My Life, My Teaching: It starts with education at Illinois State

Alumni: JimAnn Smith Oliver

Graduation Year:

'54

Occupation:

National supervisor of research projects (U.S. Dept. of Education)

Major/Minor:

B.S.

It Starts With Education

JimAnn transferred to Illinois State University as a junior in 1951. She chose ISNU because it offered the broadest and deepest training in special education in the United States. She wanted to work with children who were emotionally/mentally handicapped, and only three schools in the United States offered the degree she wanted. She especially remembers how kind the staff at ISNU was to her—a 17-year-old coming from a small town in Oklahoma. The staff helped her find a room, find a job, and work out a schedule that took account of the courses she had already taken. JimAnn believes that, because she chose ISNU, her entire life has been rich in exciting experiences and opportunities.

After graduating from ISNU in 1954 JimAnn returned to Oklahoma to marry, and became the first teacher in the state to have a degree in special education. She arranged special education services for three or four different school districts. Later, as child guidance specialist for the state department she assisted districts in establishing special education programs under the new federal laws.

JimAnn earned a Master's Degree from Oklahoma University. She worked for the Moore School District as diagnostician and teacher in the gifted program. She retired in 1989 and immediately went to work for the contractor of the U.S. Department of Education as a national supervisor of research projects such as "The Nation's Report Card" (NAEP) and the "Early Childhood Longitudinal Study." She is still working in this capacity.