coE-News: November 15, 2005, VOL. 1 ISSUE 3

NOVEMBER 15, 2005

VOL. 1, ISSUE 3

The coE-News is an electronic newsletter produced monthly during the academic year by the College of Education News & Publications Office to keep faculty and staff up to date on College news and activities.  Click here to download a PDF version of this edition of the coE-News.  You will need a PDF reader to view this document.

GOT NEWS? Don’t be shy. Submit individual or unit news and calendar events of Collegewide interest for publication consideration to Joy L. Rodgers, News & Publications writer-editor, at jrodgers@coe.ufl.edu. All submissions must be in writing and include contact information for follow-up questions.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

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TOP STORIES

$2.6 million study looks at gaps in ADHD treatment of black kids, girls
The College of Education’s Mirka Koro-Ljungberg, assistant professor, educational psychology, has teamed with Regina Bussing, professor of psychiatry in the College of Medicine, on a $2.6 million federal study to try to find out why African-American children and girls of all races with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are less likely than white boys to get proper medical attention for their problem. (more)

Technology researcher joins $1.1 million NIH-funded autism study
Richard Ferdig, assistant professor in the School of Teaching and Learning, is involved in a four-year, $1.1 million study designed to help fathers communicate more effectively with their autistic children. Ferdig is developing a Web site that will be used to broadcast training sessions to a group of fathers taking part in the study, which is being funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, a branch of the National Institutes of Health. (more)

$800,000 grant helps secondary teachers lift reading-instruction expertise
With $800,000 in new funding from the Florida Department of Education, the College of Education is launching Project PRESS, Preparing Reading Endorsed Secondary Educators, a program to help middle and high school teachers earn certification in special education and boost expertise in literacy instruction, especially for students with reading and learning disabilities. Professor Mary Brownell and Assistant Scholar Anne Bishop, both from the Department of Special Education, and Associate Professor Zhihui Fang, School of Teaching and Learning, are the principal investigators. (more)

Reception honors retiring faculty, administrators
Four recent retirees in the College of Education and the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School were recognized in a sendoff reception held in late September at the UF Keene Faculty Center. The retirees are Cecil Mercer and Arthur White from the College of Education and David Capaz and Christine Morris from P.K. Yonge. (more)

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FACULTY-STAFF HONORS & APPOINTMENTS

Educational Psychology’s Oakland given lifetime achievement award
The Florida Association of School Psychologists recently presented Thomas Oakland, professor, Educational Psychology, with its Willard Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is another in a long list of honors for Oakland. (more)

Assistant Dean Vernetson continues in state posts
Theresa B. Vernetson, assistant dean for student affairs at the UF College of Education, was re-elected as board member of the Florida Association for Staff Development and as treasurer of the Florida Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. She will serve three more years for FASD, which promotes professional development, leadership and support for educational professionals, and two years for FACTE, which strives to improve the performance quality of Florida colleges and universities. Since 1981, Vernetson has held various positions within the College of Education, including director of extended services; director of professional development and communications; director of educational outreach and communications; and assistant dean for educational outreach and communications.

National music educators group taps PKY instructor to serve on board
Michael Roberts, visiting instructor at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, has been elected to a three-year term on the national board of trustees of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, a professional organization of music and movement educators. As a national board member, Roberts will represent the 10 states in Region IV, which includes Florida, and will serve on three committees: financial assistance; publicity/public relations; and leadership development and nominations.

Assistant professor on editorial boards of new education journals
Maria Coady, assistant professor in the School of Teaching and Learning, has joined the editorial boards of two new education journals: The Florida Journal of Service Learning in Education, a peer-reviewed print publication of the Florida Association of Service-Learning in Teacher Education, and The Journal of Borderlands Education, an online publication devoted to research and literature pertaining to education and the notions of borders and the borderland.  Both journals are accepting submissions for their inaugural issues. Contact Coady at mcoady@coe.ufl.edu or 2-9191, ext. 232 for more information on submissions.

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STUDENT HONORS

Doctoral students present historical papers at top academic conference
The College of Education was well-represented at the History of Education Society’s October meeting in Baltimore, with five graduate students presenting papers on various topics in the history of American education from the postwar to the present. All of the student papers stemmed from research projects written in a fall 2004 doctoral seminar taught by Assistant Professor Sevan Terzian, who also chaired a student panel at the meeting. The students who took part are Sheryl Howie, Andrew Grunzke, Erika Gubrium and Donald Boyd, doctoral students, School of Teaching and Learning; and Rebecca Zellner, an MAE graduate and current doctoral student in anthropology. The History of Education Society’s annual meeting attracts leading scholars across disciplines and is widely considered to be the premier academic conference in the field.

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RESEARCH

Lastinger Center gets $100,000 grant to aid Jacksonville schools
The Lastinger Center for Learning has received a $100,000 grant from the Jim Moran Foundation to support the design and implementation of a research-based professional development model to improve student achievement and educator practice at two elementary schools in Jacksonville. The schools are part of the Lastinger Center’s Florida Flagship Schools Network – a partnership of underresourced schools that are working collaboratively to enhance child development and school performance.

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PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Following is a sampling of recent faculty and graduate student publications and presentations in the College:

  • Hagedorn, L.S. (2005). “Transcript Analyses as a Tool to Understand Community College Student Academic Behaviors.” Journal of Applied Research in the Community College. 13(1), Fall. 45-57.
  • Mayer, Marty and Mayne, Dina (2005). “PALMing Your Way Through the Educational Maze.” Educators’ eZine on TechLearning.com (www.techlearning.com). Nov.
  • Hagedorn, L.S. (Oct. 2004). Keynote speech to the Leadership in a New Century (LINC) program, Iowa State University.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the date – holiday luncheon set for Dec. 9
This year’s College of Education Holiday Party is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 9, at the Savannah Grande Reception Hall, 301 N. Main St., Gainesville. The event, which is open to current and retired faculty and staff only, will feature a catered lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. Dean Catherine Emihovich has given approval for College offices to close from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free, but staff council is asking that each individual in attendance bring at least one canned- or nonperishable-food item to benefit local community charities and food banks. For questions on the luncheon or to offer suggestions on activities for the event, contact Mary McDonough at 2-0728, ext. 226, or marymcd@coe.ufl.edu.

Minority teachers group seeking conference presenters
The Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. has announced a call for proposals for its 10th annual recruitment and retention conference set for April 8 and 9, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville. The theme for this year’s conference is “Educators on the Move: Exploring Our Uniqueness by Embracing the Arts.” Submit proposals by Dec. 1 to Cheryl Howell via e-mail at chowell@coe.ufl.edu or via fax at (352) 846-3011. For more information on the conference and the proposal process, contact Howell at 2-9195, ext. 24, or at the e-mail address above.

Staff Council spearheads holiday fund-raising effort, food drive
Once again, the College of Education – led by Staff Council – is raising money through prize drawings for the Alachua County Volunteer Center’s Hope for the Holidays project. Proceeds from this year’s drawings will go toward gift and food items for a family of four consisting of a 52-year-old woman, a 19-year-old woman, and two children, ages 1 and 5. Funds raised through the prize drawings before Dec. 9 will go toward the purchase of specific items on the family’s wish list. Cash donations also are being accepted through Dec. 14 and will be used to purchase food and household items.

New this year, the Staff Council is sponsoring a canned- and nonperishable-food drive to benefit local community charities and food banks. Donations may be dropped off in the Business Office, 134 Norman Hall, before Dec. 9.

For additional information on either of these efforts, contact Sabrina McLaughlin at 2-0726, ext. 262, or sm@coe.ufl.edu.

Nominations still under way for Teacher of the Year Award
Nominations are still being accepted for the College of Education Teacher of the Year Award for 2005. All nominees must be faculty members – either tenured or nontenured – who have taught at least two undergraduate classes during the current calendar year of spring, summer or fall semesters. Nomination forms may be obtained in the Student Services Office, G416 Norman Hall, or by contacting Ashleigh Barnett, coordinator of Student Services, at 2-0721, ext. 400, or abarnett@coe.ufl.edu. The deadline to submit nominations is Nov. 23.

Staff Council given presence on the Intranet
The Staff Council now has a link on the College of Education Intranet (http://intranet.coe.ufl.edu/default.aspx), where announcements of Collegewide interest may be posted and viewed. The new site, which is being managed by Mary McDonough, is expected to evolve with time and use. Anyone who has suggestions for content for the site may contact McDonough at 2-0728, ext. 226, or marymcd@coe.ufl.edu.

College gives generously to community campaign
The College of Education surpassed its 10 percent community campaign goal, increasing pledges 25 percent over last year. This year the College collected pledges totaling $25,226.34. Jeri Benson, associate dean for academic affairs and this year’s campaign chair for the College, wishes to thank everyone who contributed to the campaign, as well as the College representatives who helped out with the pledge effort.

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coE-CALENDAR

NOV. 15

Vivian Correa’s Grant Writing Course
4 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Peter Alter, (904) 228-7618

NOV. 16

Teacher Inquiry workshop
8 a.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Nancy Dana, 2-0728, ext. 276

Professional Development workshop
3:30 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Marty League, 2-0701, ext. 250

Kappa Delta Pi meeting
6:30 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Angela Drumm, 336-6707

NOV. 18

Alumni Lunch & Lecture Series* (for COE alumni)
11:30 a.m., Terrace Room
*This month’s guest speaker is Mickie Miller, associate director of UF Alliance.
Contact: Margaret Gaylord, 2-0728, ext. 290

Faculty workshop
1:30 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Thomasenia Adams, 2-0726, ext. 306

NOV. 19

Baby Gator Fall Festival* (open to the public)
10 a.m.-noon, Norman Hall front lawn
*Event features activities for children, including face painting and games; a silent auction and chance drawing; bake sale; live entertainment; and more.
Contact: Michelle Scharfman, 846-5854 or 328-6485

NOV. 21

Professional Development workshop
3:30 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Marty League, 2-0701, ext. 250

NOV. 23

USECA meeting
4 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Corinne Williamson, 256-8880

Education Council meeting
6 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Theresa Vernetson, 2-4519, ext. 400

NOV. 24

Thanksgiving Day holiday (University closed through Nov. 27)

NOV. 30

Education Council meeting
6 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Theresa Vernetson, 2-4519, ext. 400

DEC. 1

SRC Reading Council meeting
8 a.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Jennifer Stephenson, 222-4494

DEC. 2

SRC Reading Council meeting
8 a.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Jennifer Stephenson, 222-4494

DEC. 7

Fall Semester ends

Counselor Education Student-Faculty Holiday party
8 a.m., Terrace Room

USECA meeting
4 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Marianela Venturina, (786) 512-5184

Education Council meeting
6 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Theresa Vernetson, 2-4519, ext. 400

DEC. 8

Student Services Internship Orientation
9 a.m., Terrace Room
Contact: DeeAnn Horner, 2-0721, ext. 400

Kappa Delta Pi meeting
6:30 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Angela Drumm, 336-6707

DEC. 9

Holiday Luncheon (for retired and current faculty and staff)
11 a.m., Savannah Grande Reception Hall, 301 N. Main St., Gainesville
Contact: Mary McDonough, 2-0728, ext. 226

CROP (College Reach Out Program) meeting
3:30 p.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Jacques Clervil, 2-9196, ext. 27

DEC. 10

Florida Seminar for Teaching on Asia
9 a.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Monica, 2-2464

DEC. 14

Staff Council meeting
8:30 a.m., Terrace Room
Contact: Sabrina McLaughlin, 2-0726, ext. 262

DEC. 17

Commencement (for undergraduate and graduate students)
2 p.m., Stephen C. O’Connell Center

DEC. 26

Christmas Day holiday (University closed through Jan. 1; spring semester begins Jan. 9)

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WEB WATCH

Click on the college Web site front page at education.ufl.edu and you’ll also find these news stories about College activities and faculty-staff honors and appointments:

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QUICK LINKS

UF:  www.ufl.edu
College of Education:  education.ufl.edu
coE-News: Publications
Education Times magazine: Publications

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coE-News is produced by:
College of Education, University of Florida
Dean’s Office/News & Publications
Dean: Catherine Emihovich
Director, Managing Editor: Larry Lansford (llansford@coe.ufl.edu
Editor: Joy L. Rodgers (jrodgers@coe.ufl.edu

Writers:
Larry Lansford
Joy L. Rodgers
Chan Tran, student-writer intern (ctran@ufl.edu)

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