coE-News: January 25, 2011, Vol. 6, No. 2
Dean’s Message
New year sparks optimism, call for action
Happy New Year! Despite all the problems and challenges facing our state and nation, it’s difficult not to feel a burst of optimism at the beginning of a new year. Catherine Emihovich explains why in her January Dean’s Message. (more)
Headlines
$1 million endowment will boost teaching of children with special needs
A mother’s memory of her late daughter, whose passion was teaching children with special needs, will live on and support students seeking advanced degrees in special education at the University of Florida, thanks to the provisions made in her estate. (more)
Q&A: Lastinger Center’s Don Pemberton shares his experience as member of Gov. Scott’s education transition team
The 18 members of Gov. Rick Scott’s elite education transition team–including UF Lastinger Center director Don Pemberton–took Scott’s campaign slogan, “Let’s get to work,” to heart during an intense, three-week effort to help the governor craft his agenda for Florida’s education system. Pemberton shares his experiences in this nine-question Q&A with coE-News editor Larry Lansford. (more)
Visit the college home page for links to these and other reports about College activities, accomplishments and faculty-staff-student-alumni news and achievements.
College News & Notices
Orlando EduGators to gather Jan. 29 for keynote address, alumni reception
UF education alumni in the Orange County area who have a vested interest in shaping the workplace of tomorrow—in education or the corporate world—are invited to a free presentation and College of Education reception Jan. 29 at the Hilton Walt Disney World. Keynote speaker will be Jeanne Meister, co-author of The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative Companies Attract, Develop and Keep Tomorrow’s Employees Today (Harper Collins, 2010). (more)
Teacher preparation innovations featured in national education blog
The innovative practices of UF’s teacher education program were showcased Jan. 21 in edutopia, the national blogging site of The George Lucas Educational Foundation. In a piece titled “Innovations in Teacher Prep Programs,” blogger Anne OBrien, deputy director of the Learning First Alliance, described UF’s program as a national model for “grounding the pre-service teacher experience in clinical practice.” OBrien cited UF’s Bright Futures mentoring program, which pairs UF elementary ed students with schoolchildren from public housing neighborhoods, and another program exposing preservice teachers to classroom experiences with students who speak English as a second language.
Awards & Appointments
Students
Ed tech student is national essay finalist
Julia Carpenter, an EdD candidate in education technology, has received a Delta Epsilon Iota Literary Honor medallion as a finalist in DEI’s scholarship essay contest on “How to Study Like an Honor Student.” Her essay will be published in a national DEI publication and advances to the final round of judging to compete for the Literary Circle of Honor Scholarship. DEI is a national academic honor society.
LEAD student snares internship for White House initiative
Karina Menendez, a member of the EdD executive cohort for the college’s K-12 LEAD (Leadership in Educational Administration Doctorate) program, has accepted a summer internship for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. While pursuing her LEAD coursework, Menendez works as an English teacher at Southwest Miami Senior High School. She drives to UF from Miami weekly to participate in Saturday, on-campus LEAD meetings.
Alumni & Friends
UF selects double EduGator, N.C. governor Bev Perdue, for distinguished alumnus honor
It’s a long way from UF’s Norman Hall to the North Carolina governor’s mansion, but that’s the path that ‘double EduGator’ Beverly Perdue has traveled. The current governor of the Tar Heel State, who has two advanced degrees from the College of Education, was recently selected to receive UF’s 2010-11 Distinguished Alumnus Award. (more)
ESOL/bilingual graduate named state’s community college professor of year
UF education alumnus James May (MEd ’99, EdD ’07, ESOL/bilingual ed), a professor at Valencia Community College, has been named the 2010 Professor of the Year by the Florida Association of Community Colleges. He teaches English as a second language at Valencia’s east campus. At UF, Candace Harper was May’s faculty advisor and Colleen Swain Packer and David Miller also were on his committee. (more)
P.K. Yonge Update
Lab school earns ‘A’ grade for 9th year in a row
The Florida Department of Education has awarded P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School an A grade for the ninth straight year. School grades in the past have been based solely on student FCAT scores and achievement grades. This year, standardized test results count for just half of the grade. The other half factors in the school’s graduation rate and student performance and participation in rigorous courses such as International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement, and overall college preparedness.
P.K. Yonge, COE collaborate to transform science ed through technology
Science educators at P.K. Yonge DRS and the College of Education are collaborating to develop a transformational, technology-enhanced model science program to dramatically boost student interest and achievement in science in the fourth through 12th grades. The effort, led by UF science education professor Rose Pringle (pictured right, in PKY science classroom) and PKY research director Lynda Hayes, is supported by a grant worth more than $212,000 from the Florida Department of Education. PKY science instructors will undergo training to become “teachers as facilitators” of student engagement in scientific practices. The new program will serve as a model science program and classroom demonstration site for schools throughout the state. It’s all part of Florida’s effort to strengthen education in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines in order to meet Florida’s future workforce demands in the global innovation economy.
Middle school literary magazine garners national honors
“Making Waves,” P.K. Yonge’s middle school literary magazine, recently received First Place With Special Merit honors in the American Scholastic Press Association’s national competition and also was selected as the Nation’s Outstanding Middle School Magazine of the Year. Student editors are Corina McBride and Rafaela Pelegrina; Carolyn Harrell is the faculty adviser. The magazine previously received gold medals from Columbia Scholastic Press Association and a Superior rating from the National Council of Teachers of English.
Faculty Honors
Blue Wave mathematics instructor Jim Bice was voted PKY’s 2011 Teacher of the Year. Bice (pictured right) teaches trigonometry, analytic geometry, math analysis and advanced topics in math . . . Along with several former athletes, three current Blue Wave coaches and faculty were inducted this month into the Blue Wave Sports Hall of Fame: Current coaches Willie Powers (girls basketball) and Brian Simmons (baseball) were inducted as players, and former longtime football coach and athletic director John Clifford was tapped for his contributions as a coach.
‘Hairspray’ tickets now on sale
Advance tickets for “Hairspray,” the upcoming spring hit musical staged by the PKY performing arts program, are now on sale. Evening shows at the school’s Performing Arts Center are scheduled for March 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26, with afternoon performances at 2 p.m. on March 20, 26 and 27. Ticket information is available on the PAC website or by phone at the PAC box office at 352-392-1850. Order now while seats are still available!
HS Thespians take Critic’s Choice at districts
PKY’s High School Thespian Troupe won the Critic’s Choice award at the recent District 2 One-Act Festival. P.K. Yonge was one of only three district schools at the competition chosen to perform their play, Twitch, in March at the Florida Thespian Festival in Tampa, the world’s largest theatre festival. PKY is the only Gainesville school chosen for the festival for the past two years.
