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K-State College of Education

Category: August 2015

Program devoted to early-career teachers

Posted on by Patrice Scott
Tonnie Martinez, second from left, is pictured with Ed Cats bloggers Kelsey Scheuerman, Aubrey Lehr and Nikki Miller.
Tonnie Martinez, second from left, is pictured with Ed Cats bloggers Kelsey Scheuerman, Aubrey Lehr and Nikki Miller.

Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education, announced the creation of the Office of Innovation & Collaboration, a comprehensive effort to draw on the faculty’s expertise and experience to help solve some of the most challenging issues in the profession.

The office was officially established this summer and its first program, Ed Cats, was launched this month. Tonnie Martinez, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction, was named program coordinator.

Ed Cats offers support for early-career teachers by providing access to free resources that include an electronic newsletter, a blog, and networking through social media. The resources were developed after the college held focus groups developed to address teacher retention and ultimately, student success.

“Our goal is to provide graduates with a toolbox that goes with them into their first job and we stay connected to them, available to them throughout their early career, which we have defined as the first three years,” Martinez said. “We’re building post-graduation relationships, and look at the benefits. It benefits students. It benefits school buildings. It benefits districts. It benefits communities,” Martinez said. “This adds value to our graduates’ degrees.”

To learn more about Ed Cats, please watch this video, friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @WeAreEdCats or visit coe.k-state.edu/edcats.

 

College launches ‘Not Just a Year of Social Justice Education’ program

Posted on by Patrice Scott

SJE logo

Keeping true to its heritage of diversity and inclusion, the College of Education and the Midwest Equity Assistance Center, or MEAC, will launch a universitywide and communitywide initiative to bring light to many of the defining social issues of our time.

“Not Just a Year of Social Justice Education” is the brainchild of Linda P. Thurston, College of Education associate dean of research and graduate studies and Lydia E. Skeen chair. The effort brings together researchers, subject matter experts, clergy, authors, community members and student organizations to weigh in on some of this generation’s most pressing social issues. The activities supplement the college’s Social Justice Education graduate certificate program.

“So many organizations across campus and in the community are doing great work in their areas,” Thurston said. “What we have the opportunity to do here is to highlight many of these efforts together in one focused series of activities throughout a whole year.”

“Not Just a Year of Social Justice Education” kicks off with a video and will offer monthly activities throughout the academic year to support a predetermined theme. Remember educators: MEAC’s resources (books, movies, journals and more) are available free! For more information, contact Ronna Olivier at ronna@ksu.edu or by calling (785) 532-6408.

Celebrating 50 years of excellence

Posted on by Patrice Scott
The College of Education is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The College of Education is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Five decades, seven deans, thousands of teachers and countless students have been touched by excellence in action at the K-State College of Education.

From humble beginnings – two of the first seven graduates from Kansas State Agricultural College became educators to today’s distinction of being the largest teacher preparation program in Kansas – the college continues to forge new paths and develop relevant programming.

“I invite all friends, faculty, alumni and students to celebrate this milestone with us,” Mercer said. “Join us at Cat Town, join us for speakers and events on campus, or access our resources. We want to connect with you in any way we can during this very special year.”

“Connections” magazine will be published later this fall and promises to offer a fascinating look at college – both then and now.

Many resources available for educators

Posted on by Patrice Scott
The college offers a host of resources for educators.
The college offers a host of resources for educators.

The school year is here, and it’s a great time to remind educators of the resources available through the College of Education.

The Midwest Equity Assistance Center, or MEAC, has a complete library filled with books and DVDs that are available free to educators in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. For a complete list of the organization’s resources and services, visit http://meac.org.

The college produced several documentaries that are exceptional educational tools. The series “A Walk in My Shoes” offers in-depth looks at the lives of international graduate students, military life, and first-generation college students. Other films include the regional Emmy-nominated “A Long Road: 150 years of African-American Experiences at K-State,” and “Humanity Looks Good on Everyone.” A film about the Underground Railroad in Kansas will be released in the spring of 2016. All films can be found on the college’s YouTube channel.

Lisa Comer, English as a second language director at Syracuse High School in Syracuse, Kansas, said “A Long Road” was a powerful teaching resource as it promoted discussion, empathy and family pride.

“The students actually enjoyed discussing these more difficult topics because they were able to relate their own experiences they might not have been ordinarily invited to discuss openly in a school setting,” Comer said. “It allowed them to lower their affective filters and feel more comfortable in talking about real issues in their lives and what they are seeing in the news and world around them.”

 

Study abroad scholarships memorialize daughter, inspire future teachers

Posted on by Patrice Scott
Marilyn and Bill Taylor visit the College of Education to meet with students returning from their study abroad trips.
Marilyn and Bill Taylor visit the College of Education to meet with students returning from their study abroad trips.

Can something good really come from the loss of a cherished daughter? For one couple – and about 200 teachers and counting – the answer is “yes.”

Philanthropists Bill and Marilyn Taylor, Olathe, Kansas, created scholarships that have provided nearly 200 preservice teachers with a study abroad experience after their daughter, Megan, was killed. She was struck by a vehicle while riding a bicycle on a high school band trip in Germany.

In 2002, the Taylors created the Megan E. Taylor Memorial Scholarship for Study Abroad and they have inspired future educators with their generosity and grace. The college recently produced a video about this amazing couple where they share their story and commitment to “paying it forward.”

“In Germany, when she passed away we were there for an additional four days and staying with the family, actually, that she was with and somewhere during that time, we decided that we had to make something good come out of this,” said Bill Taylor. “And so we came back and started to think about scholarships, and we just really felt like study abroad was an ‘extra’ and the term that we use and others use is ‘life changing.’”

Thank you, Taylors, for sharing Megan with your K-State family and for being the embodiment of “paying it forward.”