College of Education News

MSU receives grant to train area STEM educators

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A $600,000 National Science Foundation grant will allow Missouri State University to boost STEM education in southwest Missouri.

The funds will be used to implement the Computer Science Research Opportunity for Smart Environments (ROSE) program for the next three years.

What’s ROSE?

ROSE involves computer science faculty providing a unique summer research experience for middle and high school educators throughout southwest Missouri. The university’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences and College of Education will host 30 teachers (10 per year) on campus.

Summer workshops will involve research activities covering:

  • Audio-video processing.
  • Artificial intelligence.
  • Machine learning.
  • Computer security.
  • Internet of Things technology.

“The educators will enhance their scientific disciplinary knowledge in computer science and translate their research experiences into classroom activities and curricula,” said Dr. Razib Iqbal, associate professor of computer science and principal investigator of the ROSE program at Missouri State.

“They will then be able to broaden their students’ awareness of and participation in computing engineering pathways.”

ROSE is now accepting applications for its first summer cohort, which is scheduled from June 12-July 21, 2023.

Apply for ROSE

MSU alumna awarded Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award

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Aimee Hendricks’ ability to help her students feel seen and cared for is one of many reasons she was recognized for her outstanding teaching.  

Hendricks received one of two Outstanding Beginning Teacher Awards awarded to MSU alumni during the March 1-2 Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education conference.  

“I feel truly honored to receive this award,” she said. “Educators everywhere are going above and beyond, and I have learned a lot within my first couple years of teaching.”  

Hendricks graduated from Missouri State University in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  

Now, she is in her second year of teaching fourth grade at Daniel Young Elementary School in Blue Springs, Missouri.  

Being the teacher students need  

During her undergraduate studies, Hendricks learned about the value of teachers in students’ lives.  

“MSU showed me that teaching is not just about academics,” she said. “As teachers, we are also cheerleaders, mentors, advocates and more. Some days, you have to put academics aside and focus on showing students they are loved.” 

Hendricks’ favorite part of teaching is seeing the impact teachers can have on students.  

“My former students will come by my classroom still and talk about things they remember us doing, from read alouds to hands-on projects,” she said. “It’s amazing to create memories with students they will always remember.” 

Hendricks shows support for her students by attending their athletic events, music recitals and more. 

“It’s such a unique experience to see kids outside of school using one of their many talents, and it also shows that you care about them,” she said. 

Using her experience to help future educators 

For the past two years, Hendricks has virtually visited future educators in Dr. Rhonda Bishop’s course, Introduction to Elementary Education.  

“Aimee prepared and shared details about getting ready for the first day of school, setting up a classroom, parent communication and so much more,” said Bishop, assistant professor of childhood education and family studies at MSU. 

She also helps future teachers understand the difficulties and challenges of teaching but assures them that being an educator is worth it.  

“It has been an honor to watch Aimee grow from a student to a full-time educator. I appreciate her continued efforts to support future teachers by sharing her journey as a teacher,” Bishop said.

Hendricks is grateful for her experience with Bishop and others at Missouri State.  

“I’m incredibly thankful to have gone to such an amazing university and have amazing mentors, professors and colleagues,” Hendricks said.  

“Behind every impactful educator is a team building them up. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the best.” 

Become a teacher at Missouri State 

MSU alum awarded Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award

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Receiving a teaching award is gratifying, especially early in your career. 

Missouri State University alum Brett Gilio began teaching on a provisional teaching license while simultaneously completing a master’s program in teaching.  

During his second year of teaching, Gilio was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award by the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE). He received the award as part of the MACTE conference in Columbia, Missouri March 2-3.  

“I feel deeply appreciative, as this award shows that people recognize the work I put into my students and the field of education,” Gilio said. “I’m deeply driven and always seeking to innovate and make the learning process meaningful and exciting.” 

Journey to teaching 

From Grain Valley, Missouri, Gilio spent his undergraduate time studying biology and chemistry, working both as a laboratory assistant for a research institute and in adolescent mental health. 

This prompted his switch to education, joining the MSU Master of Arts in Teaching program, where he specialized in science education. 

Now, he teaches general biology and earth science at William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri.  

“My favorite thing about being a science educator is the freedom that it gives me to introduce real world and contemporary issues in the science classroom,” Gilio said. “This includes skills like design, engineering, inquiry and problem-solving that students can then use in any other discipline for the rest of their lives. 

“Science is always relevant.” 

Gilio will always remember those who helped him along the way. 

“While at MSU, I was deeply connected with many fabulous educators who have supported me and cheered me on, such as Melanie Carden-Jessen, Dr. Julia Novakowski and Dr. Jamie Atkinson,” Gilio said. “I model my teaching style after these individuals.” 

Gilio was nominated for this award by Carden-Jessen. 

“Gilio has the manner, poise and skill of someone who has been in the classroom for a decade or more,” Carden-Jessen said. “He was an easy choice to nominate.” 

Explore education programs 

Expanding child life beyond health care

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In an effort to promote the child life specialist profession, three experts in the field came together to present new research in their book, “The Role of Child Life Specialists in Community Settings,” published by IGI Global.

The book’s editors are Dr. Lindsey Murphy, assistant professor and graduate child life studies program director at Missouri State University, Cara Smith, child life clinical instructor at Missouri State and Prof. Genevieve Lowry from Bank Street College of Education.

The book serves as an innovative guide for those interested in pursuing child life in diverse settings. It’s also a catalyst to push the profession beyond its current health care boundaries.

In recognition of Child Life Month, Murphy and Smith share more about the child life field and their book.

New book on the child life profession

Read the full transcript

Check out “The Role of Child Life Specialists in Community Settings”

Cheery Charlie and child life

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Avi Adler was lying unconscious underneath a truck when his family found him in June 2020.  

A delivery truck driver had reversed without looking, striking Avi on the 20th mile of his bike ride. After the accident, the 18-year-old was rushed to the hospital, where he awoke with broken bones and a concussion.  

A child life specialist helped Avi while he was hospitalized, making him and his family feel calmer and at ease. 

Missouri State University student Tamar Adler was inspired by how much the specialist helped her brother through his traumatic injury. 

“The accident changed Avi, and it also changed me,” Tamar said. “It made me realize I wanted a career that benefits other people.”     

Since the accident, Avi has fully recovered. Tamar changed her career trajectory from fashion to child life.   

Bringing joy with Cheery Charlie 

Tamar Adler and Charlie smiling.Tamar had to think outside the box to find ways to volunteer in this field since it was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I started making craft bags and donated them to the child life departments at local St. Louis hospitals as a way to volunteer from home,” Tamar said. “The bags help kids be creative and experience normalcy while in the hospital.” 

She named her volunteer project Cheery Charlie and turned it into an official Missouri nonprofit corporation.  

“I chose the name because I had just gotten a puppy named Charlie, and Charlie makes me cheery,” she said.  

Since the inception of Cheery Charlie in January 2021, Tamar has donated over 6,000 craft bags to children in St. Louis hospitals.   

Tamar won the St. Louis Jewish Light 2022 Unsung Hero Award for her time, service and commitment to the St. Louis Jewish community through Cheery Charlie. 

Learn more about Cheery Charlie

Furthering her passion through education 

Tamar enrolled in Missouri State’s online child life graduate program two years after her brother’s accident.  

She plans to graduate in May 2027. As a future child life specialist, Tamar will help children and their families deal with the challenges of trauma, loss, long-term illness or injury and more.  

She said the knowledge she has gained about child life through her program has been invaluable for her future and nonprofit.  

“Being able to study child life at MSU while working on Cheery Charlie has been so powerful to me,” Tamar said. 

“My time at MSU has only allowed me to love child life even more.”

Despite the program being online, Tamar feels a great connection to her fellow child life students and her advisor, Dr. Lindsey Murphy.  

“Tamar is a natural,” said Murphy, assistant professor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State.  

“She exudes joy and many characteristics and skills needed to be a great child life specialist. I have no doubt she will continue to touch many patients, families and staff throughout her career.” 

Explore child life studies