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Spring faculty meeting: series of accomplishments show progress towards five-year plan; faculty and staff endeavors honored

By Lauren Huffman

(April 14, 2011) Tuesday, April 12 commenced the 2011 spring faculty meeting with new awards, honors, promotions, and farewells. College faculty, faculty associates, and staff met to recognize the honorees and to learn of progress made toward meeting the College of Education Five-Year Plan.

College Council Chair Joe Pacha (EAF) introduced Dean Deborah Curtis, who thanked the audience for their participation in the meeting and in their commitment to accomplishments in the areas of research and service.

Dean Curtis acknowledged the theme of this year's program and Powerpoint presentation, an Asian flair with cherry blossoms, as a tribute to the sufferers of the disaster in Japan and the College's colleagues in Japan. A partnership with Hokkaido University of Education in Asahikawa, Japan allows the College to offer unique study abroad opportunities to students. Curtis also acknowledged the Pacific Rim Conference set to take place in Japan this July, and that she hopes the College will be able to join if it is safe.

Dean Curtis discussed the progress made on the College of Education Five-Year Plan. She shared the highlights of a presentation in which she made to the Provost and the Illinois State community, where she had the "privilege to brag about [faculty and staff member] work."

Dean Curtis acknowledged some of the numerous achievements that the College of Education has made toward fulfilling the Five-Year Plan. These statistics were derived from the 2011 Academic Affairs Annual Report. Some of these accomplishments include:

  • College enrollment currently comprises 44 percent of University enrollment.
  • Successful enrollment management in all departments, including programs that produce teacher education majors.
  • Strides in expanding the PDS program, including the unveiling of Auburn Gresham this fall and Palatine District 15 opportunities.
  • Continued maintenance and growth in partnerships, including the development of graduate cohorts and the STEP UP program.
  • Building endowments, including University High School's Stroud Auditorium.
  • Excellence in promotion of instructional technology, including events such as:
    • T21 Conference
    • SEAT Center's 10th Anniversary Celebration
    • University High School's One-to-One Initiative with laptops for all students
    • Leveraging SMART Technology instruction and application for students
  • The College has also continued its influence on policy with efforts such as the TPAC Consortium.

Curtis acknowledged progress made to address the challenges of: College composition of tenure and non-tenure track faculty, enrollment per program, and ample opportunities available in each program, all in order to maintain the "small school feel" of the College, while maintaining quality of instruction for all education majors.

The remainder of the program was spent recognizing the following faculty and staff's accomplishments.

Recognition of Retiring Faculty and Staff

In celebration of their years of service, Dean Curtis recognized the retiring faculty and staff:

  • Kathy Clesson, University High School
  • Debbie Hubbard, University High School
  • Karen Irvin, Thomas Metcalf School
  • Bonita Laesch, University High School
  • Sandra McKean, Thomas Metcalf School
  • Judy Mogilka, Educational Administration & Foundations
  • Beverly Smith, Special Education

Recognition of Outstanding Service to the College

Outstanding Service to the College from a Staff Member

Lynn Steffen, Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, was nominated by Molly Munson-Dryer. Lynn was selected in recognition of her exemplary service to program directors, faculty members, and other college associates on all things "data." Almost 10 years ago, Lynn helped to develop the professional education unit's performance based assessment (PBA) system and has overseen its operation and maturation ever since. Lynn is often the one who works "behind-the-scenes" on important initiatives that advance the work of our college and the entire unit. "She is a faithful proponent of public schools and she recognizes the crucial role that Illinois State University plays in providing quality educators for each public school student."

Outstanding Service to the College by a Member of the University

Jess Ray, Soemer Simmons, and Judith Webster, Office of the Registrar, were nominated by Lynn Steffen (Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center) for the Outstanding Service to the College by a Member of the University Community award in recognition of their very important role in facilitating the recommendation for certification to the State Board of Education for a large number of teacher candidate graduates this past December. The Registrar's Office regularly processes the paperwork for the hundreds of College graduates in record time, with an eye on helping these grads pursue the goal of getting a job as quickly as possible after graduation. They are a collaborative and cooperative team of individuals who are sincerely appreciated for their professional work.

Outstanding Service to the College from a Member in the Field

Bill DuBois, Elgin Unit-46 School District, was nominated by Bob Fisher (Dean's Office). Bill received this award in recognition of his long-standing service to and partnership with the College. Over ten years ago, Bill worked with the College on large partnership grant program. Bill advanced this work, providing a new model for coordination of student teaching placement within his district. Bill worked to develop a structure that created an opportunity for his district to relate directly with the teacher preparation institutions that place student teachers in the district or prepare teachers hired by the district. This arrangement provided a mechanism for Illinois State to connect with many other teacher preparation institutions and to benefit from the collective of topics discussed.

College of Education Outstanding Service Award

The College of Education Elections and Service Committee selected Rena Shifflet to receive The College of Education Outstanding Service Award. She is an assistant professor of Elementary Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. This award honors and recognizes a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty who has demonstrated excellence in service to the University and the College of Education. This fall Rena will receive formal recognition during American Education Week.

Recognition of Honors and Awards

Valerie Bridson, Office of Clinical Experiences in the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, is the recipient of the Civil Service Council's Distinguished Service Award. Valerie was one of five awardees chosen to receive this award. The award acknowledges Valerie's outstanding contributions to the work of the University. 

Steve Mertens, assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, received one of six University Research Initiative Awards. The Research Initiative Award is awarded to a faculty member who has showcased a promising research agenda early in their academic career. The award acknowledges Steve's exceptional contributions to Middle Level Teacher Education preparation and research of international education of adolescents. 

Curriculum & Instruction Recognition of Honors and Awards

Research Recognition

Tom Crumpler's research focus is on teacher identity — especially how teachers negotiate curriculum in a climate of high stakes testing, young readers' responses to literary texts, and how assessment informs teaching and learning. Most recently, his research has been published in Teacher Education Quarterly (2009), Reading Research Quarterly (2010), and Handbook of Research on Children's and Young Adult Literature (2010). He has an article in press for summer 2011 in Research in the Teaching of English. Currently, he is collecting and analyzing data on middle level readers' understandings of literary texts

Lara Handsfield's research has been published in some of the most prestigious journals in literacy, English-language arts, and education including the Journal of Literacy Research, The Reading Teacher, and Language Arts. To have her research published in such rigorous professional outlets in the early phase of her career is a testament to the quality of her scholarship. Her scholarly achievements reflect that she has been consistently engaged in research throughout the four years of her appointment at ISU.

Tom Lucey's research focuses on teacher education relationships in financial literacy, morality in financial literacy, technology use in financial literacy and connecting theoretical and attitudinal findings with classrooms settings. Most recently, he has had publications in Citizenship Social and Economic Education, Multicultural Education, Research in Middle Level Education, and Journal of Curriculum & Instruction. He currently has a book under contract entitled Re-framing Financial Literacy: Exploring the value of social currently, and a book chapter in the text, "Can education make a difference? Experimenting with, and experiencing democracy in education." 

Linda Wedwick is an assistant professor and coordinator of the Reading Master's program at Illinois State University. She is the recipient of the Clarence W. Sorensen Distinguished Dissertation Award and the Mary S. Arnold Research Award. She has authored book chapters in addition to articles that have appeared in The Reading Teacher and Voices from the Middle. She is co-author, with Jessica Ann Wutz, of BOOKMATCH: How to Scaffold Student Book Selection for Independent Reading, published by the International Reading Association. Linda has previously served as the Publications Committee chair of the Illinois Reading Council, treasurer of the Mid-State Reading Council, and secretary of the Literature SIG of the American Educational and Research Association.

Educational Administration and Foundations Recognition of Honors and Awards

Research Recognition

Joe Pacha and Norm Durflinger worked together on a major U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant with College of Arts and Science colleagues affiliated with the Stevenson Center. They have co-authored three articles related to the impact of school closures in Illinois from 1972 to 2005. They disaggregated data examining predictors of affect closures of elementary, junior high, and secondary schools. Joe Pacha is past president of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, and Norm is principal investigator for the Illinois State Action for Education Leadership grant.

Betsy Lugg, associate professor of Educational Administration and Foundations, has been editor of the Illinois State Education Law and Policy Journal since 1998. The purpose of the journal is to provide a forum for the interchange of ideas, theories, and issues on various aspects of school law and policy among practitioners, professors, and attorneys. The Department publishes the journal online 6 times a years. This past year Lugg coauthored a book, Professional Responsibility and Ethics for Illinois Educators, part of an Educator Ethics Series. Lugg's sections focused on Illinois legal issues educators may face.

Service Recognition

Kristina Hesbol is finishing her second year at Illinois State and has volunteered her service at both Illinois State and national organizations, including: Department Chairs Advisory Committee and Scholarship Committee, the College of Education Council, and the University Graduate Council. She is actively involved in AERA as Division A Chair with duties of reviewing over 60 proposals; AERA Section 2, 3, 4 and Systems Thinking SIG; AERA 2011 National Diversity Selection Panel Committee. She served as a reviewer of 10 articles and was on the 2011 Dissertation Award Selection Committee for the University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA). Additionally, she serves as a member for several other national and state organizations. 

Phyllis McCluskey-Titus has made long-term and extensive commitments to both internal and external committees and organizations. Her service as the program coordinator of the College Student Personnel Administration program, which includes duties associated with the CSPA advisory board, the CSPA program assessment plan, and GRAD days, is valued by the Department. In addition to these service activities, she has contributed by serving on the Illinois State NCAA Student Athletes Council Recertification Steering Committee, College Teaching and Learning Committee, University New Faculty Orientation Committee, and Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She has served as an external reviewer in the tenure and promotion process of colleagues at Winston-Salem State University and University of Minnesota. She has also served on numerous local, national, and international committees and organizations such as the Association of College and University Student Housing and National Association for Student Personnel Association (NASPA)—Student Affairs Educators in Higher Education.

James Palmer serves on the University's the Academic Planning Committee, the University Review Committee, and is co-chair of the University's General Education Task Force. He served as a discussant and chair of two Division J sessions at the April 2010 Annual AERA meeting. His service extends to other committees and organizations such as the Human Subjects Research Review Board at Heartland Community College. He is active in major professional organizations. His service extends to the profession is his work as editor of the Grapevine, an annual compilation of data on state tax support for higher education, and as editor of the Community College Review Journal.

Special Education Recognition of Honors and Awards

Research Recognition

Maureen Angell's research interests include communication and literacy skills, dysphagia management, differentiated instruction, systematic instructional strategies, trust and parental advocacy issues, and self-determination in individuals with disabilities. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues, families, and school personnel to investigate best practices in special education.

Hedda Meadan-Kaplansky joined the faculty at the Department of Special Education in 2006. Her research interests have centered on the communication and social behavior of young children with disabilities and on families with children with disabilities. She has more than 30 publications and since joining ISU she has received external and internal grants totaling nearly a million dollars in funding.

Julia B. Stoner is associate professor in the Department of Special Education. Her publications and research interests have focused on family and professional collaboration, communication interventions, augmentative and alternative communication, and parental advocacy.

Service Recognition

Now, in its 22nd year at Illinois State University the Chapter of Best Buddies is recognized nationally, regionally and University-wide as an outstanding Registered Student Organization. Paula Crowley has served as advisor to Best Buddies since the beginning. In addition she serves on University-wide committees, College committees, and Department committees. Paula also serves outside the University on ICEC and ILCCBD committees as well as engaging in other professional service as journal reviewer, and publisher consultant.

Sharon Doubet's service commitments include College Curriculum Committee chair, member of the Teaching and Learning Committee, co-chair of SED Share Fair, member of the Department Faculty Status Committee, and co-advisor for the campus student organization of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Sharon is active in the early childhood special education field in a variety of environments. She currently serves as co-chair of the Illinois Division of Early Childhood Conference and provides support for program-wide positive behavior support in multiple early childhood programs and state projects. 

Thomas Metcalf School Recognition of Honors and Awards

Service Recognition

Jan Harrell, facilitator for the visually impaired program, was presented the Distinguished Service Award at the 2011 Illinois Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Conference. This award is an honor given to a teacher for the visually impaired in Illinois who has shown a lifetime of excellence in her field and is a leader among her peers.

University High School Recognition of Honors and Awards

Mark Adams, Speech and Debate Team coach at University High School, was honored by the National Forensic League (NFL) with a Diamond award. Mark's fellow coaches selected him for this award, which is based upon student participation levels and student results over a coach's career.

Before adjourning the meeting, Joe Pacha recognized the faculty who currently serve as members of the College Council:

  • Deborah Curtis
  • Joe Pacha, chair
  • Tom Crumpler, vice-chair
  • Maribeth Lartz, secretary
  • Diane Dean, EAF
  • Kristina Hesbol, EAF
  • Craig Blum, SED
  • Chris Bischke, SED
  • Stacy Kelly, SED
  • Amanda Quesenberry, C&I
  • Pam Farris, C&I
  • Gary Weilbacher, C&I
  • Kathy Clesson, Lab Schools
  • Andy Davis, Lab Schools
  • Nancy Schenck, Lab Schools
  • Bridget Delaney, EAF