CURRY SCHOOL Connections
WINTER 2016
UVA Class Reunions TJ Society, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981 June 2-5 Curry School Luncheon Saturday, June 4 Bavaro Hall Cost: $10 For more information online: alumni.virginia.edu/reunions
Influencing Public Policy And raising visibility for Curry B Y LY N N B E L L
Curry Magazine
Read. Participate. Engage. curry.virginia.edu/magazine
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
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nce again in 2016 Dean Bob Pianta and Professor Carol Tomlinson have been named among the top 25 education scholars influencing public policy in the country, and a half dozen others made the 200-person list. Influencing public policy has been an explicit goal of Dean Pianta’s from the beginning of his first term as head of our top-ranked education school. “Our work in the academy should engage the public square,” Pianta wrote in an Education Week commentary last year. “To back away would be to cede influence in an even larger effort: to advance the understanding of the American public to make informed decisions about the education of its citizenry.” Pianta came in at No. 20 in the “Rick Hess Straight Up Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings,” published annually by Education Week. The rankings recognize faculty members who “contribute most substantially to public debates about education,” based upon a point system that Hess developed. Dean Pianta has publicly acknowledged that education schools in general have been subjected to withering criticism for their lack of relevance to solving K-12 challenges. “From my perspective, engagement in the public debate not only replaces these misconceptions, it also has the potential to enable real traction on problems of great intransigence,” Pianta said. He added that the relevance of education schools may depend on the capacity of faculty to engage with stakeholders outside our institutional walls. In addition to Pianta’s high visibility in the public square, Carol Tomlinson, William Clay Parrish Jr. Professor and nationally recognized guru of classroom differentiation, was ranked at No. 16 for her influence. —continued on page 2
“FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ENGAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE ... HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ENABLE REAL TRACTION ON PROBLEMS OF GREAT INTRANSIGENCE.” CURRY CONNEC TIONS • WINTER 2016
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INFLUENCING PUBLIC POLICY continued from page 1 Scholars appearing in the rankings from the list as well: Jonathan Plucker (Ph.D. ’95 the Curry School’s education policy program Rsrch Stats & Eval), who is Julian C. Stanley included Sarah Turner (No. 143), Benjamin Professor of Talent Development at Johns Castleman (No. 159), Jim Wyckoff (No. 161) Hopkins University (No. 55), and Patrick and Daphna Bassok (No. 187). McGuinn (M.Ed. ‘01 Ed Policy), who is a Educational leadership scholar Michelle political science professor at Drew University Young, director of the University Council for (No. 142). Educational Administration, was ranked 145. “Curry alumni should be very proud of Curry’s higher education program was rep- the number of U.Va. faculty on the list,” said resented by Josipa Roksa (No. 104), associate Plucker, who was the 2015 Curry School director of the Center for Advanced Study of Foundation’s Distinguished Alumnus. Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. “Such a large group of publicly engaged At least two Curry alumni appeared on faculty at a public university education school,
even one as prestigious as the Curry School, is quite rare, and it speaks well to the national influence of Curry faculty.” Plucker added that it takes strong leadership to promote public engagement. Many of the activities contributing to the rankings – social networking, writing op-eds, and giving testimony – are not factored into promotion and tenure decisions at many universities. “Dean Pianta and his leadership team place a strong value on engaging with the public, which results in a highly active, highly visible school of education,” Plucker said.
Curry News Briefs New Dual Degree Option in Teacher Ed
Special Ed MT Program Extended to NoVa Center
Curry Partners to Create Model Norfolk Preschool
Three decades after establishing a groundbreaking five-year Bachelor of Arts/Master of Teaching program with the College of Arts & Sciences, the Curry School has cemented a similar collaboration with UVA’s School of Engineering and Applied Science to turn engineering undergrads into science and mathematics teachers. Our new five-year Bachelor of Science/ Master of Teaching program responds to a nationwide demand for teachers with rich backgrounds in the so-called STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Similar to the BA/MT program with the College, Engineering School students interested in the program will apply to the Curry School during their second year of study. They will complete coursework at both schools during their third, fourth and fifth years, graduating with both a bachelor’s degree in engineering science and Master of Teaching degree. Graduates will be eligible for a teaching license with an endorsement in physics, chemistry or mathematics.
The No. 1 need in Virginia’s public schools is for more special education teachers. To help alleviate this need the Curry School is offering the Master of Teaching degree in special education off Grounds for the first time ever. This fall the Master of Teaching program in special education is offered at UVA’s Northern Virginia center. The school has offered various special education programs from the Northern Virginia center for years, but never our signature Master of Teaching degree. “By opening a second Master of Teaching program in Northern Virginia in addition to our program in Charlottesville, we have the capacity to double the number of special education teachers trained at the University of Virginia,” said Bill Therrien, professor and special education program coordinator. The new degree program will bring the same high level of excellence found in the onGrounds program to a new location and to a new kind of student. “The new program will differ from our onGrounds program in that it is offered part-time and is geared toward working professionals who are looking to enter the teaching profession,” Therrien said. It may also be ideal for education paraprofessionals and teachers working in special education positions with provisional licenses. For the professionals already in schools and classrooms, this part-time program allows them to fill the role where they are needed while concurrently receiving the specific training to become a licensed special educator.
The Curry School’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) has partnered with an innovative laboratory school in Norfolk, Virginia, that now serves as a model for early childhood education statewide. The New E3 School, which opened its doors last February, prepares children ages one to five for kindergarten readiness using curriculum developed by CASTL. “The curriculum really builds from the latest science about how young children learn, with a focus on supporting teachers to interact with children in ways that help them become critical thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators early on in life,” said Bridget Hamre, a lead scientist on the project. “It is these skills, coupled with early academic skills in STEAM [science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics] and literacy, that help set young children on a pathway to success in kindergarten and beyond. “ The school’s teacher professional development approach also draws on extensively researched models developed at CASTL. Children ages one to five from all income levels will be able to attend the school, regardless of their zip code and proximity to the school building on Granby Street in Norfolk. The school serves 104 students spread across nine classrooms.
State licensure in engineering education is currently rare but that will change, said Linda Boone, manager of the teacher education program. “It will likely not be long before states begin offering teacher licenses in engineering education, just as they do special education or mathematics education.” When that happens, UVA graduates will be ahead of the game. 2
WINTER 2016 • CURRY CONNEC TIONS
Read more at curry.virginia.edu/curryconnections
Ever the Educators
Kathryn Castle Aichele (Ed.D., ’75 Elem Ed)
All four of my grandsons, ages 8 mos-7 years, live nearby. I spend a lot of time with them all together and individually to get to know each one and their interests. A room of my house is set up just for them with art materials.... Each grandson has a personal journal kept in this room for writing and illustrating. I help each create his own personal bank of words he wants to learn to promote literacy and use of the words in story creation. In addition I volunteer at their school and sponsor their family’s membership to the local children’s museum where I take them quite often for play and for special activities, such as cooking and science workshops. We take excursions to our public library, local parks, and local art museum. Barbara Black (B.S. ’77 Spec Ed) My first
grandchild is arriving in May and I have already bought her 6 books!! Paula Cooper (M.Ed. ‘79 Reading) have two
grandchildren who are not close by, but I keep an eye on the offerings at any library book sale. I’m especially on the lookout for things like pattern books for my granddaughter who is now learning to read. I also write an annual book about the adventures of my sweet Maine Coon cat, Francois. The stories are based on things Francois really does, and my granddaughter loves them. In fact the whole family looks forward to them. All these things will be passed down to my new little grandson when he is older. Joseph L. Cipp (M.Ed.’72) My wife brings
two of our seven grandchildren (10 and 7 years of age) to Religion every Tuesday and Wednesday. After religion they come to our house to do their homework with us, especially with help from my wife Laura, who goes over everything with them. After homework they eat dinner here, and after dinner we watch “Wheel of Fortune” on TV—Grandma and grandchildren vs. Grandpa. (They usually beat me.) Grandparent and grandchildren time: GOOD STUFF.
Pat Cummings (M.Ed. ‘75 Elem Ed) I have
3 grandchildren and I am lucky to be able to spend significant time with the two who live in Charlottesville. They have loved books from the time they were babies and would sit for hours while we read to them! The youngest still loves to be read to and the oldest is an advanced reader on his own. The youngest was a slow starter and I tutored him (and he received extra support at his school as well). He is now in second grade and is reading on grade level! Reading is a big part of our lives! Diana D. Everett (M.Ed. ‘71 Spec Ed) I have five grandchildren and, oh, do we love to read! When they visit, they stay in a room that is decorated in vintage original National Book Week posters, and it includes a children’s library. There is also a children’s Book Nook off of our formal dining library...more posters there as well. My granddaughter also created her own mini poster which is hanging there as well. We do lots of reading around here! Ruth C. Gilbert-Whitner (B.S. ‘74, M.Ed. ‘75 Sci Ed) Since I received my master’s degree from UVA I have been committed to the education of children, my own as well as public school children in Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Best of all, my three-year-old granddaughter, Lily, lives nearby. One of her favorite activities is playing with Play Doh. We both enjoy working together and talking about shapes, designs, and even the mixing colors, as the Play Doh inevitability blends from one solid color into a mix of greens, reds, blues, and yellows. Suzanne Mason Haff (M.Ed. ’69) It depends
on the age of the children, of course, and where you live, but E.O. Wilson has written a wonderful book, Letters to a Young Scientist, that inspires me, as do some of his other books. On the other end of the spectrum, putting labels on everything in the house is fun and helpful, and there are many mobiles that are at science museums – like a solar system – that encourage learning. To me the key is having something interesting to read and write about. Nancy Thatcher Keck (B.S. ‘79 Elem Ed) I am
blessed to be able to spend lots of time with my granddaughter Aubree, who is 2 ½. As an elementary school media specialist, I know the
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urry alumni are educators at heart, so grandchildren can become the most fulfilling teaching opportunity of all. Here’s what some of you shared with us:
Kathryn Castle Aichele’s grandson Beau plays in the room she furnished just for the grandkids.
importance of reading and imagination at an early age in becoming a lifelong learner. We have a special bookshelf in our home that is filled with Aubree’s books. We make it a priority to read a little each day, and more often than not, Aubree wants to read to us or to our dog Layla. We also make all kinds of things out of Play-Doh like pizza slices and tea cakes….and love seeing how this sparks her imagination. Rick Lawson (M.Ed. ‘72) Reading, taking to museums, educational gifts, telephoning often to see where and how things are for a middle schooler and elementary student. Asking several open ended questions, answering questions with questions, and praising the efforts to inquire and investigate. When they visit we always have a project. Tony Laquintano (B.S. ‘62 Elem Ed; M.Ed. ‘66 Couns Ed) My grandson, Nick is constantly asking me to read to him. We now have a daily Read Time where he and I get a book and read and discuss what each page is saying both from the picture and the verse. He has now developed the ability to recognize certain words through repetition. Seems to be working, and he enjoys the conversation we have about the meaning of the picture to the words. Vera Davies Lichtenstein (M.Ed. ‘75 Reading) My grandchildren (ages 2 and 4) live in Chicago, and I live in Virginia. Since I have a large number of children’s books from my teaching years, I read books to them when Skyping by facing the pages toward the camera as I read. They choose the books they want for me to read, I have them predict what’s going to happen next at various points and we have brief discussions about the books. This is one simple activity we do when we’re not together. See more responses and photos submitted by alumni at curry.virginia.edu/curryconnections CURRY CONNEC TIONS • WINTER 2016
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CLASS NOTES Peggy Bourke (B.S. ’71, M.Ed. ’75 Reading) has created decks of Numbers Are Fun! cards for preK, kindergarten, and first grade students, with math activities so that parents, grandparents, babysitters, and siblings can have fun “mathing” as well as reading with kids. ...Website: numbersarefun.biz Nancy Bowen (M.Ed. ’74 Math Ed), a math teacher at Murray High School, was featured in Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Meet Your Educator series... Joseph Cipp (M.Ed. ’72) and his sons were featured recently in the Long Island Advance. Before retiring, Joe coached Bellport High School football to five Long Island Championships: 1992, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010. His son, Sonny Cipp, is the youngest coach to win a Long Island Championship, directing Longwood High School to the 1998 crown. In December 2015 Joe’s other son Jeff led the Longwood Lions to a 47-28 victory to win the 2015 Class I Long Island Championship... Diana Everett (M.Ed. ’71 Spec Ed) retired from teaching gifted girls at The Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and is now enjoying teaching a thing or two to her five grandchildren! Putting her U.Va. Master’s Degree in Special Education to good use, she has taught children with Down Syndrome and learning disabilities as well. Sallie Garrett (M.Ed. ‘72) was featured in the Bristol Herald Courier last August for her reputation as “The Plant Lady” of the Abingdon Farmers Market in Virginia. William A. Gray (M.Ed. ’67) published Why Become a Christian? A Spiritual Memoir in 2015. ... He is president of Corporate Mentoring Solutions 4
WINTER 2016 • CURRY CONNEC TIONS
Submit your class note at curry.virginia.edu/classnotes/submit Inc. and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of mentoring. His other titles include Situational Mentoring and Mentoring Relationships that Work...
a University Scholar and director of the Center for Literacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
authored Prince’s Cat Tale (Vantage Press). “This book has been extremely popular with elementary age school students, as well as lovers of CATS! ...” Bronwen Jones (B.S. ’74 Spec Ed) is a watercolor artist. This winter a four-person show called Lasting Impressions is appearing at the Stanton Art Gallery in Littleton, Col. and will feature her paintings.
article titled, “Outstanding Student Retention and Graduation: The Peer Advisors and Mentors Program at the University of Richmond,” which appeared in the 2015 Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (SACRAO) Journal, Vol. 28.
Mary McManaway (M.Ed. ’57 Reading)
Hope N. Walton (B.S. ’75 Speech Path & Aud; M.Ed. ’76 Spec Ed) co-authored an
In Memoriam Freddie Nicholas (Ed.D. ‘73 Higher Ed) died
January 28, 2016. He was president of John Tyler Community College from 1979-1990. He served for a time on the Curry School of Education Foundation Board of Directors, including a term as president. His service to the University of Virginia also included a three-year term on the Board of Visitors.
Edward H. Henry, Jr. (B.S. ’51, M.Ed. ’54 Health & PE) died on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, in Bronwen Jones
Kathy Sublette (M.Ed. ’75 English Ed) was
Neighbor of the Week and was featured in the Jan. 14, 2016, issue of Charlottesville Tomorrow for her volunteer work at Crozet Elementary.
William H. Teale (M.Ed. ’73, Ed.D. ’77 Engl Ed) has been elected president of the International
Literacy Association (formerly the International Reading Association). He is a professor of education,
Orange Park, Fla., where he had lived for the past 23 years. Mr. Henry, a retired teacher, coached high school football for 25 years and college football for 12 years in Virginia. He led the Annandale High School Atoms football team to the State Championship in 1959 and was inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of fame on October 14, 1997. Read more. Some class notes were abbreviated due to space limitations. You can read the full versions, including photos and fond memories, at curry.virginia.edu/curryconnections