Two UF faculty are brining Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools, new national summer reading program for kindergarten through eighth graders, to Alachua County.
Associate Professor of educational technology Maya Israel is committed to fostering success for all learners by increasing equity, improving access and expanding inclusion in STEM.
The College of Education congratulates Dr. Maria Leite, coordinator of College Assessment and Diversity Initiatives, who was recently awarded the esteemed University of Florida J. Michael Rollo Diversity Impact Award. This award recognizes a UF staff member who exemplifies the values of diversity and inclusive excellence by actively contributing to and supporting multiple communities across campus.
Global businesswoman, philanthropist and College of Education alumna (B.A.E. ’72) Anita Zucker was recently honored with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education.
The University of Florida is spearheading the search for solutions to society’s most ever-present challenges through its latest initiative.
The UF College of Education jumped five spots in the US News annual rankings of America’s Best Graduate Education Schools–placing 14th among public education colleges and 24th overall. Once again, that makes UF the top-ranked education college in the state and among public institutions in the Southeast.
A University of Florida team of psychology and education researchers has received a $1 million federal grant to pilot-test novel training methods designed to advance the skills and effectiveness of school resource officers in mediating school crimes and student violence and promoting a strong sense of community among students and school staff.
PSU professor and filmmaker discovers transformative teacher Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.) Aug. 27, 2017 When Duval Elementary School in East Gainesville received an “F” on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in 2002, shock waves jolted the administration, which faced cuts in state funding. That’s when long-time teacher Gloria Jean Merriex radically changed her approach. […]
Shon Smith, clinical assistant professor in the UF Counselor Education program, garnered headlines recently for receiving national attention for two major achievements involving separate divisions of the American Counseling Association
In this op-ed, Cody Miller, an English teacher at PK Yonge Developmental Research School and a doctoral student in English education at the College of Education, writes that this summer’s biggest political fight — health care — is also an education issue.
UF, technology company partner to help train teachers
Independent Florida Alligator
Jan. 9, 2017
The newspaper wrote about the Lastinger Center for Learning’s partnership with an education technology firm to improve how educators teach at under-achieving schools in Colorado.
Norman Hall renovations to begin during Spring semester
The Independent Florida Alligator
Dec. 6, 2016
Glenn Good, the dean of the UF College of Education, says Old Norman Hall’s estimated $30 million renovations are expected to start late spring and after a timeline and plan is approved the building’s most pressing issues will be addressed at the start of the two-year project.
UF trains professional coaches to benefit teachers — just like great athletes
Orlando Sentinel
Dec. 6, 2016
To tap into the transformative power of coaching, leaders in districts and schools need to make instructional coaching an important part of their overall strategy for school improvement, writes Don Pemberton, director of the Lastinger Center for Learning, in a guest column that appeared on the editorial page of the Orlando daily.
S.C. students could get a math boost from Algebra Nation online program
The Post and Courier (Charleston, S.C.)
Dec. 5, 2016
State and local education officials have been in talks to bring a website and smartphone app called Algebra Nation to public school students. A product of the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning, the program has shown promising results after being rolled out to every school district in Florida.
Students with disabilities bullied more than others, reports national study
The Columbia (Mo.) Missourian
Nov. 29, 2016
Students with disabilities are more often the victims and perpetrators of bullying in schools than students without disabilities, according to a new study co-authored by Nicholas Gage, assistant professor of special education at the UF College of Education.
Athletes have coaches, why not teachers?
WUFT-TV (Gainesville)
Oct. 27, 2016
Associate Director of Teaching and Learning Alyson Adams and professor emerita Dorene Ross were quoted on camera about a story on the value of teacher coaching to improve student success. The story comes after the release of a report, “Coaching for Impact: Six Pillars to Create Coaching Roles that Achieve Their Potential to Improve Teaching and Learning,” codeveloped by the Lastinger Center for Learning.
Updates to three classrooms are changing the way future educators are learning
The Independent Florida Alligator
Oct. 27, 2016
Norman Hall classrooms were updated with more than $30,000 in donations. Dean Glenn Good is quoted: “We aspire to be a top-three college of education. We’re hoping that renovated spaces will allow us to do even greater work.”
College of Education to study emotional disorders in children
The Independent Florida Alligator
Sept. 28, 2016
UF scholars Ann Daunic and Stephen Smith, and elementary education senior Rachel Johnson were quoted in a story about a $3.5 million federal grant to fund a UF College of Education project to research a new curriculum designed to help kindergarten and first-grade students learn about and express their emotions.
Youth In The Juvenile Justice Program To Clean Up Duval Park
WUFT.org
Sept. 14, 2016
UF College of Education Associate Professor Joe Gagnon weighed in on the City of Gainesville’s new partnership with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in which youth held in juvenile detention will work to enhance a city park. Gagnon, who specializes in researching the needs of youth who are incarcerated or in treatment facilities, was quoted in a story by WUFT.org saying the partnership “is a great idea, but if you’re really looking to impact these kids—give them an education and give them mental health services.”
UF College of Education Makes Top 10 List
USA Today
Sept. 11, 2016
In its Sunday edition, The Gainesville Sun published news about the University of Florida College of Education being rated No. 9 among the nation’s best undergraduate teacher education colleges, according to a ranking published by USA Today.
UF gets $10 million to personalize math
The Gainesville Sun
July 4, 2016
The Sun wrote about UF receiving two U.S. Department of Education grants to support Precision Education: Virtual Learning Lab, which brings together teaching experts to explore massive sets of student data to update and personalize virtual instruction.
P.K. Yonge instructor recognized for research, teaching
The Gainesville Sun
June 10, 2016
The Sun wrote about Ross Van Boven, a sixth- and seventh-grade learning community leader at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, who received the 2015 Teacher as Researcher Award from the American Educational Research Association.
Gainesville Sun: P.K. Yonge teacher uses various methods to help students learn
The Gainesville Sun
April 25, 2016
P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School teacher Jon Mundorf, who received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the College of Education, says if a classroom doesn’t feel good, it’s hard to learn in it. Mundorf’s approach is to create a learning environment that is easily accessible for all students.
Guest Column: Updates from the Student Body president
The Independent Florida Alligator
March 30, 2016
UF Student Body President Joselin Padron-Rasines wrote about the hard work and success in bringing much-needed funding to renovate the college’s historic Norman Hall. Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently agreed to $14.1 million in initial funding for the renovation of the home of the College of Education.
College of Education teaches students to read with music
Independent Florida Alligator
March 15, 2016
The student-run newspaper wrote about the $400,000 grant the Lastinger Center for Learning received to help elementary students learn through its Winning Reading Boost program. Shaunté Duggins, an early literacy and teacher development consultant for the Lastinger Center, said students in the program remember more information when rap, contemporary, jazz and other types of music are used.
The Conversation and The Huffington Post
What do special educators need to succeed?
March 11, 2016
Two recent graduates of the College of Education’s top-rated special education program say schools need to provide far more support to combat the high turnover of teachers and ensure that students with disabilities are served by qualified and skilled special educators. Elizabeth Bettini and Kristin Murphy, graduates of COE’s doctorate program in special education and now assistant professors at universities in the Boston area, cited their work with Drs. Mary Brownell and Maureen Conroy of the COE on a study of data that found special ed. teachers were more likely to be emotionally exhausted, and more likely to plan to leave the profession.
Legislators earmark $400,000 for reading program at struggling schools in St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Times
March 11, 2016
Florida legislators approved spending nearly $400,000 for a new intensive reading improvement program developed by the College of Education’s Lastinger Center for Learning to help struggling students. Five failing elementary schools are targeted for the reading program. The paper cited College of Education sources Don Pemberton, director of the Lastinger Director, and Holly Lane, associate professor.
UF College of Education launches website redesign
Independent Florida Alligator
March 8, 2016
The student-run newspaper quoted Associate Dean Tom Dana, who said the revamped website is more student-focused and targets recruiting students. Jason Arnold, associate director of e-learning, technology and creative services, and Kendall Messersmith, a UF elementary education junior, also are quoted.
UF College of Education begins new fellowship program, 40 teachers selected
Independent Florida Alligator
Feb. 24, 2016
The student-run newspaper picked up the story on the College of Education Lastinger Center for Learning’s selection of 40 public school teachers for a new Florida Teacher Leader Fellows program. The story quoted Rebekah Cordova, the professional development coordinator for the program.
Diverse student populations are in the classroom
NEA Today For Future Educators
Feb. 22, 2016
Ester de Jong, director of the School of Teaching and Learning, and COE graduate Kali Davis were quoted in the National Education Association’s Winter 2016 cover story on how public schools are more diverse and how passion and preparation are helping educators teach. At UF, “our goal,” says
de Jong, “is to prepare our students to be sensitive to work with all students and to recognize their differences. We want them to be eager and able to teach
in the schools where students need them the most.” Davis, a teacher at Melrose Elementary, earned a bachelor’s from UF’s College of Education in elementary education in 2008 and a master’s in special education in 2009. She spoke of the importance of her immersing herself in high poverty neighborhoods to give underserved students a great education.
iDigFossils receives $1.2 million, will donate 3-D printers to children
The independent Florida Alligator
Feb. 16, 2016
UF Associate Professor Pavlo “Pasha” Antonenko’s “iDigFossils” project includes giving students in Florida and California 3-D scanners and printers, the Florida Alligator reported. Antonenko’s project was awarded almost $1.2 million by the National Science Foundation.
