College of Education News

A move from downtown Springfield to campus

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In December 2024, 56 College of Education (COE) faculty and staff who had been working in the Park Central Office Building downtown moved to Hill Hall on the Missouri State University campus.  

The COE is now centered in three key buildings: Hill Hall, the Child Development Center and Greenwood Laboratory School. 

COE Dean Dr. Barri Tinkler has expressed her excitement at the recent move. 

“It’s amazing to have more of our faculty and staff together in Hill Hall,” she said. “Given the 100-year history of this building and its ties to teacher education, it feels very meaningful to have everyone together in this building.” 

Welcome back

The move from downtown brought key programs back to Hill Hall.  

Agency for Teaching, Leading and Learning 

The headquarters for the Agency for Teaching, Leading and Learning (ATLL) moved into room 312 along with its director, Dr. Chuck Garner. Thirty-two ATLL staff members are now in offices on the fourth floor. 

Room 402 has been converted to an ATLL workshop room. Teachers will be able to attend professional development training in this room. 

Project Access 

The headquarters for Project Access includes the director Joan Armstrong, the administrative team and information technology support specialist. This office is now room 317. Other staff members of the Project Access team can be found on the fourth floor.  

Room 447 will soon be converted from a computer lab to a Project Access workshop room. Teachers will be able to attend training in this room. 

Location of schools 

The COE’s two schools also moved. 

School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies 

The School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies’ (SELPS) main office is now on the third floor in room 318. The school director, Dr. Kayla Robinson, and her administrative team are also in that room. Other SELPS faculty and staff can be found on the third and fourth floors. 

SELPS is home to these programs: 

School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences 

The School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences’ (TDLS) main office is now on the third floor in room 319. The school director, Dr. Minor Baker, and his administrative team are also in that room. Other TLDS faculty and staff can be found on the third and fourth floors. 

TLDS is home to these programs:  

Learn more about the College of Education

Lessons from Tanzania-Zanzibar: culture and climate action

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Associate professor Dr. Jennice McCafferty has returned from her five-week summer fellowship in Tanzania-Zanzibar. She was one of 12 professors and teachers nationwide to receive a Fullbright-Hays summer fellowship. The School of International Training hosted the fellowship. 

During her fellowship, she researched ways for educators to bring African perspectives into their classrooms when discussing climate change.  

Were you able to experience everything you set out to?

Yes, and more! From Swahili lessons to learning from Maasai communities, our work was packed with memorable moments. One highlight was collaborating with a local artisan in Zanzibar on a climate data quilt, which sparked conversations about how he and other community members are experiencing sea level rise. 

I’m especially excited about the collaborative relationships I was able to build through this program. I’ve returned with several projects we’re now working on. Some of these projects include bringing teacher trainees from Tanzania into the College of Education’s virtual exchange and the development of socioenvironmental projects for afterschool programs. 

Whom did you meet and what impact did they leave?

One of the most impactful conversations I had was with Laurian Mchau, an incredible innovator and educator focused on sustainable energy. He builds windmills from recycled materials and works with children in local communities to teach about renewable energy solutions.  

Laurian Mchau

Mchau’s creativity, resilience and positive approach left a lasting impression on me. He’s a living example of how one person can harness education and innovation to address global challenges such as climate change while empowering local communities.

What was the most valuable takeaway from this experience? 

Artist painting Mchau
Artist painting Mchau

This experience was a profound reminder that some of the people who are best positioned to create real change aren’t always the most visible. They’re often embedded in their communities, responding to challenges with local, creative solutions.  

I met educators, farmers, innovators, and advocates who are quietly but powerfully addressing climate change and other global issues with solutions rooted in their contexts. Their work reminds us that transformative change is driven by those who know their land and communities best. 

What can other people learn from your time in Tanzania-Zanzibar?

We could all learn from the Swahili phrase Tuko Pamoja – “We are together.” Even in the face of complex issues such as climate change, small, united actions can ripple outward. Whether it’s a shared lesson in a classroom or a community effort to replant mangroves, working together on solutions makes all the difference. 

Learn more about the College of Education

Recent changes in administration

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The College of Education (COE) is excited to introduce a new set of leaders. They have expressed confidence, passion and excitement for their new roles.  

Dr. Marjorie Shavers

Dr. Marjorie Shavers
Dr. Marjorie Shavers

Dr. Marjorie Shavers is now the associate dean for COE. 

“Serving previously as school director and department head has been an extraordinary journey of growth, learning and collaboration with some of the most passionate and talented people. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our college’s success as associate dean and help lead us to new levels of excellence.” 

Dr. Kayla Lewis

Dr. Kayla Lewis
Dr. Kayla Lewis

Dr. Kayla Lewis is interim director for the School of Special Education, Leadership and Professional Studies. 

“I’m excited to work alongside the wonderful faculty and staff in the school this year! This role offers me new opportunities to grow in my leadership, problem–solve various challenges and build relationships with students, colleagues and community partners.”  

Dr. A. M. Baker

Dr. A. M. Baker
Dr. A. M. Baker

Dr. A. M. Baker is director of the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences. 

“I’m excited to work with some of the most amazing educators MSU has to offer. I can’t help but look forward to working with passionate people who daily are focused on teaching.” 

Dr. Julie Steiger

Dr. Julie Steiger
Dr. Julie Steiger

Dr. Julie Steiger is assistant director of the School of Teaching, Learning, and Developmental Sciences. 

“I’m fortunate to work in a school that always puts the needs of its students first. I also am excited to work with Dr. Baker, whose compassion, expertise and innovation will further the college’s role as a leader among teaching institutions.” 

Dr. Nicole West 

Dr. Nicole West
Dr. Nicole West

Dr. Nicole West is the graduate program director of Missouri State University’s new EdD program in Leadership, Learning and Educational Change. She is also continuing as assistant director for the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences.  

“This role is exciting because it’s an opportunity to build on my success in helping master’s students in the College of Education develop competence as scholarly practitioners, which is also a primary focus of the new doctoral program.” 

Student teacher selected as one of the Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow

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Recent Missouri State University graduate Dorian Beckner has been honored as an outstanding student teacher.

Dorian Beckner (center) with her cooperating teachers.
Dorian Beckner (center) with her cooperating teachers.

She is one of 13 student teachers across the state — and only one of two in the southwest region — recognized as the Missouri Teacher Leaders of Tomorrow by Missouri Milken Educators. 

As an award recipient, she will enjoy a year of coaching and mentorship from a Missouri Milken Leader and access to the Missouri Milken Educators network. 

“Teaching is a hard but rewarding career path, so it’s nice when you hear what you’ve done well, even if it was just my first year,” Beckner said. 

A standout student teacher at Wanda Gray  

At Missouri State, Beckner, a Springfield native, was part of the Internship Academy in the College of Education (COE). The academy offers students a year-long, on-site experience with partner school districts.  

Beckner student taught in a third-grade classroom at Wanda Gray Elementary in Springfield Public Schools (SPS) for the 2023-24 school year. Her outstanding performance in the classroom, compassion and hard work compelled Cathy Barrett, her cooperating teacher, to recommend her for the award.  

“Dorian is a very compassionate person and teacher,” Barrett said. “She finds good in everyone. She helps students feel successful in a kind and loving manner.”  

One of Beckner’s assignments was to create a unit plan. The complex plan covering economics stood out to Barrett.  

“Students could earn class money and at the end of the unit, she conducted an auction,” Barrett said. “She had interesting prizes for our students. They learned a lot about saving and using their money wisely.” 

According to Beckner, she is passionate about teaching because she understands the importance of a consistent, loving role model in a child’s life. 

“To be that person for a group of 24 students is life changing, and I hope it’s the same way for them,” she said. 

A welcome surprise 

Beckner received the award on May 2 at Wanda Gray in a surprise assembly. Her students and COE guests were present. Denise Fredrick, former SPS educator and former president of the SPS Board of Education, gave her the award.   

“Students surprised me with a celebration assembly and all of third grade was there,” Beckner said. “Many of my third graders stood up and said something about me, which was sweet.” 

Sharing what she has learned 

For Beckner, the biggest lesson she has learned is even mistakes can be lessons for her students.  

“I want my students to see that I’m a real human,” she said. “I want them to know they can make mistakes just like Miss Beckner makes mistakes.” 

She also gave advice for future student teachers.  

“Take it all in, ask questions and pay attention to all the things around you,” Beckner said. “You’ll learn what to do and what not to do. Take lots of notes. Take lots of pictures.” 

Beckner graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She will teach first grade at SPS’ Westport Elementary in fall 2024. 

Learn more about the Internship Academy 

CODERS project expands opportunities for rural students

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In 2020, Missouri State University received an Education, Innovation and Research Early Phase grant from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Worth $4 million, the grant’s purpose was to implement the Computer-Science Opportunities, Development and Education in Rural Schools (CODERS) project over five years.  

CODERS is a collaborative project among faculty members from the College of Education (COE), College of Natural and Applied Sciences and Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.  

Led by project director Dr. Keri Franklin, professor of English and director of the Center for Writing in College, Career and Community, CODERS assists rural teachers in engaging their students in computer science, computational thinking, physics and writing in elementary and middle grades. 

Since CODERS began, it has worked with 54 rural teachers, over 3,000 students and 17 rural school districts. According to Franklin, data show that CODERS is having a significant impact on student scores.  

“Students from those districts who have participated in CODERS increase science scores by 46% and 10% in mathematics,” Franklin said.  

These results came from 850 students before and after collecting CODERS data. Test scores were taken before CODERS was implemented.

Seminars on campus

The CODERS project team offers seminars on campus every summer and four times during the school year. To date, teachers from 19 rural communities have participated.

The teachers receive hands-on training on how to teach computer science, coding and other STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-related subjects to students in fun and engaging ways. 

A group of teachers was on campus June 4-6 for the summer seminar. Helping with the seminar was Dr. Tammi Davis, a faculty member in COE’s School of Teaching, Learning and Development Sciences. 

Tammi R. Davis
Dr. Tammi Davis

Davis works closely with the teachers to support them as they teach lessons in the classroom and monitors the submission of their teaching reflections. She also works with the group’s teaching leaders who led much of the professional development this summer. 

According to Davis, one of her favorite parts of the project is helping teachers choose how to use their designated grant funding to expand their classrooms. 

“One teacher built a computer lab STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) room based on supplies she got from our grant,” Davis said.  

Davis grew up going to a rural school in southern Indiana. 

“If you turn left at the stoplight, you pass driver’s ed, so that tells you how small my community was,” Davis said. 

She notes the CODERS project gives opportunities to students that she wished she had as a student. 

“I wish I was exposed to computer science in elementary/middle school, which is the age group we work with on this grant,” Davis said. “The first time I really did any type of computer coding was in college and I think that’s too late.” 

Career education 

The CODERS project also aims to help teachers by providing them with resources for their classroom to promote STEM-based career fields to students.  

Examples of these resources include the IF/THEN Collection and Educator Hub, which highlight real photographs of women in their STEM-related field. 

“Computer science is one of many jobs students could be eligible for, so we teach that career component as well,” Davis said. 

Find out more about CODERS