College of Education News

Little ripples make big impacts

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In her office, Amber Allen hangs up three maps: Missouri, the United States and the world.  

Allen, a Missouri State University alumna from Kansas City, Missouri, is a human development and family science field specialist at the University of Missouri Extension. While based in Springfield, she oversees 10 counties in the southwest Missouri region.  

She teaches in-person and virtual community education classes focused on stress management, childcare provider professional development, mental health, parenting, families and healthy aging. Participants have spanned from southwest Missouri to Canada and Japan. 

As a student at MSU, Allen interned with Community Partnership of the Ozarks. It was there she realized she wanted to work in community-based education as a profession. 

Allen finished her bachelor’s degree in child and family development in 2013. She furthered her studies with a master’s degree in nonprofit and civic leadership from Drury University. She is now pursuing her doctorate in education in educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Missouri. 

Allen said Missouri State laid the foundation for her success — not only on the theory side of things, but also for the research and application skills she uses daily. 

Community education and social change 

Allen loves “connecting the dots.”  She does this by connecting individuals to classes or communities to opportunities. This is where her three maps come into play.   

“What I do here in southwest Missouri can affect the whole state. What is happening in Missouri can also make an impact across the country,” Allen said.   

“One thing you do, even as a student, can impact so many more than you know. Educating one individual or doing one family education event can create lasting change,” she said.  

These “little ripples” are key to the prevention-based education Allen champions. Often, her research focuses on stress management and mental health.   

As a certified family life educator and advanced prevention specialist, Allen shares her knowledge with field professionals. Through her classes, she can spread evidence and research-based education to the entire world. 

Advice for students

Allen has two main pieces of advice for students interested in her field: “Expect the unexpected” and “never take for granted a sticky note.”   

As a student, Allen struggled with finding an internship she felt was right for her. She spoke to one of her professors, who scribbled a phone number and a name on a sticky note. From this sticky note, she found an internship where she met many of her colleagues. The first steps to her current position started with an email address written on a napkin.  

“Those unexpected moments can set the trajectory of your career path,” Allen said. 

Because of this, she recommends getting to know classmates in your field. Allen believes many Missouri State students “bloom where planted.” Connections made in a simple group project can be a lifelong networking link for those who stay in the area. 

These local connections and opportunities spread outward. Allen has been a speaker at both the state and national level, most recently presenting a webinar on Guidance for Family Practitioners to Manage Stress for the National Council on Family Relations. Each new opportunity is another pin on her three maps. 

Taking the next steps 

If you told freshman Allen of her current successes, she would not believe you. But as she completed her degree, that mindset changed. MSU professors sharing their experiences showed Allen post-bachelor’s education was an exciting prospect. 

She said her mentors at Missouri State pushed her to take the next steps in education. Now, she is completing her doctoral program. 

According to Allen, the little ripples of opportunity she found at Missouri State have shaped her career. Through her work, she is able to help improve the well-being of individuals and families.

Learn more about child and family development programs

COE outreach alumna named Head Start director for the region

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Missouri State University alumna Angie Kinder has worked for Ozark Action for 15 years.  

She started as a parent/teacher assistant in 2008, then began her journey working for Ozark Action’s Head Start as a teacher in 2009.  

“I fell in love with the Head Start program and enrolled in an education program at MSU so I could make helping families my career,” she said.  

Kinder graduated with a bachelor’s degree in child and family development (CFD) in 2017. She completed her degree through the outreach program in her hometown of West Plains.  

This fall, she became the director of Head Start for the region. She works at a location in West Plains.  

Making lasting impacts on families 

Head Start provides children with a safe and nurturing learning environment. They provide hands-on, play-based learning and family engagement experiences.  

As the director, Kinder leads over 100 staff members across six counties to ensure they implement comprehensive, quality early childhood education services. She also develops program goals and design options, as well as budgets. 

Kinder’s role fulfills her passion for helping families. 

“Head Start reminds me daily that it only takes one caring adult to help a child. When a whole system comes together to support not only the child but the entire family, the outcomes can be life changing,” she said.  

“I’ve seen a lot of families gain confidence and achieve so many goals while in our program. I love running into families we served over 10 years ago and they still remember how we helped them.”   

Seeking guidance from others 

The CFD program gave Kinder hands-on experience in early childhood settings.  

“These experiences allowed me to apply what I was learning to real situations and gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to enter the classroom,” she said.  

As a working mother, Kinder said the flexibility of the outreach program and support from faculty helped her succeed at MSU.  

“Brenda Smith and Renee Keith were amazing advisors and mentors. I could sit down with them anytime I had questions. They walked me through the entire process and reassured me when I felt overwhelmed,” Kinder said. 

She encourages others to build similar relationships with their advisors.  

“Don’t be afraid to share your concerns and struggles with your advisors. They’re there to support and guide you. They want to see you succeed and can help you develop a plan that works for you.” 

Explore education programs 

Being the teacher students need

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“For some students, I might be the only consistent stable person in their lives who loves them, listens to them and believes in them,” said Missouri State University alumna Hannah Dunville.  

Dunville is a Title 1 reading interventionist at Jeffries Elementary in Springfield, Missouri. In this role, she meets with students for additional reading lessons to help them with their literacy development.  

“I chose to work with low-income students and while it’s challenging, I know these are the kids who need me the most,” she said.  

This is Dunville’s first year at Jeffries but her eighth year teaching in Springfield Public Schools. She taught in Columbia, Missouri, for her first three years as a teacher.  

Core experiences led her to teaching 

Dunville grew up in Ozark, Missouri. Her childhood experiences inspired her to become an educator. 

“My parents taught at Missouri State in the physical education department. As a child, I witnessed a countless number of their former students come back and thank them for the impact they had on their lives and careers,” she said. 

Dunville took parenting and child development classes in high school and found they were her favorite. She also was an A+ tutor in a first-grade classroom.  

“As a tutor, I realized I loved working with little kids. Their willingness to learn and energy drew me to early childhood education,” she said.  

Dunville graduated from MSU with a bachelor’s in early childhood education and a minor in child and family development in spring 2010. She received master’s and specialist degrees in literacy in fall 2011.  

Meeting the needs of all students 

Dunville chose to study education at MSU because it aligned with her career goals.  

“I had researched the program and knew it would be well rounded and applicable, and it would allow me plenty of opportunities to put my knowledge to practice within the classroom,” she said. 

At MSU, she learned how to plan lessons, personalize instruction to support all students and put teaching theories into practice.  

“My education enabled me to walk into a classroom and meet the needs of diverse learners,” she said.  

“When you have a classroom filled with students at all different academic levels, it can be overwhelming. But I felt confident in my abilities and skills because of the professors and classroom experiences during my time at MSU.” 

Helping yourself to help others 

Dunville advises education students to make self-care a priority.  

“You can’t fill the students’ cup unless your cup is full,” she said. “Be open and honest, find mentors who are willing to help you during your journey and know it’s OK to not know everything.”  

She recommends that when education students begin teaching, they prioritize making students feel comfortable in their classroom. 

“The real first step in becoming an effective classroom teacher is building relationships with your students and creating an environment where they feel welcome, heard and have a sense of belonging.” 

Study education at MSU 

Future Educators program continues to help Springfield community

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Missouri State University began the Future Educators program in fall 2022, with seven students in the first cohort. 

Since then, two of the seven students began teaching in Springfield Public Schools (SPS). Plus, five students joined the program’s second cohort.   

Future Educators paves a path for students to become teachers and helps bring quality teachers to SPS. 

Two start their teaching journey 

This fall, Sam Johnson and Drew Irwin started teaching full time in Springfield, Missouri. 

Johnson graduated from MSU in spring 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She teaches kindergarten at Bingham Elementary.  

Originally from Houston, Texas, Johnson chose to stay in Springfield to teach thanks to the Future Educators program.  

Irwin is a post-baccalaureate student pursuing teaching certification and a master’s degree in elementary education. He plans to complete teacher certification requirements in December 2023 and hopes to finish his master’s degree by 2027.  

To fulfill his student teaching requirement, Irwin is the teacher of record for fourth grade at Twain Elementary, where his daughter attended and his son currently attends.  

“The Future Educators program boosted my skills and confidence as an educator through real-world training and guest presenters,” Irwin said.  

“I knew going into my first year of teaching there would be bumps along the way, but I’m able to take risks and put my full self into it knowing I have so much support from Twain, MSU and SPS.” 

Five more commit to teach local 

In August 2023, five students signed into the second Future Educators cohort.  

Megan Bolen, Aleila Cage, Malina Carnelison, Susan Cha and Symphony Darville will complete education programs at Missouri State, then teach in Springfield.  

Bolen found the program has already helped her grow as a future teacher. 

“The Future Educators program has been a great way for me to gain practical knowledge about education,” Bolen said. “I’ve been surrounded by like-minded students, educators and experts who have helped me explore new teaching opportunities.” 

Cha shared the program has helped her build meaningful relationships.  

“The program has allowed me to make connections within the Springfield School District for future employment, as well as new friendships where we can learn about the best teaching practices together,” Cha said.  

To Darville, the Future Educators program is a way to help improve representation for her community.  

“I only had one teacher of color in my 13 years of schooling in the SPS school system. The opportunity to be able to go back into my own community and be that representation for students as a Black woman is very special to me,” Darville said.  

About Future Educators 

The Future Educators program helps students from underrepresented and under-resourced backgrounds become educators. 

Future Educators participants complete a program in education at Missouri State. Upon graduation, they will begin their teaching career in SPS.  

They receive financial aid, mentor support and additional teacher training.  

Apply to be a Future Educator 

From student to teacher

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From a young age, Ruth Lange knew she wanted to be an educator.  

“My mom is an educator. She has always been the teacher the students can’t wait to get and don’t want to leave,” Lange said.  

She saw firsthand the impact her mother had on her students, and this motivated Lange to follow in her footsteps.  

In 2014, Lange graduated from Missouri State University with her bachelor’s degree in child and family development with an emphasis in early childhood. In 2020, she graduated with a master’s degree in early childhood and family development and a certificate in environmental STEM for teachers. 

Cultivating connections at MSU 

Growing up in Springfield, Missouri, Lange chose to study education at MSU because of the advice her high school guidance counselor gave her.  

“All throughout high school, my guidance counselor would tell me the wonderful things MSU had to offer,” she said. “I knew it was the perfect place for me to grow into the educator I wanted to be.” 

Now, she is pursuing her career as an educator at MSU.  

Lange is the lead teacher in a toddler classroom at MSU’s Child Development Center. In this role, she provides a safe and secure environment for young children and creates individualized goals to help each child thrive. 

She also teaches CFD 455: Infant/Toddler: Development and Program Planning at MSU, where she helps college students learn how to nurture and teach infants and toddlers. 

“The most fulfilling part is seeing both the children and college students learn and grow,” Lange said. “It’s rewarding knowing the work I do to help my students is preparing them to help others in the future.”  

Make the most of your resources 

Lange’s time at MSU helped her feel prepared when she started teaching.  

“The practicums and hands-on experience MSU provided helped me feel confident in the classroom once I graduated,” she said.  

Lange encourages education students to take advantage of MSU’s resources so they can also feel confident in their roles as educators. 

“Students should come to class, take notes and ask questions. Educators are there to help students learn and will do what is needed to help them succeed,” she said.  

“I also think it is helpful to keep a notebook of tips learned in practicums, such as different songs and transitions. The notebook can be a useful playbook in the future.” 

Study education at MSU