Friday Memo 12/5/14

All,

Wow, what a busy week! My guess is that you have also had a lot going on as we all wrap up the fall semester and get ready for finals. Before I review the activities of the week, I want to simply share some of my thoughts during this interesting time to be in the teacher preparation business. I apologize in advance for the length of this post - it is a LONG one!!!

Community Blessing - We have an opportunity to bless some Ferguson families that are registered with the United Way. The Education Division and the Health and Sports Sciences Department are collecting gift cards and items for families in need. We will be working with the Serve On Committee. You will receive an email shortly regarding this opportunity. Sorry for the short notice, but we will be collecting gift cards next week.

 

Mobile Learning and Special Education - The more I think about mobile learning the more excited I get.  I was at a meeting in Columbia this week with other educators from around the state -  principals, superintendents, leaders from special school district, school psychologists, school counselors, and other institutions of higher education. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Special Education reforms. In addition to discussing and learning about the past, present, and future of Special Education, I was able to network with other leaders in education. During lunch, my table mates discussed the use of mobile learning to help all students learn. I am energized and excited about how mobile learning can help us teach all students. I have now established a relationship of sharing and collaboration with these new friends. Lisa Powers from Special School District has offered to allow our students to observe their teachers and students utilizing assistive technologies. Let me know if you are interested in utilizing the resources available through Special School District. Sue Ellen McCauley from Avila University shared with the group a brief overview of how teacher preparation programs are currently preparing special education teachers and general education teachers. We need to change the mindset of our teacher preparation students that all teachers need to learn how to work with students in Special Education, not just those who choose to pursue Cross-Cat or Early Childhood Special Education certification. She also talked about our challenge that many in K-12 don't really want our students participating in field experiences in their buildings, although research shows it is critical for teacher preparation students to have as many opportunities in the field as possible. She continued on as she discussed that our future general education teachers need to be learning about MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support), behavior analysis, RTI, universal design for learning, assessments more than a pre and post, diagnostic, screening, formative and summative assessments, behavioral interventions, reading interventions, supportive technology, and collaboration. At MBU, we are currently revising our syllabus for Education of the Exceptional Child to ensure we are preparing all of our future teachers with this critical information.

Teacher Preparation Federal Regulations - New Federal Regulations
Take a few minutes and read the new federal regulations that were proposed Monday. Not only are we under pressure from the state department, the federal government is now holding our programs more accountable and requiring us to provide data to the public regarding certain outcomes. Alicia Noddings and I are at this very moment (I am multi-tasking) participating in a webinar about these new regulations. I am learning valuable information about these new regulations and the data points that will now be required of teacher preparation programs. I will share the slides of this webinar when they are made available. There will be a 60 day comment period regarding these new regulations. It is CRITICAL that we express our viewpoint. When I receive information regarding commenting, I will let you know. The final rule will be published in mid-2015. I will keep you all posted.

Annual Performance Report - DESE just emailed our Annual Performance Report. I look forward to digging into our report and sharing the findings with you at our faculty meeting on Tuesday.

Missouri Content Assessment (previously Praxis) cut scores - The State Board of Education met and decided that the panel based cut score will be used for these assessments. I will forward you an important email from Hap Hairston regarding this decision.

PD opportunity for students - The Troy/Wentzville Regional Learning Center Student MSTA/ASCD/KDP Chapters will host a professional development meeting on Monday 12/8/14 at 5:00pm in Room 24 at 75 College Campus Drive, Moscow Mills, MO 63762. This will be perhaps one of the best meetings yet as it will provide students with important insights regarding their legal rights and responsibilities as a teacher. The guest speaker will be Kyle Farmer. Kyle has been practicing education law since graduating from the University of Missouri, School of Law in 2004. Kyle has practiced in many areas of school law, but now focuses on representing school district employees as a staff attorney with the Missouri State Teachers Association. Kyle also regularly speaks on a wide variety of education law topics and has presented to various groups including individual school districts, statewide organizations and national conferences. Prior to law school, Kyle earned a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri, College of Education.

Dissertation and Research Success Workshop - The Ed.D. office conducted this workshop a few weekends ago. Tim Delicath, Cynthia Vitale, and Amber Henry hosted sessions. They collected survey data from the event, and it proved to be a valuable experience and appreciated by all attendees.

This week's happenings:

• Doctoral Dissertation - I had the distinct pleasure of representing the Ed.D. office at Amanda Kase's Oral Defense of her doctoral dissertation - A Qualitative Case Study: Evaluating Character Education Implementation at the Primary and Elementary Buildings within the Sullivan School District.  
• Interview - I conducted interviews for various adjunct faculty positions.
• Graduate Program Discussion - Sheri Brandes and I met to continue discussions about possible graduate programs that we could offer at MBU. If you have any suggestions, please email Sheri.
• Student Interviews - Thanks again to the many full-time and adjunct faculty members who conduct interviews for our students entering our program or preparing for student teaching. I appreciate this program requirement at MBU. I believe these interviews are excellent opportunities for our students to grow professionally.
• MOCASE - I attended the Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education Advisory Council meeting in Columbia - see above.
• Budget Hearing - I presented my suggestions for the 2015-2016 Education budget to the president and vice-presidents.
• APR - Tonia Crane and I met with Dr. Dykstra, Dr. Triplett, and Dr. Edgar Rasch regarding the DESE Annual Performance Report.
• CEEDAR Webinar - Alicia Noddings and I participated in a webinar conducted by the CEEDAR center regarding the new Teacher Preparation Regulations.

Upcoming events:

Meeting	Date & Time	Location
Faculty Meeting	Monday, December 8th 3:30pm	Recital Hall
Meeting for faculty who teach EDUC 203 - Teaching in a Diverse Society	Monday, December 8th 4:45pm	Field 310
Division Faculty Meeting & Christmas Luncheon	Tuesday, December 9th 10:15am - 12:45pm	Field Conference Room
Program Design Task Force Meeting	Tuesday, December 9th 1:00pm - 2:30pm	Field Conference Room
Mobile Learning Initiative Meeting	Thursday, December 11th 10:00am - 11:00am	ADM 109
Student Teaching Orientation	Tuesday, December 16th 10:00am - 1:00pm	Chapel
Feasting Day	Thursday, December 18th 12:00pm - 2:00pm	Dining Hall

LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
Isaiah 25:1

In God's perfect faithfulness I continue to see evidence of the wonderful things He has done. Praise be to God.

Have a blessed weekend!
Melanie