News

College of Education's social justice instruction continues to advance
Social justice issues the past few months have prompted countless conversations among all ages, and a pair of Penn State faculty members will enable that dialogue to continue among even more students in the fall.

Around the College: July 3, 2019
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Things worked out 'for the best' for College of Education graduate
A College of Education initiative that created a pipeline to Penn State will enable a recent graduate to come full circle and start to teach where not long ago she was a student.

CSATS receives $1.3 million grant to implement SHAPE MATTERS project
A National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH/NIGMS) grant worth more than $1.3 million will support high school biology and chemistry teachers to incorporate current advancements of molecular modeling into their teaching.

College of Education community meets challenges presented by pandemic
Teachers at all levels pride themselves on being ready for just about anything, and professors and instructors in Penn State’s College of Education quickly discovered that their college was prepared to meet the challenges caused by the ripple effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

López to join Penn State as Waterbury Chair in Equity Pedagogy
As newly named Waterbury Chair in Equity Pedagogy in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Francesca López wants to help make Penn State’s College of Education the place to consult for how equity work should be carried out.

Education student anticipates plenty of 'We Are' moments at Penn State
Having so much ahead of him at his “dream school” has made it easier for incoming Penn State freshman Jake Beal to rationalize all that he has lost as an outgoing high school senior in Marlboro, New Jersey.

Incoming education student awaits many opportunities Penn State offers
Nya Cherry took part in many activities in high school and the incoming College of Education student is well aware that Penn State can provide her with countless other such opportunities.

Penn State a 'perfect fit' for incoming College of Education student
Freshman Michael Parrish knows better days are ahead. And he knows that Penn State is going to provide them.

Alumni Society board member adds certificate to 2 Penn State degrees
Douglas Womelsdorf’s first two degrees from Penn State in 2003 and 2005 opened some doors for him, and when he decided that a gateway to future success would hinge on additional education, he turned to Penn State once again.

It's been quite the experience for Penn State CI 495 student teachers
Synchronous and asynchronous education on Zoom and other platforms are the new normal, and student teachers Kristen Krause, Lexi Principe, Gabriela Marsh and Carley Cassandro have rolled with punches delivered by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent K-12 school shutdowns.

Student teacher's job after Penn State graduation: U.S. Marine Corps
Come May 18, College of Education student Gabriela Marsh will commission as second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. She graduated from Officers Candidate School in August 2019, completed her senior year at Penn State in the Navy ROTC program and commissions with the Marines in mid-May.

PDS interns, teacher educators navigate COVID-19 with shared inquiry
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted internships and student teaching in Pennsylvania’s teacher education programs. Teacher educators in K-4 Professional Development School partnership between Penn State and the State College Area School District have taken an inquiry stance to empower interns to navigate learning to teach during these times.

PDS student teachers making the most of their new online 'classrooms'
College of Education and State College Area School District have joined forces for 22 years to conduct the Professional Development School.

Ashley Patterson earns Cotterill Leadership Enhancement Award
An assistant professor of education, Ashley Patterson is this year’s winner of the Cotterill Leadership Enhancement Award, the Penn State College of Education’s annual accolade made possible by Joan and David Cotterill to recognize faculty or staff for exemplary performances and leadership efforts.

Taylor Young wins Undergraduate Student Leadership and Service Award
Taylor Young is a 4.0 student in her secondary English education major who also is working on minors in English and education policy studies as well as a certificate in teaching English as a second language. She is a Schreyer Honors College Scholar and she serves on the College of Education Undergraduate Student Council.

Prospective science teachers making most of remote learning methods
Carmen Vanderhoof and her SCIED 458 class are proof positive that even with remote learning, students don’t have to be removed from the mainstream.

Kaela Fuentes-Packnick winner of Graduate Student Recognition Award
The Graduate Student Recognition Award honors a graduate student for outstanding scholarship, research and dedication to education and promise of professional excellence.

Shannon Walker named spring 2020 Education student marshal
Walker is graduating with a 4.0 GPA, with a bachelor of science in elementary and early childhood education and minors in special education, education policy studies and theatre. She also is in the Schreyer Honors College.

Darlene Kolesar earns College of Education's Outstanding Staff Award
The Outstanding Staff Award recognizes the accomplishments of a staff member in the College of Education for outstanding service and commitment to faculty, staff and students of the Penn State community.

JT Taylor earns College of Education's Climate Enhancement Award
Taylor, associate professor in special education, has research interests that include science education for students with disabilities, evaluating innovative classroom practices, and bullying issues with autism, learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders.

Uju Anya receives College of Education's Outstanding Teaching Award
The College of Education’s Outstanding Teaching Award recognizes a faculty mentor who demonstrates teaching excellence, shows respect to all students as individuals and creates an environment conducive to learning.

Alumna shares elementary remote teaching experience, resources
Rachel Mountz is a 2011 graduate of the Penn State College of Education, with a degree in elementary and early childhood education. She teaches in a rural, Title I school in Colorado, and is sharing her story of moving to remote teaching of her fourth-grade class with the hope that her story and the resources she's using may help others in similar situations.

New project to allow families to learn together in Hazleton classrooms
A Penn State project team that collaborates with experienced elementary teachers to utilize science and STEM education for English language development will be fully functional in the community of Hazleton, Pennsylvania -- thanks to the College of Education -- once the state-mandated restrictions because of COVID-19 are lifted.

Education professor to assist state with revision of science standards
The state Department of Education (PDE) is about to embark on updating its Pennsylvania Science and Technology and Environment and Ecology standards, and Penn State is positioned to play a leadership role in that process.

Expert tells faculty that storytelling opens channels of communication
Some Penn State College of Education faculty learned recently the importance of storytelling in relation to their teaching as well as humanizing their research.

Staples to deliver 2020 Luchinsky Lecture
eanine Staples, associate professor of education (literacy and language education), African American studies, and women’s, gender and sexuality studies in the colleges of Education and the Liberal Arts at Penn State, will present “… And Justice for All: Advancing Social Justice Through Emotional Justice” as part of the 25th annual Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, in the Palmer Museum of Art's Palmer Lipcon Auditorium.

Young students show off literacy learning in self-built museum
There are many museums in and around State College, but none are curated by a more passionate and enthusiastic group than the museum organized by children each summer in The College of Education's Summer Reading camp.

AAUW International Perspectives on Women in Society luncheon Jan. 23
A pair of Humphrey Fellows who specialize in social work training and women’s empowerment/social policy, respectively, will be the featured panelists at the annual luncheon of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) on Jan. 23.

Students learn about improving diversity in entrepreneurship
A course that may contribute to an entrepreneurship and innovation minor in Penn State’s College of Education addressed issues of diversity, inclusion and belonging in entrepreneurship. Undergraduate students created animations with contemporary beats about entrepreneurship for children from non-dominant backgrounds.

Marimon to be honored by campus sustainability group
Efraín Marimon, director of Restorative Justice Initiative and the Social Justice Fellowship in Penn State’s College of Education, is the first faculty member to be honored by the Council of Sustainable Leaders.
Improving diversity in entrepreneurship is primary goal of The Cape
Since Eric Barron became president of Penn State in 2014, he has made economic development and student career success a University priority. Betsy Campbell is dedicated to building on that commitment by working to diversify the face of entrepreneurship.

New class stems from Schussler's Project RESPECT research
Research-to-practice comes full circle with creation of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership class scheduled for spring 2020.

Patterson research leads to new social justice minor
Ashley Patterson's research will show up in practice when she teaches Principles of Social Justice (CI815) as part of a new Social Justice in Education minor in the College of Education.
Boldt earns international recognition for her distinguished career
Gail Boldt, professor of education (language and literacy education) in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, recently received the Bloch Distinguished Career Award, the highest award of the International Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education Conference.

Project TEAM continues to grow and flourish
Project TEAM is a school-wide anti-bullying movement to help schools develop and strengthen team-oriented cultures, and its founder is attempting to make its overall reach become even wider.

Mexico trip to offer students opportunity at international learning
The creation of another international program – this one in Mexico – will allow College of Education students to develop abilities in social responsibility and leadership in multicultural/multilingual contexts.
Team wins 5-year, $1.98 million NSF grant to improve teacher prep
A team of College of Education faculty led by P. Karen Murphy has won a five-year, $1.98 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve the preparation of undergraduate preservice elementary teachers.

Cunningham named professor of practice in education and engineering
The objective of the new position of professor of practice in education and engineering is for Penn State to be thought leaders in preK-12 engineering education by creating research-based and classroom-tested resources for students and teachers that enable high-quality engineering experiences.

Partnership between College of Education, South African universities flourishes
A project to dramatically bolster the number of doctoral degrees awarded in South Africa is in full swing, and administrators from three of that country's universities are working with Penn State higher education faculty members to ensure its success.

Happy Valley Improv fuses artform with pedagogy
Penn State education faculty Andrea McCloskey and Sam Tanner are quite serious about the often comedic artform of improv. They are two of the four founders of Happy Valley Improv, and behind the performative emotions the two are whittling away at how their artform can serve to transform teaching in the classroom.

Waterbury Summit sparks discussions about the Learning Sciences
How the Learning Sciences play out in our work, our learning and our analyzing learning as well as having an impact on the world are topics that some of the country's top learning scientists broached at the recent Penn State College of Education Waterbury Summit.

Supercomputer cluster donation helps turn high school class into research lab
After participating in professional development opportunity through CSATS, a Bald Eagle Area High School physics teacher teamed up with Penn State's Institute for CyberScience and used a supercomputer cluster to explore the world as real climate scientists.
College of Education host of Waterbury Summit May 14-16
Penn State's College of Education will welcome some of the country's top luminaries in the field of the Learning Sciences at its Waterbury Summit scheduled for May 14-16 at Krause Learning Space in 221 Chambers Building on campus.

Around the College: May 8, 2019
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Staff members balance roles of parent, employee and student
It's not easy balancing the roles of parent, spouse and employee. Add being a student to the mix and the demands become even more challenging. But for five College of Education staff members, it is a challenge they face head-on.

PDS Inquiry Conference highlights interns' research
Penn State's Professional Development School interns are tasked to ask intriguing questions and find enlightening, research-based answers. Prospective teachers Leah Higbee, Krishawna Goins and dozens of their PDS classmates put their queries and subsequent findings on display at the program's annual Inquiry Conference.

Pair of education students learn a lot by doing -- and they're doing a lot
If the time-worn adage that job seekers should limit their resume to a single page remains true, then Penn State students Taylor Young and Carly Siegle are out of luck. Those two prospective educators in just four semesters have participated in enough educational activities to start to fill a university bulletin.

New process of teaching literacy to future teachers gets rave reviews
Instead of listening to lectures, prospective elementary-level instructors underwent literacy training that included first watching a lesson being taught to students and then immediately teaching that same lesson to other students.
Multicultural Resource Center honors 3 in College of Education
The University's Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) has recognized one College of Education staff member and two students in its annual awards presentation. Brenda Martinez, administrative support assistant in the College's Office of Multicultural Programs, is the inaugural recipient of the MRC Faculty and Staff Diversity Recognition Award. Students Krishawna Goins and Rabiyatu Jalloh won the Student Leadership Award and Volunteer Service Award, respectively.

College of Education senior wins Fulbright
The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board selected Rachel Shriver, a senior secondary English education major from Manassas, Virginia, for a Fulbright award to Colombia.

Outstanding faculty, staff, students recognized
Once again this year, the College of Education has recognized faculty, staff and students who have made significant contributions to their fields, the College and the University.

Puppet shows teach students to put classroom learning into practice
Teachers-in-training need to learn a lot of different skills, but Jordan Gardner never imagined sewing would be one of them. The culminating project in one of her classes is the performance of The Happy Valley Show puppet show, with puppets made by students in the class.

Around the College: April 10, 2019
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Anna Gabriel named spring 2019 Education student marshal
Anna Gabriel has been selected as the College of Education's student marshal for Penn State's spring 2019 Commencement ceremony, which will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2019, in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Marimon is 2019 recipient of emerging faculty award for engaged scholarship
Efrain Marimon, assistant professor of education in the College of Education, has received Penn State's 2019 Outreach and Online Education Emerging Faculty Award for Engaged Scholarship.

College of Education well-represented at annual AERA conference
A large number of University Park faculty, graduate students and staff are authors or co-authors of papers being presented in symposia, paper sessions, poster sessions or roundtable discussions at the American Education Research Association (AERA) meeting April 5-9 in Toronto, Canada.

Around the College: March 27, 2019
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Faculty member honored with national association's First Book Award
"Racialized Identities in Second Language Learning: Speaking Blackness in Brazil," a book written by Uju Anya, assistant professor of education (second language learning) and research affiliate for the Center for the Study of Higher Education, has been awarded the First Book Award by the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL).
New course to allow students to tune into diversity, entrepreneurship
This innovative new course is designed to make entrepreneurship relevant to people who traditionally have been outside of entrepreneurial careers, and also to create "Schoolhouse Rock" types of educational videos on the topic.

Around the College: Feb. 13, 2019
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Grant to aid students' grasp of science behind natural disasters
Scott McDonald, College of Education associate professor of science education, and The Concord Consortium in Massachusetts are using a four-year, $2.8 million National Science Foundation grant to develop data visualizations and simulations that help middle-school students understand big, system-level science ideas.

Around the College: Jan. 16, 2019
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Loretta Lowman: Teaching kids the fundamentals of reading
The Alumni Spotlight is a monthly feature in Bridges, highlighting College of Education alumni who are making a difference in the lives of the people around them. This edition features Loretta Lowman, who overcame a learning disability as a child and found success as a special education teacher.

Professor’s writings encourage compassion, empathy, inclusivity, social change
Penn State Professor Vivian Yenika-Agbaw has spent her life studying and analyzing hierarchical systems of oppression and race relations. Through her writing and teaching, she encourages compassion, empathy, inclusivity and social change.

Pre-service teachers show off portfolios, but in electronic fashion
Prospective teachers in Penn State's College of Education preparing to do their student teaching during the 2019 spring semester put their ePortfolios on display for people to see in a recent Krause Studios for Innovation showcase titled Making our Learning Visible.

Love for international education takes alumna to the Philippines
College of Education alumna Evangeline Chow has followed her love of international education and diverse students to the Philippines, where she heads an accelerated language program for English language learners.

‘Old Main’ to be displayed inside Chambers Building
Elementary education students are creating a replica of Old Main for display in Chambers Building, and they would like passers-by to contribute their poetry.

Seifert named fall 2018 College of Education student marshal
The Penn State College of Education has named Morgan Seifert as its student marshal for fall 2018.

Around the College: Oct. 31, 2018
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Helping prospective educators land jobs goal of Alumni-Student Teacher Network
Student teachers at Penn State are being taught the finer points of securing a job after graduation by the College of Education's Alumni-Student Teacher Network (ASTN).

Around the College: Oct. 17, 2018
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.
Latin may help students bridge their native language with English
Researchers found that teaching English Learners — students who aren’t fluent in English and often come from homes where a language other than English is spoken — the Latin roots of words helped them problem solve the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Research projects help children have inquiring minds about science
When it comes to learning about just how much preschool-aged children are capable of while attempting to grasp the concepts of astronomy, Julia Plummer likes to shoot for the stars.

Penn State-Pitt partnership celebrates 3 years
The third annual PSU-Pitt Education Summit will convene at University Park at 11 a.m. today (Sept. 27) at the Nittany Lion Inn to continue a partnership aimed at providing better services and resources for K-12 students in Pennsylvania.

Kissling's passion about patriotism featured in Occasional Papers Series
Though it's been a longstanding passion, Mark Kissling finds no time like the present to teach, research and write about patriotism, something that's piqued his interest since 2001 and extended into graduate school.

Research aims to boost dual-language learners' reading comprehension
The interdisciplinary work being done by Amy Crosson and her colleagues to help dual-language learners with reading comprehension also may help students with learning disabilities.
Faculty member expands the boundaries of civics in the classroom
Mark Kissling, assistant professor of education, discussed his approach to civics education and what it means for democracy on the latest episode of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s Democracy Works podcast.

Dynamic assessment can help language learners have more success
Altering or individualizing assessment procedures can propel second-language learners toward more successful mastery of that language, ongoing research by Matt Poehner and his interdisciplinary team suggests.

Around the College: Aug. 22, 2018
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Around the College: August 1, 2018
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Daly named student marshal for summer commencement
Elizabeth Daly has been selected as the College of Education's student marshal for the summer semester 2018 commencement ceremony, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State University Park campus.

Overseas servicewoman grateful for Penn State's online master's program
Air National Guard Captain Melissa Spencer has traveled the world as a military brat, she calls home the top of the world, and now feels at home as a master of education graduate student in Penn State's World Campus.

Professional Development School marks 20 years of devotion to 'hard work of teaching'
Two decades of encouraging cooperation and collaboration between teachers and students have led to a landmark anniversary for Penn State's College of Education and the State College Area School District.

Student teachers get early start on research interests
Education is steeped in research and student teachers are finding that it's never too early to take an interest in inquiry.

College of Education student earns Erickson Discovery Grant
Penn State College of Education student Rachel Shriver knew that five weeks in Ecuador wasn't enough; she wanted at least five more because she had more questions to ask, more research to uncover, much more to explore.
Kelly receives Dr. John J. Gumperz Memorial Award
Gregory J. Kelly was the recipient of the Dr. John J. Gumperz Memorial Award at this year's annual American Education Research Association meeting.

Student teacher takes advantage of PDS opportunity to learn and grow
Whenever there's been a way to not only educate children but help them as well, Ali Cohen has been there.
College of Education faculty, staff serve students across the University
At any university, it is common to see faculty and staff working with students. After all, it is part of most job descriptions. But oftentimes, faculty and staff go above and beyond their job descriptions in what they do for students.

Graduate student's endeavor is to tackle the science of teaching science
Dan Henderson is a student with a lifelong passion for science and he's engineered his future plans to relay that passion through the profession of teaching.

Around the College: April 25, 2018
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.

Elementary education majors to host children's arcade at Discovery Space
Elementary education majors enrolled in CI 497: The Creative Child will host Creative Child at Discovery Space. The event, to be held at Discovery Space on North Atherton Street, kicks off from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. A second session will take place 1:45-2:35 p.m. Thursday, April 26.

Reputation of PDS program beginning to precede itself
The popularity of Penn State's Professional Development School has broadened throughout its 20 years to the extent that students who are interested in teaching careers have heard of the program prior to enrolling in the College of Education.

Hannah Kohler named spring 2018 student marshal for College of Education
Hannah Elizabeth Kohler is the College of Education’s student marshal for Penn State’s spring 2018 Commencement ceremony, which will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6, in the Bryce Jordan Center. A Schreyer Honors College student from York, Pennsylvania, Kohler made dean's list in every semester.

Erickson Discovery Grant showcases partnership between Education, IST
Seth Wilcox, a first-year student majoring in secondary education with a focus in earth and space sciences, will spend his summer coding a program that will extract keyphrases from scientific publications and determine their usefulness through crowdsourcing.

College of Education well-represented at annual AERA conference
Many University Park faculty and graduate students are authors or co-authors of papers being presented in symposia, paper sessions, roundtable sessions or poster sessions at the American Education Research Association (AERA) meeting April 13 to 17 in New York City.
Whitney recognized with 2018 Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award
Anne Whitney, professor of education in the College of Education, is the recipient of the 2018 Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentoring Award.

Faculty, staff recognized for contributions to the College
For more than two decades, the College of Education has held an annual award ceremony recognizing faculty, staff and students who have made significant contributions to their fields, the College and the University.

Around the College: April 11, 2018
Students, staff and faculty members from Penn State's College of Education share recent research and career achievements.
Dean's Graduate Assistantship program attracts the best students to the College of Education
The Dean's Graduate Assistantship (DGA) for Engaged Scholarship and Research in Education in the College of Education was established in 2010 to support exceptional students working toward a doctoral degree. As of January 2017, DGAs guarantee four years of funding for recipients.
ADRI to showcase 'StoryWalks' research through dialogue and workshop
Kimberly Powell, associate professor of education (language, culture and society), art education, and Asian studies, and an affiliate faculty member with the Arts and Design Research Incubator, will discuss and demonstrate her research project, "StoryWalks," March 27 and 29.
C.A.R.E. Fair offers job opportunities that make a difference
Penn State students have the opportunity to find a career path that makes a difference at the Penn State C.A.R.E. Fair, to be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Alumni Hall at the HUB–Robeson Center.

New scientific model to aid young students in understanding biology
Researcher presents "Transformation Boxes (TBs): A system-based guidance to support elementary student teachers to teach and learn scientific modeling" at Waterbury Lecture.
College of Education's Professional Development School earns national award
Penn State and the State College Area School District have earned the Exemplary PDS Achievement award from the National Association for Professional Development Schools and will be honored March 17 at the NAPDS conference in Jacksonville, Florida.

Author tells parents, educators to speak openly with children about skin color
An author/activist implored parents to speak to their children about racism because silence about skin color, she said, implies that it must not be OK that people have different colors of skin.
PDS alumni group seeks new members
The College of Education Professional Development School (PDS) is in the process of reinvigorating its Affiliate Program Group (APG) and is looking for new members.

Kathy Hill new director of Center for Science and the Schools
CSATS serves to facilitate mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between K-12 schools and Penn State's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) researchers.

Graduate student's goal of having benches installed at shuttle stops close to reality
Though her own health is less than satisfactory, Maria Aguilar Walls maintains a passion to improve the lives of many other Penn State students with disabilities.

Recent Education Policy Studies graduate wins a master's research award
Kerri Musick earned her master's degree from Penn State's Department of Education Policy Studies in May 2017 and is gainfully employed in Virginia, but the investment she made in her capstone project about first-generation students is still paying off.
Fingerprinting services no longer available on University Park campus
Due to a recent change in the state’s contracts for fingerprint services in Pennsylvania, Penn State University Police will no longer be able to provide fingerprint services for campus community members on the University Park campus.
Mathematics Education Student Group gains national affiliation
The Mathematics Education Student Group in the College of Education is now an official affiliate organization of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Sommers named fall 2017 College of Education student marshal
The Penn State College of Education has named Casey Sommers as its student marshal for fall 2017. She will be recognized during the Penn State undergraduate commencement ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Bryce Jordan Center on the University Park campus.

Earlier entrance into classroom helping to prepare future science teachers
Associate Professor Scott McDonald enables pre-service teachers to experience professional surroundings in classes at Park Forest Middle School.

Once upon a time, a new way to look at children's tales was told
There are more ways than one to interpret children's stories, and Vivian Yenika-Agbaw's unique view of them has let to her being named to the board of the International Research Society for Children's Literature.

‘Street Law’ offers young students legal knowledge, law students public service
Efrain Marimon, instructor of education, has partnered with Penn State Law to establish "Street Law," a course that takes law students into local high and middle schools to teach young students about the U.S. legal system.

Professor returns from 10-day trip to China with rekindled passion for research and teaching
It took just 10 days in Shanghai in May 2016 for Vivian Yenika-Agbaw to learn that having a global impact on students can make a world of difference, particularly when a little over a year later one of her scholars opted to venture far to the west to a part of the academic world called Penn State.

State-of-the-art classrooms to reflect new techniques of teaching science
It’s not so much what the new science wing in the College of Education will look like that appeals to Scott McDonald, it’s more of the possibility that prospective students will take another look at the value of being a science education major.

Alumna endows scholarship for education student who also is part of the Blue Band
Sometimes, when you follow your dreams and do what you love, good things happen. That certainly has been the case for Ashley McCoach, a junior studying elementary and early childhood education in the pre-K to 4 option.

Unique program helps Penn State students become citizens of the world as they teach English in Ecuador
Associate Professor Elizabeth Smolcic heads up the College’s Teaching English as a Second Language program, complete with a five-week immersion trip to Ecuador.

Giving Tuesday goal to give student a global experience
This year, the College of Education is raising money to fully fund at least one student to participate in the Teaching ESL Certificate Program with an Ecuador Immersion Experience.

Penn State partnership reshaping science education
An interdisciplinary team of faculty has worked as part of a more than $9 million initiative aimed at reshaping the teaching and learning of Earth and space science in Pennsylvania.

Methods by which students learn science undergoing considerable revision with ACESSE Project
Penn State College of Education part of Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education.

Research grant to help young students learn what goes on beneath Earth's surface
Getting to the core of the problem of teaching young students about the dynamic Earth is the impetus of a four-year, $2.8 million grant awarded to Penn State Associate Professor Scott McDonald.

Teaching students to think a priority for education professor
Penn State associate professor of education Fran Arbaugh has inspired passion and a new way to look at math as an instructor and an honors adviser.

Unique way of teaching benefits future science teachers
Content courses for prospective elementary teachers in the College of Education differ in comparison with courses taught at other institutions.

Teaching science made easier because of TESLA organization
Science educators at Penn State are out to assure that those students whose careers will include teaching that tough topic exhibit a passion for it in their classroom instead of simply a passing interest. The Discovery Space Children's Museum in State College plays a major role in that.

Workshops enable math teachers to hone skills
School may be out for students, but it's about to be back in session for two dozen elementary school math teachers who want to improve their mathematics fluency.
Initiative aims to use education to reduce recidivism among Centre County inmates
With the number of incarcerated individuals growing across the United States, a Penn State faculty member is using education to help reduce recidivism rates at SCI Benner Township and the Centre County Correctional Facility.

Student teacher's kindergarten class collects, sends 1,300 books to school in Africa
Ericka Sinicrope completed her Professional Development School program by overseeing African Library Book Project that will benefit underserved students in Malawi, Africa.
Praise and plaudits about Jamie Myers come from everywhere
Former students, colleagues have nothing but compliments for retiring professor.

After 40 years, Jamie Myers' teaching career comes to a close
The professor of education knows the Professional Development School program is in great shape; more time with family and additional hours on a boat beckon.

Doctoral candidate aims to help his Indonesian students broaden their horizons
Usep Syaripudin hopes to change students' way of thinking when he returns to his homeland to teach educators.

Prospective teacher thankful for Penn State's educational environment
Winner of College of Education's Undergraduate Student Leadership and Service Award, Leigh Boggs made the most of her college career.

PDS Inquiry Conference brings out best in future teachers
More than 70 prospective teachers in Professional Development School program present research interests.

Mandalas by education graduate student to be displayed in Old Main
Intricate mandalas, created by College of Education graduate student Fernanda Bonafini, will be on display in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, 209 Old Main, beginning May 12.

Alumna draws on Penn State experience to assist Florida school district
Rebecca Burns knew she could be a prober-solver because of her background in College of Education's Professional Development School.

College of Education celebrates twin marshals
For the first time in at least 20 years, and possibly ever, the Penn State College of Education has two student marshals for its spring commencement ceremony – and they're twins in more ways than just their perfect 4.0 GPA.

Alumna returns to school to follow her passion
She graduated from Penn State in 2014 and has returned to College of Education for a teaching certificate and master's degree.

Student learns about diversity in Italy
Study-abroad opportunities can be life-changing for undergraduate students, and that indeed is the case for Julianne Arcamone, a third-year student studying elementary and early childhood education with a minor in psychology.

College of Education well-represented at national conference
A large number of faculty and students are authors or co-authors of papers being presented in symposia, paper sessions or poster sessions at the American Education Research Association (AERA) meeting April 27 through May 1 in San Antonio, Texas.
Hudock earns award for outstanding teaching
Laura Hudock, doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction, is one of 10 Penn State graduate students to receive the 2017 Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award.

Interns in Professional Development School take time to give back to community
Prospective teachers in Penn State's PDS program enjoy a variety of philanthropic interests.

College recognizes five at annual awards ceremony
The College of Education recognized five of its own at its annual awards ceremony on April 17.

Hill awarded $25,000 seed grant
Kathleen Hill, assistant professor of education in Curriculum and Instruction and the Center for Science and the Schools (CSATS), is one of 20 faculty recipients of 2017 ICS Seed Grant Program awards from the Institute for CyberScience (ICS).

College doctoral alumni among those honored during reunion weekend
Penn State doctoral alumni, including five from the College of Education, celebrated the 10th, 25th and 50th anniversary of receiving their doctorate on March 25 at the Graduate School’s annual Doctoral Alumni Recognition Luncheon.
Education student receives scholarship from LGBTQA Student Resource Center
David Falk, a students studying secondary mathematics education, is one of five Penn State students to receive a scholarship from the LGBTQA Student Resource Center.
Jim Johnson, Jane Keat receive distinguished career awards
The longtime Penn State faculty members have been named as winners of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children (PennAEYC) VOICE for Children Distinguished Career award.

College of Education students to perform in President’s Concert
Nearly 60 Penn State students, including three from the College of Education, will take to the stage for the 11th annual Penn State President’s Concert, to be held March 16 at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
Education faculty member to speak at the Africana Research Center's Luncheon Series
Jeanine Staples, associate professor of education and African-American studies, will present "The Scope and Sequence of White Oblivion (and How It Hurts and Kills People): Identifying & Dismantling White Supremacy Through an Endarkened Feminist Epistemological and Ontological Framework" at noon on March 27 in 217 Willard Building as part of the Africana Research Center in the Luncheon Series.

Student group endows award
Students involved in the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association are used to helping others. Now, their efforts will benefit one of their own, as the group has raised enough money to endow its own award.

New database connects Penn State with Pennsylvania schools
Navigate Education in PA is an online database created by the staff of the Center for Science and the Schools (CSATS) that contains information on more than 4,800 Pennsylvania education agencies, including public, private and charter schools, intermediate units, career and technology centers and higher education institutions.

Education student organizes diversity conference
College of Education senior Annie Cave has collaborated with her professors to organize “Preparing for the Future: Educating ALL students in ALL Spaces,” a diversity-in-education themed conference scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11.

Hectic lives of student teachers and THON volunteers all 'For The Kids'
A number of students in the College of Education's Elementary and Early Childhood Education program juggle teaching with volunteering, and it's all worth it, they say.
Grant enables College of Education to expand science, language programs in Hazleton community
English learners in city's schools and community center to benefit academically from $2.1 million grant.
Online education program recognized in U.S. News’ online programs rankings
Penn State World Campus is ranked in the top 10 in six categories of U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Online Programs, including best online graduate education program.

Juliano named fall 2016 Student Marshal for the College of Education
The Penn State College of Education has named Alexandria Juliano as its Student Marshal for fall 2016.
Applications being accepted for Noyce Scholarship
Applications for the Penn State Secondary Mathematics Noyce Scholarship Program must be submitted by Jan. 18, 2017. The competitive renewable scholarships will provide $19,000 per year for eligible students’ last two years of college.
Heard on Campus: Science education focus of annual Waterbury Lecture
Brett Moulding, former science supervisor for Utah, and Peter McLaren, founding director of Next Gen Education, LLC, discussed the importance of research and development in science education at the annual Waterbury Lecture held Nov. 29 at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.

Student teacher's project combines Veterans Day, social studies and ice hockey
Gabrielle Pulito completed her student-teaching assignment at Wingate Elementary School in the Bald Eagle Area School District on Nov. 14. Her next stop is New Zealand for a short-session teaching stint in Auckland beginning Nov. 16. But first she had to complete a required curriculum unit project, and for 2-1/2 weeks she meshed social studies with Veterans Day as well as tie-ins to community workers and helpers, the Penn State community and a field trip to a Penn State women’s ice hockey game.

College dream becomes reality through Penn State program
Maria Schmidt builds Summer College Opportunity Program in Education from the ground up.

S.C.O.P.E. program helps prospective students put Penn State in focus
The success of Penn State’s Summer College Opportunity Program in Education (S.C.O.P.E.) is tied directly to the program’s organizers within the College of Education’s Office of Multicultural Programs, along with donors, instructors, tutors and counselors.

New report finds substantial racial and linguistic segregation among preschoolers
'Segregation at an Early Age' report urges formation of policy to help preschools draw a more diverse enrollment.

Trip to Ecuador offers prospective ESL instructors quality educational, cultural opportunity
Six-week summer immersion program allows students to hone teaching skills to English language learners.
Philadelphia Urban Seminar gives students impactful and challenging immersion course
Jeanine Staples’ Philadelphia Urban Seminar transcends a two-week Maymester course that offers a pre-service teaching experience in an urban setting; it’s ongoing research on how to teach students to identify and intercept racist, sexist and ableist ideologies in their own souls, in school and in society.

Nicole Titus, Andrea de Carle earn PDS program-related national award
State College Area School District instructors and College of Education graduates honored with Claudia A. Balach Teacher Researcher Award.

Diverse school-district administration beneficial to students, research shows
Associate professor Ed Fuller's Texas-based research also reveals assistant principals of color take 'much longer' to be named principals.

Working play into early childhood education bolsters students' learning experience
Research by Jim Johnson, Viana Wu shows play is necessary for development of preschool and primary children.

Pecile named student marshal for summer commencement
Morgan Pecile is the College of Education’s student marshal for Penn State’s summer commencement ceremony, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at the Bryce Jordan Center.

School official in Maryland praises Penn State mathematics education graduates
Kellie Rizzo, Lauren Pace and Elizabeth Tumpa commended after first year of teaching in Caroline County Public Schools.

Penn State students make social justice course in Washington, D.C., successful venture
All involved in C I 497 Social Justice course label it as overwhelmingly positive; D.C. administrators issue request to again host students in 2017.

Lifelong love for books influences student's career choice in education
Jaime Ellenberger shares her love of reading with children of State College and is applying what she is learning in the classroom to her position as a literacy mentor for America Reads at Penn State.

Education alumna - and her students - adapt to new language in Beijing
As Chelsea Peak develops curriculum for an English language school in Beijing, China, she is simultaneously developing her path of life.
Summer interns in higher education graduate program span wide range of student affairs duties
Penn State students in the College of Education’s higher education graduate program are spanning out around the world this summer in search of three credits for now and experience that will prove invaluable later.
Scholarship winners assist students through diversity-related organizations
Kristina Hunter and Christina Walker already know they want to help people after they graduate from Penn State. With two years remaining until that milestone occurs, they are very comfortable starting early.

College of Education receives $1 million grant to fund scholarship program
Penn State will help address the nationwide shortage of secondary mathematics teachers in high-needs schools with a $1.16 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant will fund mathematics education scholarships for 15 students over a three-year period and allow them to complete their last two years of college tuition-free.

Inquiry Conference celebrates accomplishments of students in Professional Development School program
School was in session on this particular Saturday morning at Mount Nittany Middle School and for 25 minutes each, 86 prospective teachers – with just a few steps to take before heading into their respective futures – were heading their own classrooms.

Manalo chosen as College of Education's student marshal
Future teacher to graduate with bachelor's and master's degrees from Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate program.
College of Education honors 8 faculty, staff members during awards program
The College of Education recognized the accomplishments of its employees at the annual Faculty, Staff and Student Awards Program on April 19 at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Faculty member wins 2016 Open Innovation Challenge
Scott McDonald, associate professor of education (science education) and director of Krause Innovation Studio, won the 2016 Penn State Open Innovation Challenge with an idea that may change how learning spaces are used in the future.
College of Education graduate student displays passion for counseling -- and cooking
Ashley Hamilton hopes to manage a dual career of elementary school counselor with her business venture of running Rosie's Pierogies.
Abington education student hits it big on 'Wheel of Fortune'
Liz Janoski leaves Los Angeles with nearly $50,000 after her appearance on the "Wheel of Fortune College Road Trip.''
Secondary English side of PDS program to showcase its students at Teacher Inquiry Conference
Nearly 60 elementary and secondary Professional Development School interns to display their research April 23.
School districts hold curriculum and instruction graduates in high regard
Recruiters from large, suburban schools and smaller, remote outposts seek out Penn State education graduates.
School districts from near and far hold College of Education graduates in high regard
Teachers who emerge from Penn State student-teaching programs have been successful in job market.

Summer is a time for learning, enjoying Happy Valley
Summer sessions may just be the best-kept secret at Penn State. There’s a lot going on in Happy Valley over the summer, both in and out of the classroom.

Penn State PDS program graduates eager to assist College of Education interns
State College Area School District teachers draw on past experience to aid prospective educators.

Teaching first, technology second
The Krause Innovation Studio, located in Chambers Building at University Park, is finding new ways to promote teaching and learning with technology.
Retirement sitting well with these former College of Education professors
Retirement can sneak up on a person. Former College of Education professors who opted to retire explain that the decision is highly personal -- and can be highly rewarding.

Nearly a dozen student-athletes drawn to human service field in College of Education
Rehabilitation and Human Services graduates can seek employment from among drug and alcohol centers, rehab centers, senior citizen centers, community mental health programs, mental retardation programs, corrections systems and hospitals.
PDS program provides ongoing learning process for Penn State interns, State College teachers
When this year’s annual PDS Inquiry Conference is held April 23, it will mark the 18th anniversary of the highly successful program featuring Penn State interns who work with SCASD mentors for an entire school year – mid-August to mid-June – in elementary education, middle level education, secondary English and world languages.
College of Education alumna's teaching role in Alaska anything but traditional
College of Education alumna Stephanie Gursky teaches in Napakiak, Alaska, which is accessible in the winter only by boat, plane or driving on a frozen river.

Walking and talking: What a walk around a neighborhood can teach us about history, memory and community
Penn State arts educator Kimberly Powell explores how walking through a neighborhood with a rich culture and painful history influences how residents think of their community and their place in it.

State-of-the-art Social Studies Lab opens
The new Social Studies Lab will support instruction of students across the three social studies education certification levels — elementary, middle and secondary grades — and give faculty members options in their teaching methods.
College of Education alumna making a difference in Akron city schools
Jacqueline Rohrbeck Ridley also offers advice to prospective education graduates.

Center for Science and the Schools aspires to help grant-seeking researchers
CSATS offers assistance on broader impact portion of grant applications.

Class in session on high seas
Class Afloat experience combines teaching and travel for College of Education and Schreyer alumnus
Racial inequality in good schools is topic of inaugural Education and Civil Rights lecture
John B. Diamond will deliver talk at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at Lewis Katz Building Auditorium.
Racial inequality in good schools is topic of inaugural Education and Civil Rights lecture
John B. Diamond to deliver talk at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Lewis Katz Building Auditorium.
Garces' research examines Michigan law's effect on racial diversity
Proposal 2 prohibits consideration of race at public institutions in the state.

Learning Sciences Poster Session set for Krause Innovation Studio
Faculty to display posters on research beginning at 11 a.m. Nov. 6.
Daniel T. Hickey to present Waterbury Lecture on badging
Indiana University professor will speak at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in Chambers Building.

Assistant professor files another amicus brief
This will be Garces' fourth amicus curiae before the country's highest federal court.

Research examines how study abroad preps teachers for diverse student population
Providing study-abroad experiences that mimic some of the experiences of immigrant students and facilitate critical thinking about global issues is an effective method for preparing teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL), according to two Penn State researchers.

Virtual tutoring plays principal role in College of Education partnerships with urban schools
Students connect online with youth in Philadelphia city schools.

Academic partnerships with College of Education continue to broaden
Agreements with Xavier University of Louisiana and University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez focus on doctoral candidates.

Barbie play generates research work for College of Education doctoral candidate
Emily Rose Aguilo-Perez focusing on influence of Barbie in Puerto Rican girlhoods.
Penn State partners with littleBits to connect students to 'Internet of Things'
Through a partnership with technology company littleBits, Penn State is opening a new "Invention Studio" within the Knowledge Commons to inspire students to develop research, invoke entrepreneurship, and explore new ideas through creative coursework.

College of Education students benefit from 'The Moth' storytelling production
Participants reveal something transformational that happened in their lives.

Penn State enhances its research-practice partnership with National Taiwan Normal University
Program's goals include innovative science education techniques.

Center for Science and the Schools promotes teacher education among STEM colleges
CSATS believes an inquiry-based teaching approach is highly effective.

Philadelphia Urban Seminar program as rewarding as it is demanding
College of Education associate professor Jeanine Staples supervises two-week, three-credit course for pre-service teachers.

IES grant to enable study of large-city, adult-education career pathways programs
College of Education associate professor Esther Prins awarded $400,000 to examine programs in Chicago, Houston, Miami.
Professor awarded NSF grant to assist middle-school astronomy students
Julia Plummer, two others receive $1.387 million for ‘ThinkSpace’ project.

2 College of Education doctoral students awarded COIL research grants
Fariha Salman, Kyung Kim finished near top of detailed review process.

Education professor Jim Nolan loves his job enough to leave it after 28 years
With Professional Development School 'in good hands,' Nolan wants to spend time in classroom and time on golf course.

College of Education professors awarded $1.3 million IES training grant
Jennifer Frank, Deborah Schussler lead Project RESPECT to provide teachers with conflict-management skills.
Department of Curriculum & Instruction honors departing faculty, staff at year-end meeting
College of Education's Jim Nolan, Darla Homan to retire from C&I after nearly 60 years of service.

College of Education student Samantha Reid earns merit scholarship award
Secondary social studies major honored with John D. O'Bryant National Think Tank award for black professionals in higher education on predominantly white campuses.

Penn State, State College schools combine to prepare teachers in College of Education's Professional Development School program
Student teachers commit to entire 180-day school year with State College Area School District mentors.

Inquiry conference features Penn State students in Professional Development School program
College of Education students work in conjunction with State College Area School District teachers during entire academic year.

Zbiek to take reins of College's Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Taking over for Carla Zembla-Saul, mathematics education professor will assume duties July 1.

Waterbury Chair awarded highest honor at NARST ceremony
Richard Duschl, Kenneth B. Waterbury Chaired Professor of Secondary Education, earned the Distinguished Contributions Award at the 2015 awards luncheon for NARST: A Worldwide Organization for Improving Science Teaching and Learning through Research.

Distinguished professor receives Lifetime Achievement Award
M. Kathleen Heid, distinguished professor in the College of Education, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for 2015.

Book Series Addresses Tough-to-Teach Mathematics
A top-selling 16-book series, edited by Professor of Education Rose Mary Zbiek, that addresses mathematics and statistics topics that are challenging to teach yet critical to student development will release the final book in the series this month.

Faculty Member Leads Development of Webinars that Improve Science Education
Carla Zembal-Saul, head of the College of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction Department, led the development of a free webinar series that aims to help educate elementary teachers utilize a new set of K-12 science standards.

Centre County Teachers Insert Voices into the Educational Conversation
A group of Centre County teachers, including associate professors of education Anne Whitney and Bernard Badiali, are using their writing to contribute to the professional conversation about teaching and to benefit their students.

First-year Students Explore Education in Seminar
Anne Whitney, associate professor of education, taught a first-year seminar that allowed first-year students to explore education as a career.

Baseball Biography Sheds Light on Civil Rights Hero
Trudie Engel, instructor and supervisor for CI 495A, recently published a biography about Larry Doby, the second African American to break to the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
School Districts Struggle to Adapt to English Language Learner Needs
Research from Megan Hopkins, assistant professor of education, revealed that the teaching of English as a second language and the teaching of academic subjects are separated and disconnected, which can cause English language learners (ELLs) to fall behind.
Highlighting Veterans in the College
The College of Education recognizes the veterans within its community with snapshots of students, faculty, and staff.

Tutoring through Technology: Education is Online in the College of Education
Penn State students helped elementary and middle-school English language learners from Hazleton One Community Center in Hazleton, Pennsylvania to develop their language, literacy and math skills during virtual tutoring sessions in the College of Education’s course titled CI 280: Teaching English Language Learners.
Tour of Local Historical Site Helps Students Improve Teaching Skills
Students in the College of Education's CEAED program toured the Centre Furnace Mansion to learn about teaching history effectively.

College of Education Graduate Student, Teacher Finds Educational Lessons in Germany
Ashley Silvernail, a College of Education graduate student, studied German teaching styles in several classrooms after receiving a Fulbright Grant for the Diversity in German Education program.
International Study, Teaching Opportunities to be Discussed at Upcoming Information Session
Penn State students interested in international study abroad experiences are invited to an information session at 7 p.m. on October 15 in 102 Chambers Building.
Study Abroad Program in Ecuador to Hold Information Session
The teaching English as a Second Language certificate program that features a five-week immersion experience in Ecuador is holding an information session on September 30.
Two College of Education Faculty Members Receive Distinguished Professorships
David Passmore and Patrick Shannon were named as distinguished professors in the College of Education.
Eight Students Named as Recipients of Dean’s Graduate Assistantships
The College of Education announced the 2014–15 cohort for the Dean's Graduate Assistantships.
College of Education Student Awarded Study Abroad Grant
Michelle Hart received the Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant to help fund her trip to Ecuador where she traveled, studied and taught.
College of Education Program Awarded Nationally Recognized Accreditation
The PK-4 option in the College's CEAED program was recently recognized with NCATE's highest rating.
New Faculty Members Join College of Education
The College of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of eight faculty members for this academic year.
Alumna’s Passion for Traveling, Learning Sparked by Study Abroad Opportunity
Claire Joseph found her passion for teaching, traveling and world cultures through her program's study abroad opportunity in France.

Two Faculty Members Evaluating Penn State Pilot Program that Seeks to Increase Diversity in Science, Engineering
Leticia Oseguera and Jeanine Staples are evaluating the Penn State Millennium Scholars Program, which aims to increase the number of women, students of color, and low-income students in STEM fields.
For Alumnus Frank Sisti, a Memorable Encounter with a University Legend Shaped his Penn State Experience
A College of Education Alumnus, Frank Sisti, recalls how a chance encounter with a Penn State Legend helped to mold his future in more ways than one.
New Partnership Provides Future Teachers Experiences Working with English Language Learning Students
A new partnership between the Penn State College of Education and a Hazleton, Pa., community organization is helping to improve education both now and in the future.
EDUCATE Encourages Students to Use Technology to Expand Teaching Experience
A College of Education program encourages students to incorporate technology into their everyday learning experience.

New Mathematics Laboratory Transforms Research and Instruction
The College of Education recently opened its new mathematics education lab, which provides the College with an environment that has a duality of use, combining research space and classroom space into one state-of-the-art facility.
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