College of Education News

Missouri State University will connect young people across regions with support from the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative

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The Stevens Initiative announced Missouri State University is one of 15 schools, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations to receive funding to run virtual exchange programs that connect young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  

Missouri State’s Global Teacher Education Exchange brings new and future K-12 educators from Libya, Morocco and the United States into a vibrant professional learning community where they engage in cross-cultural collaboration and prepare to teach for global understanding. 

About MSU’s teacher exchange program 

Global Teacher Education Exchange is implemented by Missouri State and is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI is a U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Aspen Institute. 

Missouri State’s Global Teacher Education Exchange integrates virtual exchange into teacher preparation programs in Libya, Morocco and the United States. Through the exchange, new and future educators from a variety of backgrounds engage with each other on local and global issues in K-12 education.  

With their cohorts from other countries, they learn to teach for global understanding, and they create and share educational resources about their countries and cultures. As a result, participants enter their careers with experiences in cross-cultural collaboration and with stronger pedagogical skills. 

“It’s thrilling to watch future educators from different cultures learn with and from each other. It’s clear that they want to teach for global understanding, and we’re honored to be a part of their journey,” said Dr. Jennice McCafferty-Wright, Global Teacher Education Exchange coordinator and education professor at MSU. 

McCafferty-Wright and Dr. Minor Baker, the exchange’s project director and education professor at MSU, will soon travel to North Africa to begin working with Moroccan teacher trainers.  

About Stevens Initiative 

The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs, shares research, resources and promising practices to improve impact and advocates for broader adoption.   U.S. flag, U.S. logo, Stevens Initiative logo, Aspen Institute logo, MSU logo.

Learn more about the grant 

Beyond stories and pictures

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Native American heritage is often misunderstood and mistaught, according to Dr. Kayla Lewis, associate professor of literacy at Missouri State University.

The lack of proper education about native heritage contributes to racism and reinforces stereotypes. Children’s books can be a powerful tool to combat these issues.

“Children’s books provide an outlet for teachers to honor, support and teach native heritage,” said Lewis, a member of the Chickasaw Nation. “They can also help preserve endangered indigenous languages.”

Children’s books for change

Children’s books can help kids learn valuable life skills. This could include the ability to talk about culturally sensitive subjects.

“Part of my work is teaching others how to ask questions and talk about these often-taboo topics,” Lewis said. “People can be so worried about offending others that they avoid conversations altogether.”

But these conversations are necessary to combat stereotypes and learn about others.

“We’ll see kids grow up not afraid to talk about these things. They’ll be more understanding, accepting and willing to be the agents of change we need.”

Children’s books also expose kids to different cultures, especially in schools that lack diversity.

“Exposure to a variety of cultures is crucial to create an accepting and educated society,” Lewis said.

The search for honest books

Unfortunately, many children’s books do not portray Native Americans accurately.

“So many books depict Native Americans with the same stereotypical characteristics and misconceptions. Meanwhile, they ignore the unique customs and traditions of over 550 federally recognized tribes.”

Lewis wanted to curate a list of accurate Native American books for teachers to use in their curriculum.

She partnered with her former professor and longtime friend, Dr. Sarah Nixon, another MSU literacy professor.

The duo evaluated 95 high-quality children’s books from their personal and local libraries. The books were fiction or non-fiction written by or about Native Americans.

They found a majority would be approved for classroom use.

One of her favorite books they analyzed is, “We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know” by Tracy Sorrell.

“I love this book because it teaches about our true history and shows Native Americans as we are in the present day,” she said. “It shows that even though all these cruelties happened to us, we are still here.”

Lewis hopes the books they identified will provide a better understanding of native heritage for children.

Learn more in Mind’s Eye

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 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”