Stefanie Livers Archives - College of Education News

Associate professor renews national board certification

January 31, 2022 by Strategic Communication

Dr. Stefanie Livers, associate professor in the department of childhood education and family studies, is a renewed national board-certified teacher through The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

“As a teacher educator, it is important to maintain my national board certification and model consistent self-improvement for both my teacher candidates and graduate students,” Livers said. “It shows that I can implement the philosophies and methods that I am teaching in actual elementary classrooms.”

Livers initially received her certification in 2001 and recertified for the first time in 2011.

What it takes

To earn board certification, teachers complete a performance based, peer-reviewed process, demonstrating their proven impact on student learning and achievement.

“They put their teaching to the test and voluntarily challenge themselves by reflecting on their practice and confirming that they are teaching to the highest standards,” said Peggy Brookins, president and CEO of the NBPTS.

Livers has joined a growing community of more than 130,000 board-certified teachers in the United States.

“We work to drive teacher quality to help assure that all youth in America have equal access to the best possible teachers,” Brookins said. “I encourage all Americans to pause and celebrate our national board-certified teachers.”

Learn more about becoming a Board Certified Teacher

COE department head receives statewide award

April 16, 2020 by Sydni Moore

Dr. Denise Cunningham, childhood education and family studies department head, and all her hard work has not gone unnoticed. Missouri Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Services (MoEFACS) recently selected Cunningham as the recipient of the 2020 Champion Business Leader award.

The news came to Cunningham in a letter from Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

“When I first saw the letter, I thought another faculty member, Debra Price, had won an award for post-secondary teaching,” Cunningham said. “I had no idea the award was for me. I didn’t think I had done anything worthy of being recognized.”

MoEFACS felt differently, as do her colleagues.

“A leader is a person who empowers and uses the strengths of others in order to yield positive results. Dr. Cunningham is that type of leader,” Dr. Stefanie Livers said. Livers is an assistant professor in Cunningham’s department. “She effectively supports faculty in their individual teaching and research, orchestrating a synergistic body that provides students with quality programs.”

Creating a legacy

Cunningham began at Missouri State in 2005 as an assistant professor in early childhood education. She has since “demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving career and technical education.”

“I have been intentional about working with family and consumer science teachers to develop dual credit opportunities in child development, human development and family studies, as well as education-specific courses, such as Introduction to Elementary Education,” Cunningham said.

She has also invited FACS and Career Pathways teachers and interested students to campus to learn about related MSU programs.

In addition to creating opportunities, Cunningham led the development of two master’s degree programs: Master of Science in Child Life Studies and Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education. Cunningham also expanded the College of Education’s Internship Academy to include opportunities for early childhood education candidates.

“I have also been involved in Bear Partnership, a summer, week-long immersion experience for high school students interested in the field of education,” Cunningham said.

MSU memories

One of Cunningham’s favorite memories in her 15 years at the university is when she implemented the Abundant Books for Children project across schools in Stone County.

The project culminated from her own research, and she put it to use in an early childhood methods course as a service-learning assignment. She and her undergraduate students went to five school districts to provide workshops for families with preschool students. The workshops taught families how to use an interactive, shared book experience with their young children.

“The work with the families was so enjoyable, but I was thrilled at what students learned from the experience,” Cunningham said. “It was so cool to have my research, teaching and service so connected.”

Cunningham said she looks forward to the rest of her time at Missouri State. She will be recognized for her work July 22, at a MoEFACS luncheon and awards ceremony. Additionally, MoEFACS will forward an application for Cunningham to the National Association of Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (NATFACS), to compete for the Champion for Family and Consumer Sciences award.