Dr. Abigail Hasberry (pictured above with Drs. Christine Clark and William Speer) was selected by UNLV President Neal Smatresk as one of UNLV's outstanding graduates. Dr. Hasberry is graduating this spring semester with her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction. She will be honored during the Spring 2013 Commencement that will was held on Sunday May 19, 2013.

Title: Increasing Dental Student Diversity Through the UNLV Dental Prospects Program
Journal: Journal of Dental Education
Abstract: Adequately providing for the health care of the growing minority population in the United States requires increased racial and ethnic diversity of the health care workforce. Long-term diversity in the dental profession depends on a more diverse student population in dental schools. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine’s (UNLV SDM) Dental Prospects Club is a pre-dental education program that has increased the number of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged students in the school by concentrating on outreach, recruitment, and retention initiatives. The approaches used by the club members and faculty advisors to increase the number of underrepresented minority students recruited to and enrolled in the UNLV SDM are discussed in this report. Also described are the strategies, methods, internal infrastructure, and organizational support used to increase the number of underrepresented minority students at the school.

Dr. Clifford R. McClain and Ms. Cynthia Kimball, ABD will be presenting Friday April 12th at the Annual ACTE Region V Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. Their presentation is entitled, "Create your Cultural Foundation: If You Build It They Will Come!" They will provide an in-depth discussion of how all organizations (including classrooms/schools) have their own culture, and how culture affects the attitudes and behaviors of the group and its members.

Dr. Christine Clark, a professor of Multicultural Education in the department, was interviewed as a part of a recent article on on diversity in higher education. The article was included as an insert within both the March 8, 2013 edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education and the February 28, 2103 edition of Diverse Issues.

In addition, Dr. Clark recently received the UNLV Graduate & Professional Student Association Outstanding Mentor Award.

Congratulations Dr. Clark.

The Department of Teaching & Learning would like to congratulate Dr. Jane McCarthy for receiving the Distinguished Member of the Association of Teacher Educators Award at The Association of Teacher Educators 2013 Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

According to The Association of Teacher Educators website: the Distinguished Member of the Association of Teacher Educators Award exemplifies the best of teacher education in this nation, which includes, outstanding contributions to the Association; outstanding contributions to teacher education; and professional, academic, and ethical standards.

Congratulations Dr. McCarthy.

The Spring 2013 semester's Analysis of Student Work workshops, for those students enrolled in Practicum 1, will take place on:

• EDSC 311 Secondary Students: Workshop is on Feb. 27 at 8 am in BDC 112
• EDEL 311 Elementary Students: Workshop is on Feb. 27 at 10 am in BDC 112

Undergraduate students: In order to apply to take EDEL 313 Elementary Methods Practicum II, or EDSC 313 Secondary Methods Practicum II, during the Fall 2013 semester you must make an appointment and meet with your advisor. Contact the College of Education Advising & Field Placement Center at 702-895-1537, or through email at education.advising@unlv.edu, to set up your appointment.

This notice does not apply to Graduate Licensure Program students.

Our doctoral graduate from Teacher Education Ph.D. Program, Lori Fulton, wins The 2013 NARST Outstanding Doctoral Research Award (ODRA) for her dissertation titled "Writing in Science: Influences of Professional Development on Teachers" through a competetive selection  process Beliefs, Practices, and Student Performance." The National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) is the most important professional organization in science education. Her committee includes Drs. Bailey, Lin, Crowther (UNR), Putney, and Wang (Chair). Here is the quote about her dissertation from NARST Press Release: January 25th, 2013

Dr. Lori Fulton has won the 2013 NARST Outstanding Doctoral Research Award (ODRA) for her dissertation titled "Writing in Science: Influences of Professional Development on Teachers' Beliefs, Practices, and Student Performance".

This honor indicates that her dissertation (completed at the University of Nevada under the direction of Dr. Jian Wang) has been judged by colleagues in the Selection Committee to have the greatest significance in the field of science education from among all dissertations nominated this year for the award.

Dr. Clifford McClain, Associate Professor and CTPE Program Coordinator, will provide the keynote address at the Utah Association for Career and Technical Education’s Annual Leadership Conference to be held in St. George, Utah February 1st and 2nd, 2013. The theme for this year’s conference will be “CTE-Pay it Forward” and will be attended by nearly 1000 secondary and post-secondary instructors and administrators along with business and industry representatives and supporters.

Dr. McClain’s address, entitled "Career and Technical Education: What's Hope Got To Do With It?" fits right into the conference theme as it addresses how CTE teachers can and do provide hope to every student in their programs as they prepare them for successful careers and their future life beyond school.

Micah Stohlmann, a new faculty member in Mathematics/STEM Education, recently completed and published a children's book titled "The Little Engineer that Could." The story emphasizes the importance of persistence in meeting one's goals.

Dr. Stohlmann was also recently featured in the UNLV News Center.

Nearly 30 educators from the surrounding Las Vegas area along with national colleagues from as far afield as Round Rock, Texas; Conway, Arkansas; and the Tar River area of North Carolina will be gathering on Friday, November 16 on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus for a workshop introducing a newly created digital design curriculum.  Co-hosted by the Southern Nevada Writing Project, the National Writing Project and learning scientists from Indiana University, Vanderbilt University, and the Institute of Play, through support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media and Learning Initiative, the workshop will be a hands-on experience for educators to explore a new set of curriculum materials and activities.  The three-volume curriculum called Understanding Systems: Digital Design for a Complex World will be published by MIT Press in spring 2013.

Contact: Marilyn McKinney, Director, Southern Nevada Writing Project

Phone: (702) 895-3337

Email: marilyn@unlv.nevada.edu

For detail information, please click here.

Doctoral student, Jennifer Crosthwaite, has received the Bonnie Campbell Hill National Literacy Teacher Leader Award presented by the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English.  This award honors an educator who is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of reading and writing in real world contexts. It is named for Bonnie Campbell Hill, a tireless advocate for literacy, who lost her battle with cancer two years ago.  Jennifer will receive $2500 to support her professional development plan related to global interconnectedness and making a difference in the world.  She will also receive $500 in professional books that will be used to engage her colleagues in a book club focused on social change.  Jennifer will be honored during the NCTE conference as a recipient of this competitive and prestigious award. 

Congratulations to Ms. Cynthia Kimball (Doctoral Student and Teaching Assistant in Career & Technical and Postsecondary Education) who was nominated by Cedars-Sinai Women's Heart Center in Los Angeles to attend the WomenHeart's Science & Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, October 5-8.

Shawna Begay, a Native American graduate student has recently completed an internship with Vegas PBS. Begay was asked to produce a short video covering the dropout problem from a Native perspective. Her rough cut video Helping Native Americans Graduate, was sent to the CCSD Equity and Diversity Education Department and was featured on Current.org.    

Dr. Shaoan Zhang of the Department of Teaching & Learning, is a recipient of a Faculty Opportunity Award. Dr. Zhang received the award for his project titled: "A study of teacher identity development through microteaching". The awarded will be funded through the Scholarly and Creative Work category.

The Faculty Opportunity Awards Program is intended to increase innovative research where support is needed for development of research areas where there is potential for continued funding by extramural funding agencies, private foundations, or industry, or modest support is needed to complete scholarly/creative works by faculty in disciplines outside of engineering, physical and natural sciences, and health.

Department of Teaching & Learning Professor Dr. Jane McCarthy was featured on the home page of the Association of Teacher Educators where she delivered the "Distinguished Educator Lecture" at the Association of Teacher Educator's 2012 Annual Event Meeting that was held in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. McCarthy is also featured throughout the conference slideshow.

In the past, Dr. McCarthy has served as the Dean of the College of Education, Department Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Chair of the UNLV Faculty Senate. She has an extensive record of research and publication in the fields of school reform, classroom management, and effective teaching strategies for students in at-risk situations. She has been a faculty member at the University of Houston, Rice University, and a project director at Stanford University before coming to UNLV sixteen years ago. Dr. McCarthy is a member of numerous boards and committees.

Congratulations to Ms. Cynthia Kimball (Doctoral Student and Teaching Assistant in Career & Technical and Postsecondary Education). Cynthia was selected receive a $500 Stipend to attend the Region V Association for Career and Technical Education Conference in Jackson Hole Wyoming in April. She will be presenting, along with Dr. McClain, a workshop entitled, "How to Engage Your CTE Classrooms the Zappos Way: Through Hope-Based Leadership"!

In response to market and student demand, which coincides nicely with President Obama’s new Community College to Career Fund initiative, it is with great excitement that we announce our NEW masters degree programs and our NEW doctoral degree program in the College of Education. These new graduate programs that concentrate on Career & Technical and Postsecondary Education (CTPE) have been recently added to the new Department of Teaching and Learning.

The primary mission of the CPTE degree programs is to prepare educational leaders in advanced theory and practice, thus enabling them to better serve young adults and adults as they pursue careers and vocations in the workplace and in the community. The programs serve professional educators and trainers, counselors, administrators, and policymakers who are involved in public and private secondary, postsecondary and adult career and technical education.

The graduate programs are designed to prepare persons for careers in teacher education, research and evaluation, career and technical education administration, secondary and post-secondary teaching, local and state agencies (e.g., government), and public and private organizations (e.g., business/industry, consultants).

We are very excited about these new programs and are currently accepting applications to both degree programs for Fall 2012 admittance. The admission process and requirements (i.e., minimum GPA, GRE requirements for the doctoral program, etc.) are provided on the Graduate College website.

In her role as Director of the Southern Nevada Writing Project Professor Marilyn McKinney's work and research connect her with 196 other writing project sites across the country through the National Writing Project (NWP). Recently, Dr. McKinney participated with NWP site leaders to review site reports and create an online resource of promising practices gleaned from the reports; upon her return she heard good news. The U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the award of nearly $24.6 million for three grants to improve student achievement by increasing the effectiveness of teachers and principals. Funded under the Supporting Effective Educators Development (SEED) program was the National Writing Project. Based in Berkeley, Calif., the NWP will use its $11.3 million grant to train 3,000 K-12 teacher-leaders in the teaching of writing, who will then conduct professional development for teachers in local schools and districts in all 50 states. They are expected to reach some 12,000 students during the 2012-13 school year. The training will be conducted at intensive summer institutes for teachers on university campuses as well as through online programs. Another focus of the National Writing Project grant is to provide at least 30 hours of professional development in writing instruction throughout the school year for teachers serving high-need students in 100 schools and districts across the country. Though the SNWP is not a direct recipient of the funding, Dr. McKinney's team will benefit from this national award.

Department of Teaching & Learning doctoral student Kyle Kaalberg is interviewed by local station (Channel 8) for his work with UNLV Cares. Kyle is the acting Vice President at the UNLV Cares Food Pantry.

UNLV Cares is a student organization that is an entity separate from UNLV, but provides a support system for any UNLV community member who may be struggling due to devastating budget cuts. Well over 100 were served during the first two months of 2012, with hundreds served during the fall semester. It is a discreet system where individuals associated with UNLV may receive non-perishable food items. UNLV Cares is located across from campus on the second floor of the Promenade Center, and relies solely on food donations from the campus. Within the next few weeks, UNLV cares will be able to accept cash donations as well. Donations are essential to the sustainability of this organization, and anyone wishing to donate can use the drop boxes located around campus or email unlvcaresfoodpantry@gmail.com to have food picked-up. To learn more about UNLV Cares visit the UNLV Cares Facebook page.

The UNLV Curriculum Materials Library will be hosting their first annual Gayle A. Zeiter Children's Literature Conference on Saturday March 17. The featured authors this year are Pat Mora (author of such award-winning titles as Tomas and the Library Lady and Dona Flor ), and James Ransome with his wife, Lesa Cline-Ransome (collaborative team behind such star-reviewed books as Before There Was Mozart and Words Set Me Free). This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from award-winning authors/illustrators at a local event!  

Registration Fee:

$20.00 for community members

$10.00 for UNLV students

Time:

8:00am - 2:00pm

Venue:

UNLV Greenspun Hall

**Please click on the flyer attached for more information about this event!

Dr. Quinn will serve as a moderator for the 2011 Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum. The forum will be held on Tuesday, November 22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Sun Youth Forum was established in 1955, by Hank Greenspun Founder and Publisher of the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, as a way for students to comment on major issues of the day. The first Sun Youth Forum was held in 1956 in which 96 students from five high schools and high school programs participated in the Sun Youth Forum at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Approximately 1000 students from 52 high schools in the Las Vegas valley will participate in the forum this year. The students will have the chance to receive a scholarship from the Ruthe Deskin Scholarship Fund. 

Did you recently apply for full admission to the Elementary or Secondary Education program and were notified that your admission was pending?

If so, that is because you were missing one or more requirements to become a full-major. What this means is that the committee will admit you as a full major ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED those missing requirements (i.e. passing PPST scores, 2.75 GPA, required courses, etc.). Once you have met those requirements, your major status will be changed. In some cases, this may mean having to wait until the end of the semester.

We understand that this may cause a delay in registration of certain courses, but please keep in mind that the committee chose not to disapprove those with pending requirements, which would have resulted in having to wait until the next application period (March 1) to reapply.

If you have any questions, please contact the College of Education Advising & Field Placement Center at 702-895-1537, or stop by CEB 221.

**Attention Education Students**

Effective Spring 2012, the College of Education will no longer require EDU 210-Nevada School Law as a program requirement. HOWEVER, the Nevada Department of Education DOES require Nevada School Law for licensure. Students will now have the OPTION to either take EDU 210 (2cr), which we expect will continue to be offered for elective credits, or take the equivalent test-out exam. Information about this exam can be found at http://www.unr.edu/educ/el/nvlaw/. For those students on a non-licensure program, this requirement is no longer necessary. You may still enroll in EDU 210 for elective credits.

**Please keep in mind, should you take the test-out option instead of EDU 210, you may need to make up those 2 credits with electives to reach 124.**

If you have any questions, please contact the College of Education Advising & Field Placement Center at 702-895-1537, or stop by CEB 221.