November 2008
COE Recieves NCATE's Highest Level of Accreditation
The teacher education programs in the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs meet the highest standards for professionalism in teacher education, according to a team of evaluators for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
.
NCATE notified UCCS leaders this month of the results of a five-day on-site evaluation of the UCCS teacher education programs. The programs received a seven year accreditation, the highest level of accreditation possible.
“This accreditation decision indicates that the unit and its programs meet rigorous standards set forth by the professional education community,” La Vonne Neal, dean, College of Education, said. “I congratulate College of Education faculty, staff, students and our community advisory boards for displaying the high quality necessary to be granted national accreditation.”
NCATE currently accredits 623 institutions which are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the nation’s new teacher graduates each year.
NCATE-accredited schools must meet rigorous standards set by the teaching profession and members of the public. Teacher candidates must have in-depth knowledge of the subject matter they teach as well as skills to convey it. Colleges and universities must demonstrate the ability to assess this knowledge and skills, have partnerships with P-12 schools, and demonstrate ability to prepare teacher candidates to work with diverse student populations.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes NCATE as a specialized accrediting body for schools, colleges and departments of education. It was founded in 1954 by the teaching profession and states working together for excellence in teacher preparation and development.
Article courtesy University Relations Department at UCCS
UCCS Graduate School Open House
November 13, 2008, 5:30-7:00 PM in the University Center (UC) Room 303
October 2008
COE Faculty Member Receives Educator of the Year; COE Student Receives Scholarship
In October Rhonda Williams, an assistant professor in Counseling and Human Services at the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, received the award for Colorado Counselor Educator of the Year.
In addition, Angie Jacobs, a UCCS student, received the Colorado School Counselor Association's Carol Hacker Scholarship.
"As a counselor educator, Rhonda is an innovator and tireless advocate for school counselors. Not only does she prepare new school counselors, but she keeps active and informed about today's issues of school counselors in Colorado. Her knowledge of the concerns of school counselors in the field is unsurpassed. Her professionalism is a model to all who know her," read the official announcement from the ceremony.
In addition to this award, Williams is currently the American School Counselor Association's Ethics Chairperson and Post-Secondary Vice-President. Also, she has a role in the initiation and implementation of Colorado Counselor Corps grants, is active in the Smart Girls Organization, and leads training sessions around the state for young educators for bullying prevention.
"The state of school counseling in Colorado is so much richer for her dedication, her expertise, and her commitment to the profession of school counseling," the announcement concluded.
Free Webinar on Military Mental Health by ACA/APA
Dr. David Fenell, chair of last year's ACA Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, will co-lead a webinar discussion titled Treating Returning Service members: Are Mental Health Professionals Ready? He will be joined by Dr. Will Wilson, president of the American Psychological Association's Society for Military Psychology. The webinar is being hosted by Capella University. The discussion will be webcast live on October 13 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Eastern Time. ACA members are invited to pre-register for the webinar and participate online.
The discussion will include such topics as the mental health and re-entry needs of returning service members, veterans, and their families; the preparedness of mental health professionals and the community, and the role of education in addressing these issues. Webinar participants will be able to submit questions online during the live discussion. The discussion will also be archived and available later on the ACA web site.
Co TESOL 2008 Welcoming the World
Friday, October 24, 10:15-11:00 AM
>> Go to CoTESOL main page
http://www.colorado.edu/iec/cotesol/
September 2008
2008-2009 Quality and Excellence Community Learning Series
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Invited Presentation by Dr. Eugene Garcia, Dean of Arizona State University's College of Education
"Early Educational Opportunities for ELL Students and their Families Generates Achievement Gains"
August 2008
Galileo Project to Begin
The UCCS - Galileo Middle School Partnership (D11) is a collaboration between the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the middle school specifically involving Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT). The UCCS faculty leaders of this partnership are Dr. Catherine Kelly, Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at UCCS and Dr. Barbara Frye, Director of Teacher Education. Four professional development workshops have been held on the topics of strategic planning and leadership, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Leadership, and Counseling (CRTLC), CRT lesson planning and implementation, and preparation for the creation of a model Professional Development School. A long-range study on teacher change at Galileo Middle School is currently being designed and implemented with an initial pre-treatment survey completed prior to the beginning of the school year.
The Galileo grant arose from high student drop out rates, failing grades, building decline (physical), and declining enrollment and demographics. The school is in the second year of the grant and opened the doors for student in August, 2008.
July 2008
Catherine Kelly Helps Gazette Reporters with Kindergarten Preparation
Dr. Cheesman Recipient of Prestigious Award
On July 26, 2008, the Council for Exceptional Children selected Dr. Elaine Cheesman to be the recipient of its Colorado Teacher Education Division's Teacher Educator Award.
The award is given to professionals in recognition of exceptional contributions to teacher education. “More specifically, the Colorado TED's Teacher Educator Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated am exemplary commitment to one of the following: (a) teacher education in special education, (b) preparation of future leaders and/or quality educators, and (c) research supporting the preparation of teachers and/or delivery of services to children with disabilities, legislative leadership, and scholarly works,” according to the press release.
Dr. Cheesman will attend the 4th annual Colorado Consortium of Special Education Teacher Educators conference on September 25 and 26 to receive her award.
Cheesman is an Assistant Professor of Special Education for the College of Education at UCCS. Her focus is in the instruction of persons inflicted with dyslexia.
UCCS to Host EduStat University
EduStat University 2008, a collaboration between the UCCS College of Education, Colorado Springs School District 12, and SchoolNet, Inc. takes place July 15-17 on campus.
To learn more about EduStat University 2008 and to participate visit their website.
>> EduStat main site
http://www.edustat.com
>> Read the June 25, 2008 UCCS Communique
March 2008
2008 AREA Annual Meeting & Exhibition in New York City
Nadyne Guzman, professor emerita, Education; Christi Kasa-Hendrickson, assistant professor, Education; Richard Carpenter, assistant professor, Education; Al Ramirez, professor, Education; and John Weathers, assistant professor, Education, will present at the 2008 American Educational Research Association meeting March 24-28 in New York City.
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO USA 80918
719-255-8227 (UCCS), 800-990-8227
