College of Education News

Congratulations to Dr. Stefanie Livers

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The College of Education is excited to announce that the 2020 issue of Mind’s Eye features the work of Dr. Stefanie Livers.

Read an excerpt from her story:

“Mathematics is the gate keeper for all careers and futures,” Livers said. “Many schools use math as a decision maker of what track or trajectory you’re on.”

If math serves as a gatekeeper, what about students that don’t excel in the current math classroom model? Livers argues that every student can solve problems by using their individual strengths and funds of knowledge.

 

READ THE FULL STORY

Congratulations, Dr. Livers!

The heroic role of a child life specialist

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There is power in deep breathing. It’s a coping mechanism Missouri State graduate student Grace Pipkins keeps in the toolbox of her mind.

It led to one of her favorite moments during her training to become a child life specialist.

She was working with a patient, completing a practicum in Cape Town, South Africa, when it happened.

“While working with this boy, I could tell he was in a lot of pain,” Pipkins said. “Through the play activity we were doing, something didn’t seem right.”

The boy’s face read that he was uncomfortable — that he was unable to concentrate.

So, Pipkins took his hand and started breathing deeply. Soon, he began to do the same.

Later that week, Pipkins was asked to work with the same patient. As soon as they sat down, he showed her just how much she had helped.

“He grabbed my hand and started taking deep breaths,” Pipkins said. “It was the moment I saw all my training come into place.”

Experience Gained

Some methods may be simple, but the responsibilities of a child life specialist are vast.

According to the website for the Association of Child Life Professionals, “In both healthcare and community settings, Certified Child Life Specialists (CLS) help infants, children, youth and families cope with the stress and uncertainty of acute and chronic illness, injury, trauma, disability, loss and bereavement.”

Gracie Pipkins smiles with coworkers during her time as an intern.
Pipkins, second from left, smiles with coworkers during her internship.

Pipkins is not yet certified, but her training in Africa, as well as in Springfield, put her on the right path. Her time as an intern at Mercy Kids Children’s Hospital August-December 2019 was especially rewarding, she said.

“My experiences as an intern have shaped me into the professional I am now,” Pipkins says.

A few of Pipkins’ duties during her internship included:

  • Providing education, preparation and distraction for patients undergoing procedure.
  • Providing play opportunities to patients to normalize hospital settings.
  • Extending support to families by listening.

It’s a job she took very seriously, Pipkins added. She liked how she could be her most authentic self at work, as well.

“Every patient, every experience, every game of UNO and every laugh made my time at Mercy exactly what it needed to be,” she said.

Pipkins and her coworkers dress up for Halloween.
Pipkins and her coworkers dressed up as the three-eyed aliens from “Toy Story” for Halloween.

Additionally, since Mercy Kids Children’s Hospital is attached to Mercy Hospital Springfield, for adults, Pipkins’ internship experience was unusual. She not only worked with children dealing with ailments — she helped children watch older loved ones combat illness and injury, too.

“That is not something students like me are exposed to often in a children-only hospital,” she says.

Almost There

As experienced as Pipkins is, graduation is still ahead of her. Today, Pipkins is living in St. Louis, taking a single online class as she concentrates on studying for her certification exam.

“I’m just taking it slow and steady while I search for jobs,” Pipkins says.

In the meantime, she’s reflective of the tasks she’s already accomplished — and the patients she’s already served.

“Of course, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes things that get done when child life specialists aren’t working with patients, but I’ve learned they are always our top priority,” Pipkins says. “Patients in need always come first.”

Bear POWER welcomes its second cohort, receives grant

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Bear POWER takes up a large space in its director’s heart. Rachel Heinz has been part of the nearly three-year-old program, designed for students with intellectual disabilities, since day one. 

It’s a special connection to Bear POWER, however, that makes her work feel so good. Her own son has Down syndrome and autism. 

He’s the reason why she initially became involved in the program.  

“I wanted to see an inclusive college program like this in our community,” Heinz says. “Initially, I started as a volunteer.” 

She describes working with a team of Missouri State faculty and staff, as well as others in the community, including her own mother.  

“It unfolded into a career path I was not expecting,” Heinz says. “Now, it’s my dream job.” 

It’s easy to be passionate about the program, she adds, when Bear POWER’s positive impact is so obvious in its students and others on campus.

“Bear POWER is opening doors to new possibilities for many students and their families,” Heinz says. 

Bear POWER students and others gather around a table inside a campus classroom.

Intern Support 

Heinz has watched Bear POWER grow mightier by the day. A recent grant by State Farm is aiding its development.  

“It will support the Bear POWER program’s internship component,” Heinz says.

More specifically, the program will soon subcontract an employee who will support Bear POWER students in their internships and collect data to improve the program.  

Bear POWER’s first cohort of students began their internships last fall.  

“We’re really excited. The internships are something we’re building on each semester,” Heinz says. “We’re partnering with a lot of departments on campus.” 

Heinz said several students are currently working at Missouri State’s citizenship and service-learning office and the child development center. Others have internships at businesses like Springfield Little Theater, Twin Oaks Country Club and Golf Course, and Bass Pro Shops.  

“It’s good for our students, because they’re getting hands-on experience in their area of interest while attending college classes,” Heinz explains. Bear POWER students also live on campus.  

The program’s second cohort began earlier this month.  

“Everybody’s doing really well,” Heinz says. 

Ambassadors for Growth 

Heinz believes Bear POWER Ambassadors are part of what’s led to so much success in the program. 

The ambassadors are traditional MSU students who provide at least two hours of direct support each week to Bear POWER students.  

What might that support look like? It’s helping Bear POWER students fill in their planners and improve their social skills. The ambassadors also often take them to lunch.  

“We have over 40 ambassadors, and that number is growing each semester,” Heinz says. “We plan to start a waiting list, because we have many students who are interested.”

A lot of those students are female, Heinz says, so the program has visited classrooms, as well as fraternities, to find more male volunteers. Graduate students can volunteer, too.  

Heinz says many Bear POWER Ambassadors have expressed the program is one of their favorite things they have been involved in at Missouri State. One of them is junior Julianna Vogt.  

“Bear POWER students inspire me every single day with their positive attitudes,” Vogt says. “I have learned so much from them.” 

A Bear POWER student and ambassador.

Trailblazing Bears 

Heinz says there are 270 schools that have a similar program to Bear POWER. That number may seem like a lot, but it’s only 6% of colleges and universities across the country.  

“We need to encourage other universities to start programs for students with intellectual disabilities,” Heinz says. “Students needs choices. Every university and program will look different, and they need to make the right choice for themselves and their family.” 

Bear POWER students have come from as far as Arkansas and Kansas, though families from all over the country have shown interest. Bear POWER is seemingly a trailblazer in offering students with disabilities the chance to be part of higher education. 

“We’re the fourth program like this in Missouri, and there are more programs that will launch in the next couple of years,” Heinz says. “We’ve been able to share information and resources through a regional alliance we co-founded.” 

The alliance is known as Midwest Inclusive Post Secondary Alliance, or MIPSA.  

“The collaboration with existing and new programs is very exciting,” Heinz says. 

Equal Education 

As for Heinz’s son, he loves Missouri State. He attends countless basketball games and knows the fight song at heart.  

“He listens to it all the time at home,” Heinz laughs. 

Whether he’ll be a Bear someday is up to him, Heinz says. She hopes by the time he graduates high school, he and students like him will have more options.  

Heinz says students like her son deserve education past high school as much as everyone else.  

“If students with intellectual disabilities want to pursue a higher education, they should have the chance to do that.” 

Rachel Heinz holds her son.

Travels in teaching

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Many education students likely imagine teaching in places like where they grew up. The truth is teaching can take you anywhere.  

Kayla Gann is a 2016 graduate of Missouri State University’s College of Education. She began her first teaching job in July 2019 in Taichung, Taiwan, where she works with English language learners. It’s a long way from her hometown of Buffalo, Missouri.  

“I always knew that I wanted to teach outside of Missouri,” Gann said. “I did not even think about traveling outside of the United States until I started going to college and met people from all over the world.” 

For Gann, working in another country means learning from those different from her just as much as teaching them.  

“In school, I learned that I really want to travel around the world and learn as much as I can from others,” she said. 

Life in Taichung 

Gann describes Taichung as a city that is clean and safe, full of helpful people. 

“I could leave my wallet outside, come back the next day, and it would still be there with all of my belongings intact,” Gann said. 

Taichung is also known for its night markets, where you can find clothes, tea and all different kinds of food, including octopus and pig’s blood. It’s all conveniently located only hours away from beautiful scenery.  

“There are plenty of things to do in the city, but if you drive two hours outside of the city, you will see gorgeous mountain views and waterfalls,” Gann said. 

A city street in Taiwan.

Taiwan Teacher 

Gann says teaching in Taiwan is much different than it is at home. For one thing, children begin school at a younger age.  

Gann teaches Daban, meaning she works with four- and five-year-olds, but there are also two other grade levels at her school. They’re known as Jungban and Xiabon, for children two to four years old. 

While Gann works with students the same age as America’s kindergartners, she teaches them a second-grade curriculum. 

“The students are also very responsible,” Gann said. “They wash their own bowls, make their own beds and put away all their stuff on their own.” 

Gann explained one of the challenges of her job is helping students make connections.  

“I am not just teaching my students how to read and write English. I am teaching them about my culture,” she said. “When you have two people that come from completely different cultures, it can be difficult to connect to the experiences of the other person.” 

To bridge the gap, Gann uses Google Translate, as well as lots of pictures and other visuals. She finds solace, too, in the Chinese teacher with whom she shares her students. 

“Zoe is a great support to me in the classroom, helps whenever I need it, spoils me with tea and is a good friend,” Gann said.  

Kayla Gann smiles for a picture with her young students.

A Unique Opportunity 

It was MSU Reading Foundation and Technology Professor Dr. Sarah Nixon who inspired Gann to pursue an overseas teaching position. Gann took one of Nixon’s reading classes last year. 

“She shared stories about all the places she has taught throughout her career, including overseas,” Gann said. “Her stories inspired me to expand my thinking about where I could teach.” 

Nixon told Gann about the University of Northern Iowa Overseas Recruiting Fair, a conference held every year. International schools come to recruit teachers to work in their countries. 

“International travel and working abroad offers experience and perspective you will never get from staying in the USA,” Nixon said. “You will learn about another educational system—the logistics and organization, the culture and structure of how schools work in other places. You will learn about collaboration because you will be forced to learn, live and function in a new system.” 

Gann said she’ll carry her experiences gained in Taiwan the rest of her career. She has dreams of teaching in Europe and South America, too. 

“Before coming to Taiwan, I had never traveled outside of the United States. I was terrified and had no idea what to expect,” Gann said. “With that said, it is the best decision I have ever made.” 

Kayla Gann sits in front of a colorful mural in Taiwan.

Winter gathering brings together Bear in Every Building members

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How good it felt to have so many Bears in one building. Missouri State University’s College of Education held its second gathering for the Bear in Every Building initiative Jan. 31, at Old Kinderhook Resort in Camdenton.  

The night kicked off with socialization and fun with props and a photo booth. Dr. Rhonda Bishop, MSU clinical instructor and Bear in Every Building Chairperson, and Dr. David Hough, dean of the College of Education, soon took the floor.  

They welcomed approximately 70 teachers from across Missouri—all of them part of the initiative to promote their profession to young students.  

Hough additionally spoke about the importance of building a network of educators. 

“You need to know that there are a lot of people across the state supporting you,” he said.  

Success Stories 

Following a dinner buffet and table discussions, Dr. Kayla Lewis spoke to attendees. A reading foundations and technology assistant professor, Lewis shared MSU opportunities for advanced degrees and certificates. She additionally shared information about university-provided professional development.  

Lewis encouraged BIEB members to promote Missouri State programs to their students in the hope it will support their achievement. Such programs include Bear Partnership, an initiative to increase the number of COE students from underrepresented backgrounds.  

Encouraging students to take college tours and dual enroll are also great ways to get students thinking about a career in education, Lewis said.  

Jennifer Baxter, a family and consumer science teacher at Willard High School, and Symantha Campbell, a math teacher at Farmington High School, discussed their experiences as part of the program.  

Both teachers have encountered parents who do not want their children to be educators. They hope the BIEB initiative will help parents think more positively about the profession, too.  

After all, the College of Education is hard at work shaping students’ lives. Two student success stories were additionally shared at the winter gathering.  

Junior Abby Coffman, an education student following in the footsteps of her mother, shared her family’s love for the Bears. She explained how proud she felt when an educator she looks up to said she may one day teach their child.  

Freshman Cameryn Porzelt talked about her Bear Partnership involvement. She remains in touch with the students she met in the program.  

“It was a great experience,” Porzelt said.  

Big Ideas 

Toward the end of the gathering, MSU’s Alumni Association thanked Bear in Every Building teachers, and attendees shared takeaways from their earlier table discussions.  

“The winter gathering for Bear in Every Building was so successful,” Bishop said. “Not only did faculty and staff from the College of Education connect teachers who graduated from Missouri State, we were able to obtain many plausible suggestions and ideas to move our initiative forward.” 

One teacher suggested providing special education professional development to all educators. Another suggested COE Instagram takeovers by BIEB participants to further show off the world of educators to prospective students. 

The night concluded with giveaways, including Missouri State sweatshirts, water bottles and license plates.  

Be A Bear in Every Building