Friday Memo 4/29/16

Tonia Crane's visit to Beirut, Lebanon

Tonia Crane was in Beirut April 18-27. She presented on applied behavioral analysis and positive reinforcement to over 300 general education teachers, and then presented specifically to specialists in the field of special education. She also attended the National Day for Students with Disabilities banquet. Tonia worked with Nabil Costa, CEO of the Lebanese Society, Hiba Jamal, Director of SKILD (Smart Kids with Individual Learning Disabilities), and Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Education. Tonia's work in Beirut with policy makers and top leaders embodies the mission and values of MBU and the Center for Global Education.

Tonia was very excited to share that the Beirut Education Minister, pictured in the center below, announced last week that Beirut will be opening 60 schools for children with special needs. Click here for more information. It is exciting to know that Tonia was able to contribute to meeting the needs of all children in a part of the world that has previously not provided adequate resources for children with special needs.

Way to go, Counseling program!!!

In March, 2016, the MAC program received information that the annual list of  the Best Online Master’s in School Counseling Programs has included the MBU Online School Counseling Program among the top 20 schools in the country.

After reviewing academic outcomes, affordability, and the quality of online programming at schools across the country, reviewers stated this recognition is well-deserved.

The information is now live and ready for viewing by individuals looking for outstanding school counseling programs. Click the following to read the article Best Online MAC Program article.

We were also selected as one of the best values. Click the following to learn more Best Value MAC Program article

With our movement toward CACREP accreditation and hiring more faculty for the counseling program we are well on our way to having one of the top counseling programs in the nation!

Faculty/Staff vs. Students Kickball Game

Ellen John was the only brave soul representing the Education Division at the kickball game to supports pediatric cancer research. She and the other faculty and staff members had fun competing against the students. Fun was had by all!

Senior Walk & Senior Chapel
We do some pretty special things at MBU - the Senior Walk is one of my favorites! It is so rewarding to celebrate the soon-to-be graduates and cheer for them as they walk from the SRC to the chapel.  Thanks, Ricki Roth, for taking this picture of me hugging my student teacher, Faith Notz. I was able to capture a few pictures of other students during the walk and senior chapel. It was a joy to hear from Tess Boyer - what a beautiful Christ following MBU senior who clearly communicated to her classmates.

Final Division Faculty Meeting of 2015/2016
Great job to all of the faculty who shared the work of their PLC. Your analysis of program data and suggestions for program improvements were well supported and clearly communicated. Mark and Amber shared a survey that will be going out to all faculty soon.

YESS - Yearlong Experience for Spartan Seniors

Susan Hladky, newly appointed Director of Field Experiences, presented our new exciting Year-long Experience for Spartan Seniors. We have at least 5 students who have committed to participating in this pilot program. We are finalizing our school district partners who will be partnering with us for this exciting program. I have attached below the slides Susan shared with the students.

Staff Appreciation Day
Wednesday we celebrated our amazing staff by enjoying lunch together. Then I surprised the ladies with mini-facials. I paid for the mini-facials, MBU did not pay for the pampering, but I felt our staff members were worth the extra special surprise. These ladies do so much work behind the scenes to keep our division running smoothly. Thanks again, ladies, for all that you do for our division.

CPL Observations/Evaluations
Thank you to those full-time faculty who stepped up to the plate to conduct a formal observation of our CPL students. I am still in the process of evaluating 7 of our CPL students. I have been extremely blessed and impressed by the level of quality of our CPL students. I always love the opportunity to get out into the local schools, but watching our students in the classroom has been a pleasure because I feel that our program and their past experiences have prepared them to be effective educators. 

CAEP
Alicia, Tonia, and I continue preparing for our CAEP self-study and our meeting on May 5th. Nancy just sent out the agenda and please make note of the location change on Nancy's email. We will be meeting in Field 326, rather than the President's Board Room. Here is your weekly reminder of the standards. We will dig into the standards and components next Thursday.
Standard 1: Content & Pedagogical Knowledge
Standard 2: Clinical Partnerships & Practice
Standard 3: Candidate Quality, Recruitment, & Selectivity
Standard 4: Program Impact
Standard 5: Provider Quality, Continuous Improvement, and Capacity

Upcoming Important Dates 

• Tuesday, May 3     Graduation
• Thursday, May 5      CAEP Retreat

Final Thoughts

My daily devotion today from the FOCUS 5-day series in the Bible app is very fitting for this final Friday memo of this school year. 

God requires an account of what is past. (Ecclesiastes 3:15) At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the future. Isaiah 52:12 - But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you the God of Israel will be your rear guard. 

For the summer, I will create monthly memos, rather than weekly. As I reflect on this past school year, I feel very good about what we have accomplished. You have all played an important role in maintaining our programs and implementing strategic plans and actions to move our programs forward. 

Congratulations on a job well done in 2015/2016!

Melanie