Curry Connections Alumni Newsletter 2015

CURRY SCHOOL Connections

WINTER 2015

Reunions

U.Va. Reunions Weekend ‘5s and ‘10s June 4-7 www.alumni.virginia.edu/reunions Western Wahoo Weekend September 4-6 Los Angeles, Calif.

Cavaliers play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on September 5.

Mark your calendar!

P H OTO B Y TO M CO G I L L

Thomas Jefferson Society and Class of 1965 Reunion May 7-9 To attend the Curry School luncheon on May 9, call the U.Va. Alumni Office at 434-243-9048.

The Curry School is leading an initiative with local schools to bring engineering into the science curriculum while giving students experience with 2D and 3D printing technologies. The Laboratory School for Advanced Manufacturing encompasses schools in both Charlottesville City and Albemarle County.

Technology at School

The Curry School prepares teachers to be lifelong learners of educational technology.

B Y LY N N B E L L

A Curry School Connections is edited by Lynn Bell, Director of Alumni Relations, and published by the Curry School of Education, P.O. Box 400268, Charlottesville, VA 22904. Email: lynnbell@virginia.edu curry.virginia.edu/curryconnections

lthough some would say that not nearly enough has changed about public education over the past half century, one thing very different is the presence of computers in all but the poorest schools.

In districts across the nation, teachers today are expected to be able to use digital technologies, both for administrative purposes (like keeping track of grades and emailing parents) and for teaching and engaging students in learning.

“The most successful teachers I see today with regard to education technology are those who are truly lifelong learners,” says alumna Ann Flynn (Ed.D. ’86 Higher Education), director of education technology at the National School Boards Association.

“They remain curious about using new tools to reach students in new ways. They are comfortable with their subject matter but also comfortable realizing they may have more techie-minded students in the class from whom they can learn. They reach out to other educators, both in their building and around the world. And they keep content at the forefront of learning—not the technology” Flynn’s perspective is right in line with the Curry School’s. Our teacher education program requires all —continued on page 2

“IT’S GREAT FOR STUDENTS TO SOMETIMES DRIVE THE TEACHER’S LEARNING” CURRY CONNEC TIONS • WINTER 2015

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continued from page 1

students to take an early course called Teaching with Technology (TWT). Many of our teaching methods professors incorporate educational technology in their content-specific pedagogy courses, as well.

With the ever-increasing and quickly changing array of technologies available today, preparing teachers to be proficient technologies can be a real challenge. Our instructors also know that new technologies will become available over the course of an average teacher’s career span that they can’t even imagine right now. Virginia requirements for teachers don’t help much. They address only the most basic technological capabilities, like opening email and saving documents.

Emily Barton, one of our TWT instructors and a doctoral student in her second semester at Curry, introduces representative technologies that can be used in instruction, assessment, and teacher productivity. Otherwise, in her section of the TWT course targeted to future secondary English, world languages, and social studies teachers she focuses on habits of mind.

“I teach how to learn new technologies,” says Barton, a former middle school teacher. “They don’t need to know everything now, because the technologies they will use in their future classrooms depend so much on their teaching

style, the content, the students, and the technologies available in the school.”

She stresses that teachers must be open to learning and also willing to turn to students for help. “It’s great for students to sometimes drive the teacher’s learning,” she adds.

Barton also prepares teachers to support students as they use technology to drive their own learning, which requires a significant amount of effort. Students still need guidance and support, so teachers do not have the luxury of grading papers or working on other activities while students use computers.

In his section of the TWT course for future elementary and special education teachers, doctoral student Bert Jacoby introduces a few technologies specifically requested by the methods professors, such as interactive whiteboards and virtual manipulatives. Otherwise, he shows students free web-based technologies, because students cannot predict what hardware they will have in their future classrooms and whether it will be relevant to their subject.

“I look for technologies that can help teachers solve problems in the classroom,” says Jacoby, who taught third grade for six years and is now in the third year of his doctoral program.

Engagement and motivation may be the most obvious issues technology can address,

but some technologies can help provide extra support for struggling young writers and readers, he says.

“Some technologies can help get them past the parts of an activity that are difficult for them and to get to the heart of the assignment. For example, with digital storytelling [that is, creating short digital videos], young students can still be storytellers using images and oral narration, even if they haven’t mastered grammar or the mechanics of writing.”

You may be surprised to learn that both Barton and Jacoby noted that not all their students are technology whizzes. “A lot of students have been just getting by with technology, learning only what they need when they need it,” Jacoby says. And because many college students did not experience effective technology use in their own K-12 experience, they can be skeptical about its value.

“Preservice teachers come to class with a range of perspectives about technology and abilities,” Barton says, “but they walk away from the course with a new appreciation for its potential to enhance learning.”

As Jacoby tells his students, “You can’t use technology for everything, so don’t force it, but definitely consider technology as a potential learning tool.”

Curry Degrees by the Numbers

W

hat has the Curry School been up to since you graduated? We have certainly educated lots of students. Nearly 17,000 degrees have been awarded by the Curry School since 1980 (which is as far back as our computerized records go). Here’s a breakdown: 9,678 1,655 1,606 709 643 3,058

Master of Education degrees Bachelors degrees Ph.D.s Education Doctorate degrees Education Specialist degrees Masters in Teaching degrees (first awarded in 1988)

1,111 of those M.T. degrees have been in elementary education and 1,947 in a secondary

education field.

From 1980 to 1988, 161 bachelors degrees were awarded in elementary education and 87 in secondary education 2

WINTER 2015 • CURRY CONNEC TIONS

Degrees awarded in other selected major program areas: Kinesiology (all degree types): 1,154

grad + 991 undergrad

Administration & Supervision (all graduate degrees types):

1,870

Social Foundations of Education (all graduate degrees types):

1,118

Counselor Education (all graduate degrees types): 1,118 Communications Disorders (all degree types): 785 Special Education (all degrees types):

grad + 312 undergrad

781 grad + 99 undergrad

Higher Education (all graduate degrees types): 278 Clinical & School Psychology (Ph.Ds):

237

CLASS NOTES 1950s Carson Barnes (M.Ed. ’59) wrote his memoir, That’s What Happened – A Shoreman Recalls (2011)...

Walter Gemmell (B.S. ’56) retired from 46 years in the insurance profession and 31 years in the USAFR.

1960s Ruth Allen (M.Ed. ’68) wrote The Holy Spirit and

the Spirit of Reiki: One Source, One Spirit. “We are moving ... to Asheville, N.C., to be closer to our children and grandchildren...”

Judy Barbieri (M.Ed ’69) retired after teaching many years in Twickenham, Middlesex, England. “We now spend six months in London and six months in Sanibel, Fla.” Elaine Pinkerton Coleman (B. S. 64) wrote Santa Fe Blogger: Life After Adoption Recovery available on Amazon for Kindle… www.elainepinkerton. wordpress.com Gerald Cooper (M.Ed. ’69) wrote On Scholarship: From an Empty Room at Princeton. …He retired in 2000 after serving as executive director of Norfolk’s Tidewater Scholarship Foundation and ACCESS program ...

John “Jack” Docherty III (B.S. ’61) after retiring in Boston from a career in the surgical implant field where he assisted in the design of total hip and knee replacements, retired to Hilton Head Island, S.C. ...

He became the chairman of the Sea Pines Plantation Architectural Review Board, the chairman of the Town of Hilton Head’s Land Management Ordinance Committee, and the chairman of Hilton Head’s Rules and Procedure Committee...”

Jerry Martin (B.S. ’61) retired from the Air Force with 21 years of service in 1982. He taught eighthgrade Earth science at San Antonio, Tex., and retired with 21 years of service. He is presently volunteering ...

Elizabeth Oscanyan (B.S. ’59, M.Ed. ’65 Math Ed) received an Appreciation Award from the

ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia for work including founding of the Loudoun ENDependence Center, a.k.a. LEND in 2008 ...

Jeffrey (Jeff) Saeli (B.S. ’66) “I am retired now, but I have experienced a varied life thus far. I have been a middle school social studies teacher, Ford Motor Company production line supervisor, Peace Corps Volunteer in Songkhla, Thailand, high school guidance counselor in Orlando, Fla. ...”

David (Dee) Sinkler (B.S. ’65 Special Ed) is retired now, farming, writing, composing, riding, adventuring. Happy to be alive. All Glory to GOD. He has a book in process….He promotes motorcycling through Confederation of Clubs.

Submit your class note at curry.virginia.edu/classnotes/submit Lyle R. Smith (M.Ed. ’67) received an honorary

associate degree of humane letters from Germanna Community College at the school’s commencement ceremony on May 14, 2014, in recognition of his significant contributions to the progress and development of the college. ... Mr. Smith is a retired teacher and elementary school principal.

Sandra Burnett Wagaman (M.Ed. ’69) is retired and living in Keswick, Va. “I am active with the University of Virginia Medical Center serving on the Children’s Hospital Board, the EMCERT Board (Emergency Medicine) and the UVa Hospital Auxiliary … both on the board and as a volunteer ...”

School District in Dover, Del. She earned an Ed.D. from the University of Delaware in 1991. ... Dr. Huff plans to work as an independent consultant, travel, read, and enjoy her family.

Robert Frederick Jackson, Jr. (B.S. 70 English Ed) wrote All the Scattered Pieces, the third

in his Western trilogy, Sunny of the Old Southwest, concerning refugees from the Long Walk of the Navajo and incarceration at Bosque Redondo ...

Mike Kitts (M.Ed. ’73) retired from Warren County, Va., Public Schools in 1999 after 30 years of service as a teacher and elementary school principal.

He is the general manager and co-owner of Dominion Health and Fitness in Front Royal, Va.

Claude (Bud) Mayo (M.Ed. ’75 English Ed)

1970s Marie Callahan (M.Ed. ’74 Special Ed) and John Callahan (M.Ed. ’76, Ph.D. ’89) have

returned to Charlottesville. ... Marie has retired from 40 years of great teaching.... John retired as chief psychologist at the Community Child Guidance Clinic in Connecticut ... and plans to set up practice in central Virginia. ... You can reach us ... at drjcallahan@sbcglobal.net or calnfm@sbcglobal.net.

Kathryn Castle (Ed.D. ‘75 Elem Ed) wrote Early Childhood Teacher Research: From Questions to Results (2012, Routledge) ...

Anne Constant (M.Ed. ’72, Ed.D. ’79 English Ed) “After retiring 12 years ago from Ernst & Young/

Cap Gemini, I embarked on another career—owning and managing (and teaching in) the Jazzercise Premier Fitness Center of Falls Church, Va. Now I’ve just retired a second time ...

Linda Ettinger Lieberman (M.Ed. ’73 AV C&I) is retiring from her job on February 15, 2015. “I

intend to do more volunteer work for Hadassah, the March of Dimes, and my synagogue. My husband and I plan to travel more and enjoy our joint retirement.”

Rebecca Estes Gore (B.S. ’72) after more than 44 years of teaching recently retired ...

Tom Grant (B.S. ’79 Math Ed) is Math Emporium Coordinator at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Conn. ... “Please contact us if you would like to know more or come visit our beautiful facility.” www.wcsu.edu/math Stuart Holland (M.Ed. ’67) retired from Cox High School in Virginia Beach in 2001 after 40 years in teaching and coaching. “I was honored by having the Cox gym named for me. I have enjoyed spending time with grandchildren, snow skiing, and playing golf since retirement.”

Tina Forrest Huff (M.Ed. 76 Spec Ed) after 40 successful years in education, retired from the Capital

has been named to the Board of Directors of the Society of Virginia. Bud is a retired administrator from Fairfax County Public Schools ...

Martha Nowak (B.S. ’75 Science Ed) retired after being a classroom life, earth and physics science teacher from 1975-2010. She received the MidAmerica Regional Council’s Teaching Environmental Stewardship Award in 2010 ...

Ramona Richardson (B.S. ’79 Elem Ed) was Prince William County Teacher of the Year and Washington Post Agnes Meyer winner for 2014.

IN MEMORIAM Jim Bash (B.S. ’49, M.Ed. ’53, Ed.D. ’60 Admin & Supv) (90) died on October 6, 2014, after

battling Leukemia. The lifetime achievements of this former faculty member earned him recognition from the University of Virginia, the City of Charlottesville, the Virginia General Assembly and President Barack Obama for his work in Civil Rights education ...

Read more. Many class notes were abbreviated due to space limitations. You can read the full versions, including photos and fond memories, at curry.virginia.edu/curryconnections.

FACULTY RETIREMENTS Four faculty members retired at the end of 2014: Sandra B. Cohen, Professor of Special Education and former Director of Teacher Education.

Rebecca D. Kneedler, Professor of Special Education and Associate Dean.

Joanne M. McNergney, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Laura B. Smolkin, Professor of Reading.

CURRY CONNEC TIONS • WINTER 2015

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Curry @ U.Va. New Mental Health Wellness Program for U.Va. Students

Addressing the mental wellbeing of U.Va. fraternity and sorority members was already in the Curry School’s sights well before news of interpersonal violence on Grounds became national news last fall.

Last year a fellowship program was established to fund graduate students from Curry’s clinical psychology and counselor education programs. They are tasked with promoting increased mental health awareness education and prevention-oriented outreach to U.Va. students through the Greek system.

Supervised by Peter Sheras, professor in the Curry School’s clinical psychology program and chair of the Department of Human Services, the fellows can provide one-on-one education to students about risk factors, signs and symptoms of mental illness, ways to intervene as a peer, and referral opportunities.

The program goes beyond exising mental health services on Grounds by making personal connections with each organization and developing services tailored to the organization’s distinct needs--an approach increasing the likelihood that students will use available services and refer their peers.

Two U.Va. alumni members of the Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity approached Curry with the idea for the program and have led much of the fundraising efforts to support it.

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WINTER 2015 • CURRY CONNEC TIONS

Preemptive Measure Addresses Academic Integrity in U.Va. Athletics

In a proactive move to review the effectiveness of U.Va.’s current support, practices and procedures related to student-athletes and their experiences at the University, President Teresa A. Sullivan commissioned the Task Force on Academic Integrity in Athletics in December.

Two Curry School professors were named to the eight-member task force: • Carolyn Callahan, Commonwealth Professor of Education and U.Va. faculty representative to the ACC and NCAA. • Brian Pusser, associate professor and program coordinator in higher education, whose program offers courses in intercollegiate athletic administration.

“The University of Virginia places tremendous emphasis on academics for its studentathletes,” Callahan said. “I’ve worked with student-athletes and staff in athletics for a long time and their accomplishments are the result of hard work and a dedication to be successful. I expect the task force to yield ideas to help ensure the ongoing improvement of educational opportunities for U.Va. student-athletes.”

Administrators reiterated that the University of Virginia is not the subject of any NCAA investigation or review.

Curry’s First Online Degree Following a broader trend across the University, this fall the Curry School will offer a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction entirely online, which will be a first for us. The degree is designed for licensed teachers who want to make a difference in the classroom or other educational settings by developing more effective instructional practices and better curriculum development strategies.

“This first fully online degree program means that the high-quality Curry experience can now be shared with prospective students all around the world,” said Catherine Brighton, associate dean for academic programs and student affairs. “This widened horizon will bring a broadened array of global perspectives that will benefit the entire Curry community online and on Grounds.”

Brighton said that online students will receive the same robust curriculum as is taught in our classrooms. You can look for more online opportunities to come, too.

“In the future we aspire to develop more focus areas to couple with the core learning— areas reflecting the latest research in the science of learning and education innovations.”

The current focus areas students may select for this degree are reading education, gifted education, English language learners, and instructional technology.