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Education, diversified

September 21, 2020 by Sydni Moore

The front of Hill Hall on Missouri State's campus.

The world of education is extremely diverse. No two students share the same background, culture and experiences. As a result, each can benefit from the perspectives of their peers. 

The College of Education aims to effectively teach culturally-diverse students—and prepare teacher candidates to do the same.  

“Diversity strengthens our community and enriches our lives,” COE Dean David Hough said. “It undergirds our many teacher preparation programs as we strive to develop educators who can teach all children.” 

A Missouri State student teacher helps a student in this 2017 photo.
A Missouri State student teacher helps a student in this 2017 photo.

Diversity initiatives 

Several COE diversity initiatives are in place to continue building a culturally-competent experience for pupils to come.  

  • Bear Partnership seeks to increase the number of COE students from underrepresented backgrounds. Last year, 17 students attended the week-long campus residential program. This summer, 29 students were scheduled to attend. Due to the pandemic, however, it could not take place.   
  • A recruiter in Mobile, Alabama, engages Black high school students to consider MSU for studying education.  
  • Dean Hough regularly travels to the University of Arkansas, Little Rock; the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff; the University of Memphis; Alabama State University; and the University of South Alabama, in an effort to recruit diverse faculty. The diverse faculty recruitment rate improved by 33% in the last six years.  
  • COE regularly finances six to eight faculty members to participate in a St. Louis diversity conference every year. 

Further details regarding COE’s diversity initiatives can be found on the Missouri State website.  

A Missouri State practicum student visits with high-schoolers in this 2017 photo.
A Missouri State practicum student visits with high-schoolers in this 2017 photo.

Faculty engagement 

Conversations surrounding diversity don’t stop there.  

Dr. Nathan Quinn is a senior instructor for the counseling, leadership and special education department—and part of MSU’s Educator Preparation Provider Council (EPPC). The council ensures education programs at the university meet state and national guidelines in preparing qualified school personnel.  

As chairperson for the EPPC’s diversity subcommittee, Quinn leads a team in examining diversity issues within the education department.  

“I believe we’re doing a good job, but we need to increase our diverse students within the College of Education,” Quinn said. “It’s a matter of continuing to identify those students to come to our university.”  

Dr. Dennis Rudnick, assistant professor in the reading, foundations and technology department, teaches Introduction to Multicultural Education. It’s a course requirement for MSU teacher candidates. Rudnick says the course plays an important role in diversity issues in education. 

“Its goal is to enable future teachers to become more aware of and responsive to these complex dynamics underlying education in the United States,” Rudnick said. “In return, they can best advocate for the students, schools and communities they will serve as professionals.” 

Dr. Elizabeth King, assistant professor in the child and family development department, added the college’s efforts to increase diversity requires continuous engagement.  

“If we’re doing it right, it’s not an initiative,” King said. “It’s sustained, active work in every space we hold.” 

Filed Under: COE Faculty, COE Students Tagged With: Bear Partnership, college of education, David Hough, dennis rudnick, diversity, Elizabeth King, nathan quinn

Winter gathering brings together Bear in Every Building members

February 3, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Bear in Every Building teachers take part in a photo booth at the winter gathering.

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

Filed Under: COE Faculty, COE Staff, COE Students Tagged With: Bear In Every Building, David Hough, education, event, Rhonda Bishop

Missouri Teacher of the Year visits campus

April 8, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

Student taking notes

There’s no better way to learn than from the expert herself.

Beth Davey is a kindergarten through fifth grade music teacher at Iveland Elementary in St. Louis, Missouri. She is also 2018 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

She was awarded the prestigious title early last year by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Davey has been active on her professional Twitter and Facebook about the need to work on weaknesses and celebrate the strengths of Missouri public schools.

The mission of the Missouri Teacher of the Year Program is to honor, promote and celebrate excellence in the teaching profession, according to DESE.

The event

Davey will be speaking about her love of teaching and offering advice on April 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Hill Hall, Room 001. This event will highlight all of the rewards a career in teaching can offer.

Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, 2018 Missouri Superintendent of the Year, and Dr. David Hough, dean of the College of Education, will provide opening statements.

The event will conclude with a panel of Missouri State notable faculty and community members.

For more information about the event, browse the calendar event.

Filed Under: COE Students Tagged With: David Hough, education, event, Stephen Kleinsmith

Community educators brainstorm how to solve teacher shortage

January 31, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

Student teacher smiles while helping high school math students

Teachers are role models and influencers. They serve students from all walks of life to equip them with necessary life skills and knowledge. However, the decline in interest for teaching as a career has affected the outlook for the profession.

Enrollment decline

The number of students pursuing a degree in education has decreased by 10 percent nationwide, according to Education Dive. And nearly 8 percent of teachers have left the profession over the last 10 years.

In response to this decline, leaders within Missouri State University’s College of Education (COE) are organizing efforts to combat the shortage.

More than 40 local educators and community partners will gather on Feb. 7 to discuss ways to solve the teacher shortage.

“The goal of our Think Tank event is to generate ideas that will enable my leadership team to create a proactive action plan to attract more young people into the field of education,” said Dr. David Hough, dean of the College of Education.

In 2017, more than 100,000 teaching positions were filled by inadequately-trained teachers, according to Teacher Shortage Toolkit.

“We hope to regain the high ground on public perception of teaching,” said Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, director of school and community partnerships at Missouri State University.

Hough noted that the last study of teacher supply and demand in Missouri was completed by the MSU Institute for School Improvement in 2001.

“Missouri should commission a new study to identify areas that will be impacted most,” said Hough. “Based on available data, it appears as though Missouri and the rest of the United States will face severe teacher shortages within a year or two if something isn’t done immediately.”

Think Tank

The College of Education’s Think Tank will begin at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7 in Kentwood Hall.

Participants of the event include:

  • Paul Katnik, assistant commissioner for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Sara Lampe, long-time educator and former member of the Missouri House of Representatives
  • A consultant from Mobile, Alabama
  • Local educators
  • Care to Learn employees
  • Special education experts
  • Legislators

Speakers will focus on how to change perceptions about teaching careers and the current shortage of qualified teachers.

Group discussions and workshops will tackle ideas to actively combat it. Current College of Education students will provide further context for discussion.

“We need to bring this matter to the attention of our community and listen our way to solutions,” Kleinsmith said.

Filed Under: COE Faculty, COE Staff Tagged With: David Hough, education, event, Stephen Kleinsmith

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