Expert in School Violence to Speak at Emporia State
Five in 2016 so far, 18 in 2015, 36 in 2014 — in total, more than 100 incidents have occurred in the U.S. in the last 10 years involving guns, students and schools. Some of these were suicides, some were mass shootings, some were the result of arguments — all affected the schools, educators, and surviving students.
How can events like this happen? What can prevent them from happening? What systems need to be in place should such a thing happen at your school?
Dr. Scott Poland, an internationally recognized expert on school crisis and youth suicide, will give The Teachers College annual lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, March 21, addressing these issues. The event will be in Emporia State’s Webb Hall in the Memorial Union; the talk is free and open to the public. Learn more…
STEM Grant to Benefit Fredonia, Altoona, Neodesha Schools
A project to assist rural schools with science, technology and math instruction backed by Emporia State faculty recently received a nearly $200,000 grant.
The project, called FAN – STEM 1 (Fredonia, Altoona-Midway, Neodesha-Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-Initiative), will provide funding to improve the math and science instruction of elementary teachers working in high-need areas of Kansas.
The $194,820 the grant provides will be used for 19 months – from mid-February 2016 until September 2017. The money comes from a No Child Left Behind Improving Teacher Quality competitive grant. The project will target the needs of three districts to improve K-6 grade level teacher quality in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while providing an enhanced integrated curriculum for their classrooms. Learn more…
IDT Program at Emporia State Recognized Among the Best
The Instructional Design and Technology program at Emporia State University has been recognized as one of the best online programs of its kind in the nation. The university recently was notified by OnlineColleges.net that the program, housed within The Teachers College, had been ranked 13th of the top 24 universities and colleges offering similar programs.
Emporia State was the only Kansas institution included in the rankings.
“I think it’s a recognition of the quality program we’ve had over the last 20 years,” said Dr. Zeni Colorado, associate professor and chair of the department.
Emporia State’s program is unique in the state, she said. Others offer some components of the program, but none are as comprehensive. Learn more…
Educational Administration Program at Emporia State named in Top 20
The Department of School Leadership/Middle and Secondary Teacher Education at Emporia State University was recently recognized as one of the best online programs of its kind in the nation.
OnlineSchoolsCenter.com notified Emporia State’s educational administration master’s program, housed within The Teachers College, the program had made their list of the Top 20 Online Master’s of Educational Administration Degree Programs.
“This recognition pays tribute to numerous dedicated ESU educational administration faculty who have created a high-quality and flexible course of study preparing outstanding principals and instructional leaders for tomorrow’s schools,” said Dr. Dan Stiffler, chair of the Department of School Leadership/Middle & Secondary Teacher Education at Emporia State. Learn more…
University Celebrates Legacy of Dr. Marge Stone
Current and retired faculty members of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation took part in the bell-ringing ceremony honoring Dr. Marge Stone.
A charter member of the National Association of Physical Educators in Higher Education. A recipient of the Division of Girl and Women’s Sports National Pathfinder Award, the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Honor, and the Emporia State University Teachers College Service Award. The first non-ESU alumnus to be inducted into the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Wellness (HPER) Hall of Honor.
These are only a few of the accomplishments highlighting the impact of Stone’s lifetime achievements. Through her work and service, she impacted not just Emporia State but all of society. After Stone passed away in 2015 at age 89, her ultimate gift of more than $500,000 ensured many future Hornets would have the support they need to earn their degrees.
Emporia State celebrated the Marjorie Stone Scholarship gift at a bell-ringing ceremony on February 16, 2016. The scholarship provides renewable scholarships for students who are majoring in physical education and maintain a 3.0 GPA. Learn more about Dr. Stone and view photos from the Marge Stone bell-ringing ceremony.
Wondering if the Kansas Future Teacher Academy is for You or Someone You Know?
Read the insight a 2015 KFTA attendee had:
"I recently received the letter that I wrote to myself this summer at the Kansas Future Teacher Academy and one thing that I told myself to do was send you an email. I don't remember exactly what I intended to discuss with you when I wrote that down, but I do want to drop you a line. I am a high school senior this year and I have been accepted to ESU for the fall semester. I am very excited to move forward with the next phase of my education career.
I also wanted to let you know that I will be pursuing a career in Special Education. I spend my afternoons volunteering at our local elementary school and I have experienced firsthand what it is like to work with the special needs students. Just six months ago I would not have guessed that I wanted to work in Special Education. I have volunteered during the afternoon since my sophomore year and I was certain that I would end up in the classroom. And while I am still open to the idea of working in the regular classroom, my experiences this year have caused me to believe that my time and talents would be better spent working with those students.
I want to thank you for taking time this last summer to work with us during that week at Emporia State. I had a wonderful time and it helped cement my desire to spend the rest of my life impacting the lives of children.
Thank you, Garrett Tatro
High school students interested in exploring what careers a degree in education can lead to need to have their applications for the Kansas Future Teacher Academy postmarked by April 8. Learn more…
College Notes
Emporia State Employees Service to be Recognized
On April 4, Emporia State will hold its annual service awards ceremony. Members of The Teachers College to be recognized for their service to the university include:
10 years of service –
- Ricci Balkenhol, Center for Early Childhood Education
- Dr. Gaelynn Wolf Bordonaro, Department of Counselor Education
- Dr. Edwin Church, Department of School Leadership/Middle and Secondary Teacher Education
- Dr. Kelly O'Neal-Hixson, Department of Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Special Education
- Norma Hodges, Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
- Dr. Neal Luo, Department of School Leadership/Middle and Secondary Teacher Education
- Diane Mangus, Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
- Dr. Melissa Reed, Department of Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Special Education
- William Sailors, Jones Institute for Educational Excellence
- Amy Townsend, Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
Dr. Ken Weaver, dean of The Teachers College, co-wrote an opinion piece with Dr. Debbie Mercer, dean of the College of Education at Kansas State University. The letter cites the historical connections of the two schools preparing Kansas’ first teachers as a reason to celebrate the long history of lawmakers’ vision and investment in the public school system and the collective recognition of the value of education. To read the letter, click here.
The number of Professional Development Schools Emporia State’s elementary education program works with is expanding. Faculty have worked with public school teachers and administrators in the Gardner-Edgerton and Maize school districts to create new Professional Development School partnerships that will begin in August 2016. Emporia State elementary interns will be working at Grand Star Elementary and Wheatridge Middle Schools in Gardner and Maize South and Vermillion Elementary Schools in Maize.
Emporia State’s Art Therapy program faculty recently announced the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) will hold its 50th Annual Conference in 2019 in Kansas City. Kansas is rich with the history of Art Therapy. The first elected president of the AATA was Robert Ault, founder of Emporia State’s Art Therapy program in 1973. The Emporia State University Graduate Art Therapy Program is one of the oldest art therapy graduate training programs not just in the nation, but in the world. Dr. Gaelynn P. Wolf Bordonaro, associate professor and director of the program, is on the AATA Board of Directors. Jessica Stallings, associate professor, is the current president of the Kansas Art Therapy Association (KATA). Libby Schmanke, art therapy faculty and internship coordinator serves on the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) Certification Exam Committee.
Student Notes
Two of Emporia State's Teachers College students were recognized as Teachers of Promise at the 2016 Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) Conference sponsored by Kansas Department of Education. Joshua Meigs and Rachael Werth received their awards February 16 from KSDE officials.
Health Promotion Student Presents Research at the Capitol
Luke Olsen of St. Mary's, a senior in health promotion, was among the five Emporia State undergraduate students who presented research posters at the state Capitol on February 18 for the annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. The event is intended to inform legislators and the public about the quality of research being conducted by undergraduate students and the benefits to the state from this research. See photos…
Gifted Students Shadow Legislators
From l-r: Kelly Reynolds, KGTC President & ESU Gifted program alumnus; Connie Phelps, KGTC Historian, ESU Faculty & ESU Gifted program alumna; Christine Steinkuehler, KGTC Legislative Day co-organizer & ESU Gifted program graduate student; Jasmine Puderbaugh, KGTC Legislative Day co-organizer & Gifted Program alumna
The 2016 Kansas Association for Gifted, Talented and Creative (KGTC) Legislative Day was held March 9 in Topeka. The event was for gifted students in grades 8-12 and was sponsored by Kansas Association for Gifted, Talented and Creative. KGTC paired up gifted students in grades 8-12 with various legislators and associated meetings throughout the day. Christine Steinkuehler, graduate student in Emporia State’s gifted education program, and Jasmine Puderbaugh (BSE '10 – English, MS ‘11 – Special Education) organized the event. On March 8 Kim Curtis, gifted facilitator in Salina Public Schools, served on the KSDE Gifted Standards for Educators revision team with Dr. Connie Phelps (MS '02 – Special Education), Emporia State's gifted program director. Kelly Reynolds (MS '01 – Special Education), gifted facilitator in Kansas City Public Schools, serves as President of the Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented and Creative.
Nicole Kamradt was named the Secondary Education Student of the Month in February. She is studying art education.
Michael O’Gorman, a senior in physics education, was named the Secondary Education Student of the Month in March.
Ali Lee was named the Athletic Training Student of the Month in February.
BriAnna Salas, psychology major, was recently hired as an intern with College Works Painting, an organization that trains undergraduates on how to manage their own house-painting business.
Scholarship Available
Emporia Charter Chapter of American Business Women's Association Scholarship Applications for the American Business Women's Association Scholarship are now available.
To be eligible a student must be a full time student, maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and be a resident of Lyon, Chase, Greenwood, Osage, Morris, or Coffey counties.
Applications are available in the Office of Financial Aid, Scholarships, & Veterans Services, Plumb Hall Room 103. The deadline is 5pm on Friday, April 15, 2016. Contact Financial Aid (finaid@emporia.edu) for more information, 800-896-0567.
Spring Teacher Career Fair
Nearly 100 school districts/educational organizations were looking for Emporia State prepared educators at the Teacher Career Fair at Emporia State on March 9. Nearly 80 USDs from across Kansas were represented, along with schools from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington.
Alumni News
The second grade classroom of Shane Heiman (BSE '06 – Elementary Education) is featured in Chevrolet's #DayItForward campaign. Heiman teaches in the Lawrence school district. To watch the video, click here.
Horizon Award Winners
Each year KSDE recognizes outstanding first year teachers with the Horizon Teaching Award. This year’s 32 winners included seven graduates of Emporia State’s teacher education programs. They were on campus March 4 to be recognized for their achievement; they are identified below in order of how they appear in the photo.
- Manuel Estrada Espinoza (BSE '13 – Elementary Education) of Walnut Elementary in Emporia
- Tiffany Lippoldt (BSE '12 – Health Education, MS '14 – Health, Physical Education, & Recreation) of Skelly Elementary School in El Dorado
- Alissa Miller (BSE '14 – Elementary Education) of Emporia Middle School
- Sarah Johnson (BSE '13 – Elementary Education) of Baldwin Junior High School
- Jenny Waugh (BSE '14 – Elementary Education) of Circle, Oil Hill Elementary School in El Dorado
- Jocelyn Cummings (BSE '13 – Mathematics) of Mission Trail Middle School in Olathe
- Madison Hunter (BSE '14 – Math Education) of Galesburg Middle School
More Awards for Alumni
Amanda Schaefer (BSE '07 – Social Sciences Education, MAT '10 – Social Studies Education), a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Emporia Middle School, received a $2,000 Hopkins award. She also received $1,000 to spend on something to benefit a specific school or district program. Learn more...
Danielle DeVore (BSE '15 – Social Sciences Education) recently received a $500 award from the Kansas National Education Association.
2016 Distinguished Alumni Announced
Five Kansans will receive the 2016 Distinguished Alumni awards from the Emporia State University Alumni Association at Homecoming activities in October during the Black and Gold Dinner on Oct. 14, 2016. Three of the alumni are graduates of programs within The Teachers College, they are Dr. Ronald “Ron” H. Fredrickson (BSE ‘53 – Social Sciences), Osage City; Shirley Johannsen (BSE ‘64 – Elementary Education), Topeka; and Herman Jones (BS ‘91 – Psychology), Berryton. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor granted by the Alumni Association to a degree-bearing alumnus or alumna of the university. Since the program began in 1960, more than 200 alumni have received the award, which recognizes outstanding professional accomplishments of Emporia State’s exceptional graduates. Learn more…
University Service Citation Honorees Named
Four dedicated Emporia State University supporters will be honored during the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon in June for their ongoing service to the university. Recipients this year will be Virginia H. “Ginny” (Bundy) Higgins (BSE ‘62 – Speech, MS ‘69 – Speech) of Topeka; Dr. Loren Pennington of Emporia; John T. Staton (BSE ‘60 – Elementary Education, MS ‘64 – Educational Administration) of Auburn, Ala.; and Marion S’Lee (Choate) Stuart (BSE ‘47 – Art, MS ‘66 – Art) of Clay Center. The awards, which began in 1980, are presented by the Alumni Association to recognize unique and significant service to the university. Learn more…
Alumni, Faculty Judge Science Fair
Dr. Lendi Bland (BSE ’83 – Elementary Education, MS ’97 – Curriculum and Instruction), instructor of elementary education undergraduate and graduate courses at Emporia State, along with Emporia State alumni Arlene Clark (BSE ’81 – Elementary Education) and Donna Tranter (BSE ’84 – Elementary Education), judged 70 fourth, fifth, and sixth grade science fair entries at Mission Valley Elementary School, Eskridge, on February 3. Fifth grade teacher Luke Bryan (BSE ’14 – Elementary Education) directed and organized the science fair.
Alumni Notes
Charles F. Malone (BSE ’50 – Elementary Education), Phoenix, AZ – whose accomplishments include two years teaching, 15 years as a principal, 25 years as a professor at Arizona State University, authoring three textbooks, raising four children who would later become teachers, and winning national and world championships in handball – credits Emporia State in no small part for what he calls "a great life" and would like to offer his best to the class of 1950.
Darrell Thrasher (BS ’58 – Social Sciences, MS ’69 – Sociology), Wilson, celebrated his 80th birthday March 6. He began his teaching career in 1958 in Wilson and taught nearly every subject in his 54 years as an educator. He retired in 2014 having taught 50 years at Wilson and four years at Harper. He continues to coach junior high sports.
Jon C. Bingesser (MS ’65 – Educational Administration), Beloit, was recently recognized for a lifetime of achievements in athletics by being a 2016 inductee into the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Hall of Fame.
Denise L. Scribner (BSE ’75 – Physical Education), Wichita, was named the 2015 Kansas Wildlife Federation's Conservation Educator of the Year.
Corey B. Reese (BSE ’94 – Physical Education, MS ’01 – Educational Administration), Clyde, recently became superintendent at Lebo-Waverly USD 243; previously he was a superintendent at Clifton-Clyde USD 224.
Tristen V. (Scheve) Wendland (BS ’95 – Recreation, MS ’00 – Counselor Education), Summerfield, FL, was recently named the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Counselor of the Year. This is the second time she has won the award in her 15 years working with the VA.
Kyle Hayden (MS ’01 – Educational Administration), Lawrence, was recently named the next superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools. He has served as the assistant superintendent of business and operations for USD 497 for the past five years. Previously he worked for Tonganoxie USD 464 and served as a principal and assistant principal at several secondary schools in Kansas and Texas.
Jim N. Howard (MS ’08 – Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration), Fort Scott, was recently selected as a 2015-16 Exemplary Middle School Principal of the Year by the Kansas Association of Middle School Administrators.
Taylor L. (Relph) Kriley (BFA ’09 – Communication and Public Relations, MS ’11 – School Counseling), Emporia, recently became the senior director for the Center for Student Involvement at Emporia State.
Adam C. Heerey (MS ’10 – Mental Health Counseling), Marion, now provides private mental health services in Marion at St. Luke Hospital as an outreach provider.
Randy Stierwalt (MS ’12 – Educational Administration), Neodesha, was recently named Educator of the Year in USD 461. He has been a science teacher at Neodesha High School since 2008. Previously he taught at Altoona Midway and Hartford High Schools.
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