College of Education News

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 

USOA Mrs. Washington takes on teaching

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Emily Skeers was competing for Miss Lewis County 2008 when she fell sick with a debilitating illness.  

She was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of Crohn’s disease that changed the course of her future.  

“I wanted to be an opera singer. Everyone’s experience with Crohn’s is different, but my experience made this dream impossible,” the Missouri State University graduate student said. “I was 28 years old and couldn’t sing, perform or teach.”  

Skeers’ life was put on pause for eight months after the diagnosis, and it took three years to reach remission.  

Check out Skeers’ podcast 

Intertwining passions 

Since Skeers couldn’t make a career out of singing, she decided to pursue a different passion: teaching.  

Though she lives in Washington, Skeers is currently working on a master’s degree in early childhood and family development online through Missouri State. She plans to graduate in spring 2024. 

“Much of my work at Missouri State is tied to my interest in music,” Skeers said. “For my thesis, I am studying the importance of singing lullabies to babies.”  

Skeers plans to teach a class on the role of music in childhood development in spring 2023. She will teach in her hometown Olympia, WA. 

“Emily takes such a thoughtful approach to her work in her courses and thesis research,” said Dr. Elizabeth King, associate professor of childhood education and family studies at Missouri State.  

“I have learned a lot from her about tying meaningful personal experiences to the research process. Working with Emily has been one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences I’ve had at Missouri State.” 

Pageants with a purpose 

Skeers was crowned United States of America’s Mrs. Washington 2023 in September. 

She wants to use her role as USOA Mrs. Washington 2023 to raise awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She has already raised nearly $3,000 in donations for the foundation.  

The foundation researches treatment for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improves the quality of life for those diagnosed with these diseases. Skeers created a support group within the foundation for people to share resources and support one another.  

Skeers will compete for the title of United States of America’s Mrs. in spring 2023 as the “Queen with Crohn’s.”  

She said, “I want to bring attention to Crohn’s disease, garner support for those diagnosed and show people the beauty of resilience.” 

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Understanding the rise of the four-day school week

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Shorter weeks and longer weekends have become a reality for many in Missouri.  

Over 25% of school districts in Missouri switched to a four-day school week since 2008. Only one has reverted.   

“Districts started using the four-day week for financial savings. But the reasons for transitioning have changed over the past few years,” said Dr. Jon Turner.  

Turner is an associate professor of counseling, leadership and special education (CLSE) at Missouri State University.  

Shorter weeks bring positive changes 

Districts primarily transition to shorter weeks to combat teacher shortages.  

“Less than half of Missouri teachers remain in the field after the first five years of teaching, according to a recent report,” Turner said.  

“The four-day week helps schools attract and retain teachers.”  

And for good reason: Faculty and staff reported that shorter weeks improve morale and the academic quality of their teaching, according to a study Turner conducted with CLSE colleagues Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain and Dr. Kim Finch.  

More benefits include:  

  • Higher attendance rates among students. 
  • More time for teachers to plan, collaborate and train. 
  • Better “work/life balance” for teachers and students. 
  • An extra day for students to seek opportunities, such as job shadowing, dual credit programs and volunteering.    

Though there is research that raises concerns about impacts on student achievement, as Turner notes, “the number of instructional minutes is what’s important to student learning. Both four-day and traditional weeks have 1,044 hours of instruction.”  

Additionally, school faculty and staff have more time to work on their professional development.  

Missouri State’s Pathways for Paraprofessionals program allows para educators to pursue a degree and certification in special education while they are employed.  

In districts using the four-day week, paras can use the fifth day to work on their coursework for their degree and certification.    

Learn more about the four-day week 

Barriers of the four-day school week 

Despite the benefits, shortened school weeks can pose challenges.  

“Some families struggle to find childcare for their children on the weekday school isn’t in session,” Turner said. “This mostly affects families who only have elementary-aged children and families with students receiving special education services.” 

To help families with their childcare needs, some districts offer school-operated childcare for the fifth weekday.    

Other concerns include:  

  • Reduced access to school lunches. 
  • More time over the weekend for students to forget what they learned. 
  • Increased risk to children’s safety on the weekday without school.  

Turner said his research indicates most parents do not hold these concerns.  

“Overall, parents tend to support the four-day week. But we need to pay special attention to those families with unique challenges,” he said. 

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