for so long, she is considered an institution.

“When I first saw Shanghai in 1981, it was a city preserved in amber. Nothing had been torn down and nothing had been built,” she told a reporter in 2010.

She soon began writing about Old Shanghai, filling a void left by the Chinese who traditionally focus more on the future than the past. A researcher, an author—she has authored or coauthored 26 books—a lecturer, and an expert on the Western presence in old China, she has been featured by numerous media outlets, including The New York Times in 1998 and more recently in the South China Sunday Morning Post and on the CNN Global Experiences blog.

Johnston came to the Curry School after a 1950s stint in Berlin with the American Foreign Service. The Charlottesville native enrolled in the Curry School in 1958, as did many other women prior to 1970, primarily 2

WINTER 2012 • CURRY SCHOOL CONNECTIONS

because she was barred from the males-only College. Her favorite subjects were English, history, and German, however, and she went on to complete a master’s degree in German in 1963.

She never pursued public school teaching. Instead, she taught German classes here at U.Va. In 1967, Tess went to Vietnam for USAID and stayed for seven years during the war. This experience inspired her to rejoin the Foreign Service, which proceeded to take her to Frankfurt, Berlin again, New Dehli, Tehran, and then to Shanghai. After 33 years in the Foreign Service, she faced mandatory retirement in 1996. At that time, she had already published three books with co-author/photographer Deke Erh and, as she puts it, had maybe ten ideas in her head for more books.

“I loved Shanghai and the Chinese people, no longer had strong ties to the USA—where I had not lived for over three decades—so why not stay here and continue to write books?” she says. “And so I did.”

“I never had much ambition, and was just lucky to stumble into a career that perfectly suited my personality,” Johnston said, “one that offered a life of spasmodic adventure and /// Johnston’s memoirs e x c i t e m e n t are recorded in her book, without any Permanently Temporary. responsibility whatsoever for the outcome.

A great combination!”

At age 80, she has barely slowed down.

“When not busy writing books,” she told us, “I’ve been lecturing, leading architectural tours, and, of course, still researching all sorts of good stuff.” Her current project is a new book, Americans in Old Shanghai.

Curry Reminiscences

BY E LEANOR V. WILS ON , ASSOCI AT E P R OF E SSO R

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he biggest growth in the Curry School’s history to date began in the 1960s in response to increasing demands for the preparation of personnel for expanding educational fields in the state of Virginia as well as nationally.

Between 1960 and 1980, 7,890 Master of Education degrees were granted, along with 662 Doctor of Education degrees. The degree of Education Specialist was created, and 69 Ed.S degrees were awarded in the 1970s, along with 97 Ph.Ds granted through the College. Yet another graduate degree was created and offered in conjunction with the College for 30 years: the Master of Arts degree designed for aspiring secondary teachers who combined education coursework with a major in the College.

Two other significant events occurred during this period. Beginning in 1970 women were admitted to the University “on the same basis as men” in all areas, not just the professional schools such as Education, Law and Nursing.

In 1972 the home of the Curry Memorial School of Education moved from its location in Peabody Hall on central grounds to the newly built Ruffner Hall, which was reached by walking on a bridge across Emmet Street.

The Curry School deans, beginning with Lindley Stiles, brought increased vigor and leadership to the School. With the appointment of Ted Cyphert as dean, a self-proclaimed “pot-stirrer,” the size of the faculty grew along with the size of the student body and the numbers of degrees earned. Cyphert encouraged scholarly scientifically based research, increasing the visibility of faculty publications and acquisition of grants that focused on ways to improve educational practices.

The leadership provided by Dean James Cooper in the mid-1980s in developing the five-year teacher education program brought unprecedented national attention to the Curry School. Again M.Ed degrees led the way with 3,082 granted in the 1980s, along with 135 Ed.S degrees and 337 Ph.Ds (which still were awarded through the College).

Many changes have shaped the role and

Curry Alumni Writing Contest

Where Are They Now? Retired Faculty Check In John Bunch (Retired 2011) Visual Media and IT Program.

/// Athena Angelus, an education student in the 1960s, was the first woman to hold a leadership position in the School of Education’s chapter of the Virginia Education Association.

work of the Curry School today. Yet, the school continues to build upon the foundation laid by these visionary leaders of the past, pursuing excellence in the preparation of education and human services professionals and remaining committed to the public good.

Adapted from Wilson’s book, The Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, 1905-2005.

Alumna Davis Remembers

Mary-Boynton “Marby” Davis (B.S. ‘47) began her relationship with U.Va. rather distinctively—as a student in a special engineering program that admitted women during World War II. Afterwards, she worked at Langley Field for 14 months, testing model seaplanes. She then returned to the University to begin her studies in the Curry Department of Education.

Davis remembers that the Co-Ed Room played a big part in her life at U.Va. “It was a lovely big room with a fire place, an adjoining kitchen, and on the right was a bedroom with a bathroom. Betty Slaughter was the housekeeper and cook in those years and I occasionally worked as her assistant and served lunch to the coeds. I got paid a free lunch and about one dollar a meal.”

Read more of Davis’ remembrances and other Curry reminiscences at curry.virginia. edu/curry-connections

/// View the winning entries from the most

recent Alumni Writing Contests at curry.virginia.edu/magazine.

If you would like to tell your story, view submission guidelines for the next contest round at curry.virginia.edu/writing-contest

“Elaine and I are enjoying this new phase of our lives. Retirement has meant more time to pursue my painting, photography and writing as well as the ability to spend additional time with the grandchildren. I will continue to teach my Aesthetics and Education and Museums and Education courses in the summers at the Northern Virginia Center.”

Mike Caldwell (Retired 2003) Research and Evaluation “I finally found something I’m ‘really good at,’ that is, not working. As a result, unlike some of my colleagues I found the transition to retirement rather seamless. I now spend the time cooking, traveling, and making pottery.”

Harry Strang (Retired 2008) Educational Psychology “Since my retirement, Alice and I have lived at Lake Monticello just a stone’s throw from our daughter and her family. In reinventing myself, I have refocused the storytelling, so much a part of my former teaching, to a new venue—the creation of DVD videos that celebrate the treasured memories of seniors who, while not famous, have lived good lives and have wonderful stories to tell.

Of course, the videos are given to participating families and are often also available in local historical societies.”

R. Lynn Canady (Retired 1999) Administration & Supervision “I am still working with school districts across the country, conducting workshops on school scheduling, dropout prevention, and grading practices. I’m also working on a manuscript for a book called America’s School Dropout Crisis: Strategies for Prevention and Rescue. It will be my third since retiring. My wife Marjorie and I still live in Albemarle County and now have nine grandchildren.”

The Curry Alumni Portal is your connection to alumni news and resources you can use! curry.virginia.edu/alumni CURRY SCHOOL CONNECTIONS • WINTER 2012

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CLASS NOTES Susan Akroyd (M.Ed. ’71) is principal of a National Title I Distinguished School from Virginia (in Fairfax County) and a National Principal Mentor through NAESP. Cindy Anno (M.Ed. ’70) retired after teaching for 35 years. “Loved teaching. Love my retirement!”

She lives in Salisbury, Md. Carson H. Barnes, Jr. (M.Ed. ‘59) served as a dean at Ferrum College and at William & Mary for 30+ years before retiring in 1991. He lives in New

Point, Va. Michael “Mickey” Bowman (M.Ed. ’71) says “Mr. Runk and Dr. Ertle Thompson were the best teachers I ever had anywhere. Had a grand learning experience in the NSF program.”

Randall Capps (M.Ed. ’70 C&I) is Scholar in Residence at Western Kentucky University’s Gordon Ford College of Business. He also serves as a visiting professor at the IAE of the University of Lyon, France.

Gerald Cooper (M.Ed. ’69), after retiring in 2000, began writing a recollection of his life and work, titled On Scholarship – From an Empty Room at Princeton, which he published in 2008.

Joseph Fritz (M.Ed. ’72) is retired from teaching at Charlottesville High School.

Susan Hansell (M.Ed. ’72) retired as a guidance director in 1998. In 2001 she was ordained a minister in the Episcopal church.

Robert Horn (M.Ed. ’82 Admin & Supv) is retired after 27 years in public school administration. He has just begun a four-year term on the Nottoway County School Board in Nottoway, Va. Jeanne Hutton (M.Ed. ’70) has been department chair of a diverse and interesting public school for 17 years. She will speak at the April NOSCA national convention in Baltimore.

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WINTER 2012 • CURRY SCHOOL CONNECTIONS

William Huyett (M.Ed. ’74 Math Ed) is retiring after 38 years working in public education.

His career has included teaching math and physics, serving as a high school administrator for 14 years and as a superintendent for the past 16 years.

James Martin (M.Ed. ’71) was appointed Associate Vice President of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in 2010.

Richard O’Hara (M.Ed. ’79 Admin & Supv) is in his fifth year as president of The John Carroll

School in Bel Air, Md., following ten years as headmaster of Wellington School in Columbus, Oh. Elizabeth Oscanyan (B.S. ’59, M.Ed. ’65 Math Ed) moved to the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg in 2010.

She is active online at Distributed Proofreaders and at DPCanada helping make books available in digital format.

Jack Pitzer (M.A. ’71) was in education at various levels for 40 years. He retired in April 2011 as an elementary principal in Fairfax County.

Linda Platt (M.Ed. ’68) recently celebrated 32 years of preschool teaching and administration, “preserving the right of children to learn through play” in Westchester County, New York.

David Lee Powell (M.Ed. ’63) taught social studies for 10 years in Waynesboro, Va., and 23 years in Fairfax County. He is retired since 1992 and has lived for the past 10 years in Mallorca, Spain.

Linda Scandore (M.Ed. ’74, Ed.S. ’79 Reading) has had 39 years’ experience as a Reading Specialist and Special Education teacher with Charlottesville City Schools.

Carolyn Shaffer (M.Ed. ’72, Ph.D. ’76) is living and working in Bethesda, Md. She does cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and sex therapy.

Harrison “Chuck” Straley (Ed.D. ’75) retired from Woodberry Forest School in 1998, then re-entered the classroom and is currently in his 52nd year of classroom teaching. He teaches at Wheaton College, Norton, Mass.

Virginia Walker (M.Ed. ’65) retired from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Florida State University in 2004.

Stuart Weinstein-Bacal (M.Ed. ’73) earned a law degree from the University of Miami in 1979. He has been practicing law out of offices in Puerto Rico.

Stuart lives on a small farm in Middleburg, Va., with his wife Holly. They have three children.

Chris Westcott (B.S. ’75, M.Ed. ’80 Admin & Supv) has fond memories of these classmates and professors: Mr. White, Connie C., Peggy D., Consuelo L., Liza D., Wendy W., and the rest of those “special educators” of 1975. “Hope all is well with you.”

Andrea White (M.Ed. ’79 Admin & Supv) is chief knowledge officer for Felician Services, Inc., in Chicago.

David White (M.Ed. ’72 Elem Ed) is in his 37th year at Keene State College in New Hampshire. While there, he received the 1985 Distinguished Teacher Award and founded the Keene State College Children’s Literature Festival (1978) and the Festival Gallery Collection (1990).

Steven Wilson (M.Ed. ’68 C&I) is retired and living in Moorefield, W. Va. He says, “It would be great to hear from classmates in the NSF AYI class.

Wonderful experience. Hope all are well.”

Read more about these alumni and others at curry.virginia.edu/curry-connections

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