College of Education News

Dr. Tammi Davis featured in Mind’s Eye

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Congratulations to Dr. Tammi Davis for her recent feature in Mind’s Eye magazine. Davis is associate professor in the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences at Missouri State University.

As an educator with over 20 years of experience — including 10 years as a teacher educator — Davis has prioritized her research to study the experiences of new teachers.

Congratulations Dr. Davis!

The full story is now available online.

Excerpt:

During the course of her research, Dr. Tammi Davis has found there is a lack of guidance and support for teachers in the early years of their careers.

“The first few years are a crucial time in the development of novice teachers,” said Davis, associate professor in the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences at Missouri State University. “They need mentorship and support to help guide them so they’re not navigating it all alone.” 

Evidence shows formal mentorship provides teachers with the support they need for their professional development. But there is little research on the implementation and effectiveness of formal mentorship programs, and it is not standardized across the U.S. 

“Many states that require teachers to have mentors don’t have high quality mentorship programs,” Davis said. “Some states don’t require mentors at all.”  

Read the full story

Dr. Jennice McCafferty-Wright selected for a Fullbright-Hays summer fellowship abroad

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Join us in congratulating Missouri State University’s Dr. Jennice McCafferty-Wright on being selected for a summer 2024 fellowship to Tanzania-Zanzibar hosted by the School of International Training.  

“Tuko Pamoja: Tanzanian Creativity and Perspectives in an Era of Climate Change,” is funded by a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad grant from the Department of Education. Only six U.S. professors were selected for this incredible opportunity. 

“I’m so grateful my colleague Dr. Sarah Nixon forwarded the application to me,” said McCafferty-Wright, assistant professor in the School of Teaching, Learning and Developmental Sciences. “Schools, communities, coral reefs, Kilimanjaro, nature reserves, an introduction to Swahili — this promises to be an incredibly memorable journey!” 

The five-week fellowship will focus on providing ways for educators to bring African perspectives into their classrooms when discussing climate change. This connects to the work she has begun as an MSU sustainability fellow. 

“I’m most excited about the opportunity to learn from and with educators and researchers in Tanzania-Zanzibar,” McCafferty-Wright said. 

In this fellowship, she will hear from a wide variety of voices, ranging from Tanzanian policymakers to smallholder farmers in the Maasai community.  

“International relationships and experiences can help us think about our work in a more complex way,” McCafferty-Wright said. “The work I’m doing will also help me establish collaborative relationships for projects that will ultimately benefit our students.” 

Discover more about Education Programs

COE alumna Courtney Baker named Teacher of the Year

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For her excellence in teaching, Missouri State University alumna Courtney Baker received the Teacher of the Year award for Hawthorn Elementary School, based in St. Peters, Missouri.  

Hawthorn is part of the Fort Zumwalt School District, which is headquartered in O’Fallon.  

“I was really honored to have had five different nominations this year to win this award,” Baker said. “It feels good when your hard work is noticed. That’s not why you do it, but it feels good when people appreciate you. Our school does an assembly with all the kids gathered chanting your name, and it’s always so fun.” 

Baker is also a finalist for the district’s Educator of the Year award. 

From West County, St. Louis, Baker has been teaching for eight years. She currently teaches kindergarten but has also taught first and second grade in the past.  

A positive Missouri State experience 

Baker first attended Missouri State from 2011-2015 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Wanting to become an expert in her field, she completed her master’s degree in early childhood and family development online in 2019. 

The biggest impact on Baker during her education was Dr. Denise Cunningham, associate dean of MSU’s College of Education.  

“She made it real for us,” Baker said. “She made it clear it wasn’t going to be sunshine and daisies every day in the classroom. She taught us real life survival.”  

Though Cunningham was upfront with the realities of teaching, Baker found her lessons exciting and engaging.  

“If she’s having this much fun teaching us, imagine how much fun we’re going to have when it’s our time as well,” Baker said. 

 Her favorite part of being a student at Missouri State was the energetic atmosphere.  

“There’s so much to be a part of everywhere you look,” she said. “We always called it a big school with a small school feel.” 

In her final year as a student, Baker served as president of University Ambassadors and received the Senior Woman of the Year award. 

Impacting young lives  

Baker comes from a long line of nurturing women with careers in nursing. While she always knew she wanted to help others, a job involving blood was off the table. 

“To be honest, kindergarteners’ teeth falling out at random is pushing it!” Baker said. 

Through her experiences working at summer camps and volunteering at a children’s crisis nursery, Baker’s heart discovered it had a special place for working with young children. 

“They have such a passion for life and such a unique outlook,” Baker said. “You get to help them not just with their learning, but in becoming a good person as well.” 

Recently, Baker read her students a book called, “How Full is Your Bucket,” as part of a lesson about spreading kindness to others.  

“Now everything I hear is, ‘I’m filling their bucket,’ ‘they’re filling my bucket.’ It’s so sweet to hear,” Baker said. 

When she started teaching at Hawthorn, Baker taught the same class of students from kindergarten through second grade.  While learning three new curriculums in a row was challenging, Baker found the overall experience rewarding because she got to watch her kids grow and see their humor develop and their abilities change.  

“It was really cool to forge a bond with those students and have trust and expectations built going year to year,” she said. 

One of Baker’s favorite parts of teaching younger children is following their progress throughout elementary school.  

“Sometimes the really, really quiet kid in kindergarten is the star of the school play in fifth grade. I love that I get to see these kids grow up and come out of their shells,” she shared. 

Some advice to share  

Baker tells students considering a career in early childhood education to “go for it; it’s super fun.”  

She encourages students to attend practicum opportunities while at Missouri State to experience the classroom environment.  

“What you go in thinking you want to teach might not actually be your calling,” Baker said. 

 She discourages those just entering the workforce from overwhelming themselves with the expectation of doing everything at once.  

“Get in there, do your best and follow your curriculum,” she said. “Don’t try to be the ‘Pinterest Teacher.’” 

Learn more about early childhood education programs

Getting ready to shape students’ futures

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Aleila Cage has a passion for learning, equity and her community. She decided to pursue an education degree because she wanted to foster a safe space for all students. 

This semester, she is completing her student teaching at Springfield’s Reed Academy in 7th and 8th grade social studies. 

“Student teaching has been a roller coaster of events,” Cage said. “Middle schoolers keep you on your toes. Their perspectives and experiences give me a meaningful approach to teaching.” 

Cage was selected for the second cohort of the Future Educators Program. This partnership between Missouri State and Springfield Public Schools seeks to recruit, hire, and retain educators from diverse backgrounds to the district. 

Her time at Missouri State 

From St. Louis, Missouri, Cage transferred to MSU from Southern Baptist University after having positive experiences with the campus community. She is now in her last semester of the middle school education program. 

“The entire education program has had the most positive impact on me,” Cage said.  

At MSU, she has found professors who model what a good educator looks like. She notes Dr. Julie Steiger and Dr. Ashley Payne have played a major part in shaping her into the educator she is today. 

After graduating this spring, Cage plans on teaching middle school while pursuing a master’s degree in education.  

Engaging with the campus and larger community

Cage is the president of Missouri State’s NAACP chapter. She joined the NAACP because it is the largest civil rights organization in the country, and she is proud to be a part of their fight for equity. 

“The past, present and future of this nation is shaped by the NAACP,” Cage said.  

She is also vice president of Sigma Gamma Rho, a historically African American sorority. Cage resonated with this organization because it was founded by educators. She said she found a true sisterhood within her chapter of people who share her goals. 

Off campus, Cage is also a cheer coach at Central High School in Springfield and a pre-teen coordinator at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield. In this position, she develops programs and curriculum encouraging self-growth and healthy lifestyles for students aged 11-13.   

Offering some advice 

Her advice to those wanting to pursue education is to get organized, practice patience and be intentional.  

“Remember, you’re shaping the future,” Cage said.  

She believes education is one of the most important careers someone can engage in.  

“Be that person your younger self would need.” 

Learn more about education programs at MSU

MSU student participates in Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum

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Tyler Crane, an elementary education senior, was one of 80 collegiate students nominated to represent Missouri State University during the annual Missouri Governor’s Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values. 

It took place  Feb. 16-18, 2024, in Jefferson City, Missouri. 

The forum started in 1988 under the leadership of former Missouri Governor and 79th U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. 

 It challenges students’ character development by encouraging them to reflect on their own decision-making skills, values and belief systems. Students learn about how to reconcile relationships, stand for truth and love others as they love themselves. The forum’s guiding principle is teaching students to embrace altruism rather than egotism. 

“It was truly an honor to attend the forum. It focused on building relationships with student leaders from all across the state, and I met many amazing people,” Crane said.  

“Hearing from keynote speakers, such as Rebecca Welsh and Judge Pat Joyce, as well as inmates at the Jefferson City Correctional Center left me feeling inspired.” 

Forum highlights 

Gov. Mike Parson welcomed students of the forum with a meet and greet in his office, followed by an inspirational message from Welsh, founder of Halo, a mission that provides housing, healing and education to at-risk and homeless children. Students ended their time at the Capitol hearing from Missouri State Sen. Travis Fitzwater. 

Students also heard from several speakers who lead by example. A question-and-answer panel including Youssef Abdou, Natalia Chaing Breña, David Johnson, Bailey Stephen and Sadie Williams discussed the importance of community and relationships. Judge Joyce shared a message on redemption after the students’ tour of the Jefferson City Correctional Center. 

Kyrell and Michaela Newell, directors of St. Nicholas Academy, shared a message on servant leadership. Justin Campbell, regional director of YoungLife, concluded the forum, challenging students to consider their purpose in what they are aiming at.

Explore elementary education at MSU