Elementary Education Archives - College of Education News

Congratulations to Dr. Megan Boyle

February 19, 2021 by Rosemary Driscoll

Dr. Megan Boyle’s in-depth research into treatment options for children with autism spectrum disorders is featured in the 2021 issue of Mind’s Eye. The full story is available on the site now.

Here is an excerpt:

Wandering and bolting are both considered eloping – a term used for leaving an area without permission. It’s a problem behavior, especially for children with autism.

That’s why Dr. Megan Boyle, associate professor of special education at Missouri State University, researches the whys behind this largely under-studied behavior.

She’s a board-certified behavior analyst, runs a clinic for children with autism spectrum disorders and prepares the next generation of educators for behavior issues in the classroom.

Read the full story

Congratulations, Dr. Boyle!

Uplifting others through music

September 24, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Nothing can break the stride of Missouri State University alumnus Matthew Ketteman, Lee’s Summit’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

The Longview Farm Elementary music teacher, Ketteman recently created a back-to-school video for students. To the tune of artist Matthew Wilder’s 1983 hit, “Break My Stride,” Ketteman inspires pupils “to keep on movin’,” despite uncertainty surrounding education in the time of a pandemic.

“This message has spread across Kansas City and beyond to encourage educators and students who are struggling through their back to school transitions,” Ketteman said. “It’s been wonderful seeing people react to the positive message we collaborated to create — even Governor Parson was uplifted.”

Terrific teacher

Ketteman learned in July that he was selected to receive Lee’s Summit’s highest honor for teachers, according to the district’s website. He later applied to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the 2021 State Teacher of the Year award. He was selected as one of seven finalists in August.

Ketteman has since reached out to people and organizations that guided him throughout his career, he said.

“My hope of reaching out to MSU is to encourage and thank the university for its excellent education and experiences,” Ketteman said. “It allowed me to prepare for this amazing occupation of bringing joy to children through music.”

A collaborative effort

Ketteman additionally recognized three MSU alumni who helped create and made appearances in his video. Shawn Harrel is a 2000 music education graduate and a digital media technology instructor for Lee’s Summit. Brandon Johnson is a 2003 music education graduate and the assistant director of bands for Lee’s Summit West High School.

Ketteman also thanked his wife, Kimberly Ketteman, a 2005 communications graduate. Ketteman said his wife was heavily involved with him in helping found MSU’s a cappella groups, Beartones and A Cub Bella.

Matthew Ketteman and his wife, Kim, during their Missouri State days. — Matthew and Kimberly Ketteman met during their days at Missouri State.

“We have not lived in Springfield since college, but it still feels like home whenever we return to visit,” Ketteman said.

Ketteman thanked Missouri State for playing a vital part in his career.

“As educators, we often don’t get to see the fruition of what we do,” he said. “What you do impacts the world. Thank you for being such a large part of mine.”

A committee held virtual interviews with each Missouri Teacher of the Year finalist Sept. 1, according to the DESE website. The winner, finalists, semifinalists and Regional Teachers of the Year will be honored during an Oct. 15 event. The new Missouri Teacher of the Year will serve as the state’s nominee for the 2021 National Teacher of the Year.

Award-worthy teaching

May 14, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Springfield Public Schools are celebrating the 2020 finalists for the district’s Teacher of the Year award. Missouri State University’s College of Education congratulates nominees Cary Sikes, Michelle Slominsky and Shannon Bossing—all alumni.

The college caught up with each of them to learn more about their experiences at Missouri State and their years as educators. The Teacher of the Year and other finalists will be recognized at an annual banquet in August by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

What grade and subject do you teach?

Michelle Slominsky: I taught kindergarten my first two years of teaching, moved to first grade for seven years, and have been back with kindergarteners ever since. I teach all core subjects at Sequiota Elementary School.

Shannon Bossing: I currently teach fourth grade at David Harrison Elementary, but I’ve also taught grades one, two and three, as well as K-12 English as a second language, K-12 gifted learners, K-6 computers, and I was an assistant principal for two years.

Shannon Bossing teaches students via online learning in the time of COVID-19.

During my second year in administration, I was diagnosed and treated for cancer, which led to a re–evaluation of my life, including my career path, and I decided to return to my passion as a classroom teacher.

I teach all core subjects, though I absolutely love teaching reading and writing.

Cary Sikes: I teach fourth grade — all four core subjects — at Wanda Gray Elementary.

When did you graduate from Missouri State University, and how long have you been a teacher?

Slominsky: I first came to Missouri State in 1998 to pursue a degree in early childhood education. I was so lucky to have amazing instructors that helped me achieve this goal in December 2002.

I met my husband at Missouri State, and we decided to make Springfield our home.

I returned to the school and completed my master’s in reading in 2007. Spring 2018, I completed my specialist in education, teacher leadership degree at — you guessed it — Missouri State University. I love MSU! I have taught in and around Springfield for 17 years.

Bossing: I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in education in December of 1994. After earning my first master’s degree from Drury in 1998, I returned to MSU for my second master’s degree and graduated in 2010. I’m finishing my 24th year in education.

Sikes: I graduated in May 1993. I’ve taught for 27 years.

What did you enjoy most during your time at Missouri State?

Slominky: While meeting my husband is the highlight of my undergraduate time at Missouri State, I can honestly say that I had such a positive experience in all my courses.

I was able to do lots of observations at Greenwood Laboratory School, and I spent a lot of time working at the University Childcare Center in my free time.

I was a University Ambassador and enjoyed giving tours to prospective students and their families. I was also involved in Greek Life, serving as the membership chair for Delta Zeta.

Bossing: I really enjoyed my children’s literature class. I am not a fan of the fantasy genre, but my professor assigned “A Wrinkle in Time,” and I fell in love with that book. I also enjoyed my methods classes.

Sikes: Making lifelong friends and the educational experiences that prepared me to be a teacher.

Why did you choose to be a teacher?

Slominsky: I truly believe that teaching is my calling in life. I was so lucky to have amazing teachers in elementary school. While other kids would run to play outside at recess, I would beg my teachers to let me stay inside and do ‘teacher work.’

My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Grieves, really stands out in my mind. She took the time to get to know me and was there during a difficult time in my life. It was then that I realized teaching was so much more than academics.

Teachers made a difference in my life, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to pay it forward someday.

Bossing: I came home from kindergarten and told my mom I was going to be a teacher when I grew up. It’s really the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do, except for when I wanted to be a fighter pilot after the release of “Top Gun.” I can’t imagine doing anything else!

Sikes: I wanted to work with kids, and I wanted to make a difference. Teachers were so important to me, especially my elementary teachers. I saw what they did for me and I wanted to do the same for others.

Are there any unique ways Missouri State helped you prepare for your career?

Slominksy: I had the opportunity to participate in one of the first student teaching academies in Ozark. It was beneficial, because I got a much deeper understanding of how students change and grow and how a school operates.

In my educational specialist program, I was provided rigorous, thought-provoking material that changed how I view education. Instead of sitting and learning about how to teach a certain concept, we had deep discussions about why we teach the concepts that we do.

Bossing: For my master’s degree, I was part of a cohort through MSU and Springfield Public Schools, and that was an amazing experience. I loved how the seated classes were directly connected to our district. I was in a cohort with about 10 people, and we became very close.

Sikes: I had some great professors and peers that made me the teacher I am today.

What are some of your favorite memories as a teacher?

Slominksy: There are so many amazing moments as a teacher. I think the best moment as a teacher is when you can see that your students really know that you love them.

Michelle Slominsky's class gathers in a circle on the floor of her classroom. — Michelle Slominsky’s class gathers in a circle on the floor of her classroom.

I’ve had students come in at the start of the year reluctant to receive love. They don’t want a hug and they look away when you smile at them. Seeing a child go from that type of behavior to walking in the door with a big smile on their face, and wrapping their arms around you for a hug, is a priceless reward.

Bossing: One of my all-time favorite memories happened at the reading table in my fourth-grade classroom. I was discussing a chapter book with a group and one student described a character as “diabolical.” I was so surprised a fourth-grader used such a word that I started laughing and couldn’t stop! We laughed until we cried!

Years later, I saw that student working at a restaurant. He looked at me, said the word again, and we were both transported instantly to that time at the reading table. It’s a memory neither of us will ever forget!

Sikes: It’s great to see students from years ago come back and see the path they have taken in their lives. A few years ago, I was in the hospital, and two former students were my nurses and took great care of me. It was amazing to watch.

With my current students, I love seeing how much they grow from the beginning of the year to the end. When you spend a year with a student, you grow close and are vested in them for years to come.

What are you most proud of during your time as a teacher?

Slominsky: I think I am most proud of the strong relationships I build with students and their families. My classroom is truly my school family.

Bossing: Being a finalist for Teacher of the Year is quite an honor and will always be a favorite memory. It’s a privilege to be honored for doing something I love.

Additionally, it’s the moments when there are tears over a sad part in a book, or a student finally gets a concept, or when I sit with teammates on the last day of school and we sigh from exhaustion — but we know we did our best for that group of kids. That’s what makes me proud of being a teacher.

Sikes: I am proud of the relationships I develop with my students.

Travels in teaching

February 12, 2020 by Sydni Moore

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.

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.

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.”

Prioritizing yourself: Active Minds on campus

September 26, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

“No matter what someone has going on, we wanted people to know that it’s okay to not be okay.”

Emily Haarmann is a senior elementary education major and is the former vice president of the student organization Active Minds.

“Active Minds is an organization whose main goal is to simply start the conversation about mental health,” Haarmann said.

Getting involved

During Haarmann’s sophomore year, she and her best friend, Molly Mullen, were looking for an organization to join on campus. They wanted an organization they were passionate about and could relate to.

“Molly and I both went through pretty significant events in our lives, and we both knew mental health was so important to us,” Haarmann said. “We started attending meetings and grew to really appreciate them. I could tell what it did for my own mental health.”

After encouragement from the Active Minds group, Haarmann began to take advantage of the Counseling Center and prioritize her own mental health.

However, Active Minds hit a bump in the road when it was announced the organization wouldn’t be returning to campus the next year.

Rebuilding from the ground up

“I received an email from the adviser for Active Minds asking if I could pick up the group where it left off,” Haarmann said.

Haarmann rallied Mullen and a few other loyal members of Active Minds to get the organization going again.

Mullen was the Active Minds president and Haarmann was the vice president.

“Being a part and facilitating some really powerful conversations has been a great eye-opener to how important the conversation is,” Haarmann said. “I think it’s so important to let students have time to talk to others about their feelings and ideas.”

Applying Active Minds in her classroom

Ever since the beginning of her education path, Haarmann knew she wanted to make mental health education a priority in her classroom.

“I wanted to create lessons that taught my students tools on how to recognize, validate

and handle emotions in their lives,” Haarmann said. “Most importantly, I wanted them to know that someone cared and loved them and that my classroom was a safe place.”

Haarmann recently was placed at Glenridge Elementary School in Clayton through the Internship Academy program. In the Clayton school district, social-emotional learning is a focus area in classrooms.

“It’s about putting the child first and helping them solve problems in a way that doesn’t punish them for having emotions,” Haarmann said.

She believes teaching kids about physical health is just as important as teaching them about mental health.

“Teaching kids small tools will give them transferable skills to grow in the future for when they’re handling bigger emotions,” Haarman said. “I want them to know that it’s okay to ask for help.”

Interested in Joining Active Minds?

Active Minds meets about once a week and discusses increasing awareness for mental health issues. Haarmann had to take a step away from campus and from Active Minds because of her internship but promoting mental health awareness will always be a priority for her. She encourages interested students to give it a shot even if they’re apprehensive.

“It’s extremely low commitment, and it’s not a group that makes anybody talk,” Haarmann said. “You can go and just listen.”

Haarmann found the consistency of Active Minds’ meetings helpful after she transferred to Missouri State.

“It might seem scary or intimidating but take the time to listen to your feelings and let those feelings be validated,” Haarmann said.

If you’re interested in learning more about Active Minds, email the current Active Minds executive board at activeminds@missouristate.edu.