‘Profile 2010’ outreach events spawn red letter days for blue-ribbon stakeholders
Posted Nov. 9, 2010
More than 150 College of Education supporters from around the state converged upon Gainesville’s UF Hilton Conference Center recently for Profile 2010, a two-day series of outreach events where participants recognized some of the college’s stellar programs and people, and strategized on key initiatives addressing the most critical issues and needs of the day in education.
Celebration of Master Teachers
The college’s Lastinger Center for Learning hosted an evening “Celebration of Master Teachers” on Nov. 3, showcasing the center’s prototype Florida Master Teachers Program. About 90 supporters and peer educators from the college and partnering Florida school districts heard testimonials from educators who have benefitted from the program, which provides tuition-free, on-the-job advanced degree programs for teachers at partnering high-needs schools.
Guests also were treated to a sneak preview of a Lastinger Center-produced documentary, “Discovering Gloria,” a profile of the late Gloria Merriex, a master teacher at Duval Elementary School (a UF-partnering school in Gainesville) who died suddenly in 2008 at age 58. Merriex had a profound impact on her students merging music, movement and math to help them master mathematics and dramatically raise their FCAT exam scores. The unfinished documentary, still in production, is written, directed and produced by Boaz Dvir, the center’s creative services coordinator. About a dozen of Gloria’s family members, representing four generations, were on hand and several took the stage and sang some rousing gospel-style tunes for the appreciative audience.
Faculty Research and Engaged Scholarship Showcase
Another 85 COE faculty, graduate students, donors and friends attended the third annual FRESS luncheon on the following day, Nov. 4, mingling with some of the college’s top researchers and discussing their research posters on display. Associate Dean Tom Dana also recognized the college and community recipients of this year’s COE Scholarship of Engagement Awards. (Pictured: Dana, right, and STL Director Buffy Bondy, left, present Faculty SOE Award to Tim Jacobbe.) The awards reflect the college’s commitment to academic activities and research that address the most critical concerns of contemporary education and society. For a complete listing of award recipients and summaries of their winning entries, click here.
Conversation with Critical Friends
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wing the FRESS luncheon, about 26 invited alumni, faculty and education leaders from around the state participated in a panel discussion and breakout sessions. The group discussed the college’s core initiatives–such as whole-school improvement and early childhood studies–and strategized on other ways the college can address Florida’s educational reform effort and communicate its accomplishments and needs to key stakeholders.
Associate Dean Dana facilitated the event and the panel members were: Will Holcombe (MEd ’72, PhD ’74, educational leadership), chancellor of Florida’s state college system (pictured right); Pinellas County first-grade teacher Shaunte Duggins (MEd ’10), a recent graduate of UF’s Master Teacher Initiative; Stacy Carlson, vice president of the Helios Educational Foundation of Tampa and a doctoral candidate in UF’s educational leadership program; and Rob Ovalle (EdS ’10), director of elementary education for Pinellas County Schools and also a recent graduate of UF’s Master Teacher degree program.
MORE ‘PROFILE 2010’ PHOTOS:
LEFT, panel members Shaunte Duggins and Stacy Carlson; CENTER, faculty researcher Troy Sadler explains his research poster to guest at FRESS luncheon; RIGHT, Participant Rob Gidel raises a point in Conversation with Critical Friends.
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