SycamoreIndiana State University College of Education

educator

Summer 2009

Getting a ‘TOTAL’ Teaching Experience

Sycamoreeducator

dean’s deskFrom The

educator Vol. I No. 1 SUMMER 2009

Sycamore Educator Magazine Staff

College of Education Dean: Dr. Bradley Balch

College of Education Assoc. Dean: Dr. Susan PowersCollege of Education Assoc. Dean: Dr. Rebecca Libler Director of Development:

Karen O’RourkeDevelopment Assistant:

Jean CantrellEditor: Martin BlankWriters: Jennifer Sicking Dave TaylorPhotographers: Tony Campbell Kara Berchem

College of EducationMission Statement

To prepare, promote and advance educational and human service professionals for a diverse and ever-changing world.

Sycamore Educator

Sycamore Educator magazine is published annually for alumni and friends of the College of Education. Send changes of address or comments to Sycamore Educator, College of Education, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809. Visit the college’s website at www.indstate.edu/coe

9 Leading Students To Enjoy Reading

11 A Real-World Approach

13 The Greening of University Hall

Departments

4 Blackboard17 Benefactors19 Inquiry21 People

15 A ‘TOTAL’ Teaching Experience

As clinical faculty associate, Rebecca Boehler brought her experience as an elementary teacher to the College of Education’s classrooms.

The historic building’s renovation reflects ISU’s commitment to envi-ronmental sustainability.

Program offers students an immer-sion semester in a school prior to student teaching.

The opinions expressed in Sycamore Educator do not necessarily reflect those of Indiana State University or its College of Education.

1 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 2

By Bradley V. Balch

It’s been another exciting year for the College of Education, and much has been accomplished as this latest issue of Sycamore Educator demon-strates.

A milestone was reached in mid-July when the college moved to its new home in University Hall. The new facility truly reflects the pre-eminence and professionalism that have become hallmarks of our educational programming. I hope you will have time to visit us at our new location when on campus.

Dedication activities are planned for Sept. 9-12. You can find a partial schedule of events on the back cover of this magazine. Additional details will be forthcoming.

We were pleased to learn earlier this academic year that our un-dergraduate teacher preparation programs at the elementary and secondary levels had been selected from among 30 transformational schools/colleges as one of the top nine innovators in the nation.

In determining the program in-novators, a team from Teachers for a New Era visited our campus for

Accomplishments Make for Another Exciting Year

several days to take an in-depth look at our reform efforts.

Because of this distinction, our college was able to participate in a think-tank opportunity in Wash-ington D.C., and help inform policymakers of best-practice teacher preparation ideas. I’m so proud of our faculty, staff, students and K-12 partners for helping us continue to be among the nation’s highest-qual-ity teacher education providers.

Amidst the current economic challenges we are all facing, I remain privileged to work with an impres-

“A milestone was reached in mid-July when the college moved to its new home in University Hall. The new facility truly reflects the pre-eminence and professionalism that have become hallmarks of

our educational programming.”

sive faculty, staff and student body whose unyielding commitment to the vision, mission and values we’ve established, demonstrate their ability to be successful in changing and challenging conditions of practice. This is a character trait that will serve them well for many years to come.

We could not fulfill our mission without the help of alumni and friends. Because of your efforts, teaching and learning in the College is enhanced, and we are able to meet the demands of preparing educators for today and the future.

While current fiscal woes make it challenging for many individuals to achieve a college education, the Col-lege has been able to offer a record number of scholarships this year to assist students in completing their education.

We have so many exciting things to share about the College and not everything could be included in Sycamore Educator. You are encour-aged to visit our website at www.indstate.edu/coe to stay abreast of University and College news. Thank you for your continuing interest in and support of the College.

The ISU College of Education’s Book-Talk-Tea program shows elementary education students different approaches to effectively teaching reading.

Bradley V. Balch

blackboard bLACkbOARDC o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n

COE GrantEdaCCrEditatiOn

Indiana State Univer-sity’s College of Educa-tion has been granted full accreditation status by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

“As an institution that serves the public good, it is our moral imperative to graduate high-quality edu-cators at the undergradu-ate and graduate levels to meet the demands of K-12 schools,” said Bradley Balch, College of Educa-tion dean. “NCATE ac-creditation is a demanding source of accountability that ensures the institution is accomplishing its moral imperative.”

The college under-went a focused visit by an NCATE accreditation team in spring 2008, and ISU received notification of its status in late Octo-ber 2008.

“Full accreditation by NCATE validates the good work that we are doing in educator prepara-tion and shows that we are following an effective continual improvement model to ensure quality

iSU COUplErECEivES award

Two Indiana State University professors received the Indiana As-sociation of School Prin-cipals (IASP) President’s Award, the first time such an award has been given to someone in academia.

IASP President Franzy Fleck presented the award to husband and wife Todd and Beth Whitaker in a surprise ceremony. Todd is a professor of educational leadership, administra-tion, and foundations. Beth is a professor of elementary, early and special education.

“This award means a great deal to both of us,” said Beth. “We are hon-ored that people regard our contributions in a positive light.”

“Each year the presi-dent of IASP has the privilege of giving the President’s Award to an outstanding leader in the field of education who has made a posi-tive impact on the lives of students in Indiana,”

said Fleck. “The Whitak-ers have made numer-ous contributions in education, in teacher and principal development and in school leadership with teachers, principals and school communities.”

Before coming to Indi-ana State, the Whitakers served as school adminis-trators.

“Todd and I have shared a rich and full journey in education,” Beth said. “We used each

other’s expertise and learned from the wide array of situations we would encounter as prin-cipals.”

In Beth’s final year as an elementary school principal, her school was awarded the National Blue Ribbon of Excel-lence. During Todd’s time as an administrator, he coordinated the build-ing and curriculum and staff development of two new middle schools.

preparation of our candi-dates,” said Susan Pow-ers, associate dean of the College of Education who spearheaded accreditation efforts.

As part of the visit, the accreditation team examined one of the six standards established by NCATE that resulted in ISU’s development of its unit assessment system.

“It’s a system devel-oped by the institution to ensure we are making ef-fective progress as a unit,” Powers said. “This is part of the continual improve-ment model where pro-grams examine themselves. In the Unit Assessment System, however, faculty, staff and students look at the work of all educator preparation as a whole to determine how effectively we prepare educators and function as a unit as well as seek ways to collectively improve.”

third GradErSraCE tO lEarn

Erika Meyer’s third-grade classroom at Miller School in Indianapolis wasn’t quite the pits at the Indy 500. Her students were still excited, however, to have an opportunity to build race cars even though they would only

be using Legos.The 20 third graders

divided up into pairs and with the help of Indiana State University education majors began building their motorized cars as part of a project funded by the Jordan Fundamen-tals Grant Program.

The exercise was about more than building race

3 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 4

Todd and Beth Whitaker

The race to learn was on at Miller School in Indianapolis, an ISU PDS site.

blackboard blackboard

pOwErS namEdaCE FEllOw

The American Council on Education recently named Josh Powers, chair of ISU’s educational lead-ership, administration and foundations depart-ment, an ACE Fellow for the 2009-10 academic year.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Powers said. “I am thankful for the support from the ISU community and this op-portunity.”

Powers was one of 42 fellows selected by ACE this year in a national competition after being nominated by ISU for the honor. The ACE Fellows program began in 1965 to strengthen institutions and leader-ship in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising senior faculty and admin-istrators for responsible

positions in college and university administration. As part of the program, the fellows work alongside a university president or other senior administra-tion members.

“We’re extremely pleased with the incom-ing class,” said Sharon McDade, director of the

ACE Fellows Program. “The individuals selected have demonstrated strong leadership. The fellows program will sharpen and enhance their leadership skills and their network and prepare them to ad-dress issues of concern to the higher education com-munity.”

Of the more than 1,500 participants in the program’s 44-year his-tory, more than 300 have become chief executive officers and more than 1,100 have become provosts, vice presidents or deans.

Powers said he is excit-ed about the opportunity to spend a year learning about leadership at the senior level by working alongside a university president. Powers said he is beginning the place-ment process, but after conversations with ISU President Daniel Bradley, he hopes to work with a president at a university that is further along in its strategic planning process.

“When I return I hope I can offer particu-lar insights on strategy implementation and assessment processes as well as innovative ideas from the field in some of these areas,” Powe

Special GuestsVisit School

cars, however.“From this project we

want the students to learn about not giving up and to keep trying until they succeed. If their race car was not successful at first, we want them to rework it and see where the problem

was and how to make it better,” said Meyer.

“Building it is just put-ting pieces together. Of course, that’s important in anything that you do, but we really just wanted them to get some self-confidence and build their

self-esteem that they could build something and make it run,” she added.

Mykala Johnson agreed that it was a fun experi-ence, especially since she and her partner were the first to finish assembling their car.

“We went step by step. We had smiles on our faces. We just did it,” she said.

The pair also learned something about trouble-shooting with their car during a race in the school’s gym.

“It kept on getting stuck,” Johnson said. “On our first race, it didn’t start up so I had to push it down to make the gears connect and then it started working better.”

The fun part of the ex-perience fit some specific goals, according to Kathy Bauserman, ISU assistant professor in elementary, early and special educa-tion as well as professional development liaison with Miller Elementary, who wrote the grant.

“One was the science and math component in students building the Lego race car and getting it to work. Another was the emotional and behavioral support from the ISU mentors,” she said.

The experience was beneficial not only for the children but also for the ISU education majors who served as mentors for the project.

“Every group got to build and race a car,” Bauserman said. “The ISU students got the experi-ence of working in an after-school project like this and working with in-ner-city children.”

Brooke Barrow, a senior education major from Bloomington, said work-ing with the elementary students gave her more

5 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 6

Josh Powers

Last winter, first graders at Rio Grande Elemen-tary School enjoyed the talents of two special guests — Cheri Brad-ley, first lady of Indiana State, and Sycamore Sam, ISU’s mascot.

The students were part of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, a national campaign to encourage students and adults to read the book Corduroy.

Over 50 ISU preser-vice teachers participated in the event. All of the children received a free book.

Cheri Bradley reads Cordoroy to students at Rio Grande Elementary School.

Sycamore Sam picks a book for a student.

blackboard blackboardQuatroche HeadsReading Group

Diana Quatroche, ISU associate professor of education, is serving as executive director of the Indiana State Reading Association (ISRA).

Quatroche has been at Indiana State University since 1998 and currently serves as the chairperson for the elementary, early and special education department.

The Indiana State Reading Association sup-ports local reading coun-cils, provides conferences and programs, seeks legislation that supports good reading practices and gives an opportunity for reading professors to work with P-12 educa-tors from throughout the state.

“Students and teach-ers, as members of the organization, have access

Speaker OffersA Challenge

Steven Edwards issued a challenge to the teachers and school administra-tors who filled the room where he spoke last fall at Indiana State University during Sycamore Educa-tors Day.

“Too many people in our profession are deliverers of curriculum, not teachers of children,” said the board member of the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University.

“If a child cannot learn the way we teach, then we must teach the way the child can learn. Are we willing then to modify our teaching,” he said.

Edwards, a former teacher and principal, was the keynote speaker for the annual event that brings ISU alumni edu-cators back to campus. He also led a breakout session on seven key principles of a principal’s role in dropout preven-tion.

Changes come about because of people not

accepting what others per-ceive as the norm, he said.

“There’s a high failure rate in the classroom be-cause we accept it. There’s a high dropout rate in schools because we accept that,” he said.

At a high school in Connecticut, there was a 28 percent dropout rate, and the school was ranked last of 169 schools when Edwards became principal.

He set about changing that, in part by going after the students not at school and bringing them back

to the classrooms. By the time he left, the dropout rate was 1.8 percent.

“Are we willing to fight the fight every day? Are we willing to go after the children?” he asked the audience. “I really think we know what to do; it’s a choice of whether we do it or not.”

Sycamore Educators Day Is Scheduled The ISU College of Education’s 13th annual Sycamore Educators Day,

teaching experience. “It’s one on one, or I

have two kids, and you really get to see how they think when they look at a picture and then try to build something,” she said.

“It was a lot harder than I thought. My kids did a good job though, and they taught me a lot

in the process,” she added.

Grant Focuses On Math, Science

A National Science Foundation grant will help Indiana State continue to address the shortage of qualified math and sci-ence teachers in Indiana,

particularly in high-need urban and rural schools.

The $590,600 grant for the second phase of the Robert Noyce Scholar-ship Program will provide annual awards of $12,000 each for up to 25 students pursuing teaching careers in math and science who

commit to working at least two years in a high-need school.

The program is open to Indiana State students, as well as working profes-sionals who may be inter-ested in pursuing a career in education.

More information about the Robert Noyce Scholarship Program at Indiana State University is available by contacting the Center for Science Educa-tion at 812-237-3010 or scienceteach@indstate.edu.

Student GetsNice Surprise

An ISU doctoral student was pleasantly surprised last fall when she received a $25,000 check and a National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation.

“This is such an honor,” said Nicole Law, who is principal of Garden City Elementary School in Indianapolis and is working on a doctorate in elementary education and supervision. “I was so surprised, and I’m truly proud to be an educator.I’m on cloud nine,”

Bradley Balch, dean of the College of Education, said he wasn’t surprised

“Becoming a Complete Professional and Con-tinuous School Improve-ment,” will be held Nov. 7, 2009.

The program will fea-ture alumna Dr. Diane Cargile, president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

For more information, contact Connie Simrell at 812-237-2899 or by e-mail at connie.simrell@indstate.edu. You also may visit www.indstate.edu/coe.

that Law was chosen for the award.

“She was part of a won-derful cohort of doctoral

students and her opinion in the residence experi-ence was greatly valued,” he said. “I know her work

in the Indianapolis area is important and to have that validated externally is certainly a reward for ISU

as well,” he added.Law has spent 13 years

in education, with six of those in administration.

7 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 8

Steven Edwards

Diana Quatroche

to research that supports the latest developments in literacy instruction,” said Quatroche. “The organization also supports professional development, curriculum reforms and classroom innovation in support of literacy.”

As executive director, Quatroche is the official spokesperson for the orga-nization in coordination with its president. She provides support to state officers and committee chairs and works with the

state coordinator, presi-dent, membership direc-tor and administrative assistant. She will also be called upon to facilitate annual conferences and update members on state and local council infor-mation.

“With the leader-ship now available from Indiana State University’s College of Education, the number of councils will grow, along with membership.” said Jack Humphrey, director of the Middle Grades Reading Network at the University of Evansville and a member of ISRA.

“Indiana State also has the capacity to provide an excellent web site, something that has been missing in the past. All of this will help make the Indiana State Reading Association a more pow-erful force in the state,” he added.

Indiana State elementary education majors are finding there are many ways to entice children into enjoying reading. Games and activities that incorporate math, science, art and reading are their preferred method of opening up the world of books for kindergartners.

ISU students in Lisa Cutter’s emer-gent literacy class spend 70 minutes one day a week during the semester working with their kindergarten reading “buddies” to help them become better readers. Then one day each semester, stu-dents and kindergartners get togeth-er for the Book-Talk-Tea program.

This allows the ISU students to meet with all of the kindergartners.

It also leads to scenes such as Benjamin Franklin Elementary

School kindergartner Ashley Jones bellowing out, “Call E,” before darting forward to pick up the letter, which was written on a baseball cap-shaped cutout.

“I’m beating you,” she informed the ISU student with whom she was playing the game.

Across the room, after listening to I am an Apple, Andy Robinson responded to an ISU student’s question of “How does an apple grow?” by arranging pictures that showed the progres-sion from seeds to a tree and then

elementary education major from Monon who was reading On Top of Spaghetti, agreed, saying “When you’re in a classroom you don’t really notice it, but when you work with them one-on-one you realize every child learns in different ways.”

Cindy Andrews, Franklin kin-dergarten teacher, said her students are excited to meet with the ISU students. “They’ll come back in the classroom and want to tell me what they did, all 17 of them at one time,” she said. “When children are excited, learning takes place.”

The program also allowed the kindergarten students to spend the morning receiving individual atten-tion as well as reading lots of books.

“They have the opportunity to listen to 16 different stories that have activities,” Andrews said. “Be-ing immersed in literacy is a won-derful way to spend the morning.”

Making books fun makes reading fun, according to Jarrod Vanzo, a junior elementary education major from Sullivan. “The stereotype is that kids don’t want to read,” he said. “But if adults are willing to make it fun for them, the kids are going to eat it up.”

Leading ChildrenTo Enjoy Reading

buds, a flower and, finally, an apple. He shyly ducked his head saying he liked learning about apples as he clutched a red one in his hand.

Elsewhere, kindergarten students blew bubbles, sewed pockets and played a spaghetti game as part of the day’s reading-related activities.

“We want to whet their palates with these books,” said Cutter, ISU assistant professor of elementary, early and special education. “It’s our favorite day because it’s interactive. They don’t realize they’re learning when they’re having fun.”

In the morning session, kinder-

gartners enjoyed 15 books, while 12 different books were presented in an afternoon session. “It’s cool to see the different ability levels,” said Courtney Cooper, a junior elemen-tary education major from Green-wood, who led the sewing activity with the book Hole in my Pocket. “We work with one student every week, but here we get to see the diversity of the different levels.”

Ashlynn Stephens, a junior

ISU’s book-Talk-

Tea program shows different approaches to

teaching reading

By Jennifer Sicking

9 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 10

Clockwise from upper left: ISU stu-dents help elementary school studentsenjoy learning to read.

Indiana State clinical faculty associate Rebecca Boehler believes nothing beats the voice of experience when it comes to preparing future teachers for their careers.

As a result, she developed every one of the classes she taught at ISU around some aspect of what her students would encounter when they became teachers. Her constant message during her year-long sabbatical from teaching second graders at DeVaney Elementary School in Terre Haute was: “This is something you will need to know as a teacher.”

In addition to sharing her knowledge of how to manage a classroom with students, she also brought the real world of education to ISU and shared that with professors there. The latter included passing along her knowledge of teach-ing trends and textbooks. She brought a familiarity with challenges and issues connected with the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress – Plus exam as well as dif-

ferent assessments required of teachers.“I’ve basically been plucked from the classroom so I’m

current,” Boehler said.

The position of clinical faculty associate was “designed around the idea of bringing in teachers from the

field to help enrich and reinvigorate our faculty and bring the current world of teaching to the university,” Rebecca

“She provides the whole package,” said Kaylie Crane, a freshman from Attica. “She is a professor but she also is the teacher who has been in the situations we will be in.”

“She gave us so many great ideas we can implement when we get our own classroom,” said Amanda Hofmeis-ter, a freshman from Columbus. “She gave us behavior strategies. She gave us ideas about what you can do to make reading fun and what you can do to make math

is like,” he added.Hearing about the students’ experiences in the Vigo

County classrooms had an effect on Boehler as well. “They’re sharing positive experiences of what they’re go-

ing through,” she said. “Today one of the students shared that a fifth grader thanked him for helping him with his assignment and that gave me chills knowing that my stu-dents are going out and really helping the children in the corporation.”

Libler said College of Education faculty hope introduc-ing freshmen who are interested in pursuing education degrees to the classroom early in their education will have a positive impact on their careers.

“We hope that by having early and deep clinical ex-periences students will become more accustomed to the classroom and it will confirm their initial desire to be a teacher and will continue to affirm that as they’re placed in situations that they have the skills they need to be success-ful,” she said.

The addition of the clinical faculty associate is part of Indiana State’s move toward giving education majors

time in real classrooms each year of their education. This experience culminates in spending their last two semesters full time in classrooms through the Teachers of Tomorrow Advancing Learning program and student teaching.

“It’s a gradual building of total teaching skills on the very firm foundation of their content area,” Libler said.

The clinical faculty associate position and the elemen-tary education (ELED) 100-level class provide the corner-stone of the foundation.

This fall Boehler will return to her classroom and teach-ing second graders. She said she is looking forward to returning to her elementary classroom.

“I just feel like I’m rejuvenated this year,” she said. “I’ve got so many new ideas for next year. I have had the op-portunity to be in many wonderful classrooms. Plus several of my ELED students have shared many creative ideas with me that I can now use in my classroom.”

real-worldA

ApproAchAs clinical faculty associate, Rebecca

Boehler brought her experience to the College of Education’s classrooms

By Jennifer Sicking

11 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 12

Rebecca Boehler and students share common ground in the classroom

Libler, associate dean of the College of Education, said. “The faculty associates possess the clinical knowledge

and experience we want our students to have as they are learning to be teachers. They are full faculty working along-side our tenure-track faculty. We felt that was a way to enrich everyone’s lives,” she added.

“I wish every teacher could have this position for a year,” Boehler said. “This has been a dream job for me. I’ve learned so much about myself as a teacher along with ways I can improve. I’m also more aware of things I do I’m proud of.

I feel I’ve grown more through this experience than just about anything else in my 13 years of teaching,” she added.

The ISU students she taught said Boehler’s teaching had an impact on them as well.

exciting — ways to really just amp up students’ enthusiasm to learn and really create a good classroom atmosphere.”

As part of the 100-level elementary education introduc-tory course, freshmen spend two days a week for six

weeks observing Vigo County School Corporation class-rooms, studying how teachers manage their classes and working with small groups of students.

“It’s an excellent way of getting your feet wet and being able to see if teaching’s going to be for you because you get the field experience. Plus, you get knowledge from a teacher, a real teacher who’s out there every day working with younger kids,” said Wesley Clarke, a freshman early education major from Terre Haute.

“It’s an awesome way to get you fired up about teaching and how to prepare for it and get a taste of what everything

Underneath its more than 70-year-old brown brick exterior, University Hall at Indiana State Univer-

sity is going “green.” The greening process was part of its renovation as the new home of ISU’s College of Education.

“We’re making extensive use of recycled steel in the interior studs of the building,” said Steve Culp, con-struction manager with ISU Facili-ties Management. He estimates that nearly 90 percent of the steel being used in the renovation is recycled, with the use of newly forged steel limited to load-bearing walls.

It’s just one way architects and contractors are reflecting Indiana State’s commitment to environmen-tal sustainability in the nearly $30 million renovation of the building.

Constructed in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration proj-ect, the building features skylights to take full advantage of sunlight. The renovation pays homage to that Depression-era energy conservation method, said Bradley Balch, dean of the college.

“One of the hallmarks of the ren-ovation is the enclosure of the center atrium. The architects were able to develop skylights that capture the optimal amount of light necessary in the wintertime to help with the

Historic building’s renovation reflects ISU’s commitment to environmental sustainability

heating, but also reduce it to a minimum during those hot summer months when the light would be most direct and overhead,” Balch said.

The renovation also incorporates

other energy conservation features, including ther-mal pane windows, Culp explained.

“The windows have become a big factor in the insulation of class-rooms. We’ve considered heat loss on all the outside walls by installing fin coil tub-ing heaters to minimize heat loss throughout the build-ing,” Culp said.

A new heating and air condition-ing system allows for individual controls in each room — a sharp contrast to the “all or nothing” heating and cooling in the 15-story building at Statesman Towers that used to house the college.

As the college moves into its new

home this summer, it is expected to save approximately $1

million per

year in energy costs.The University Hall project also

reflects Indiana State’s commitment to sustainability because its location near the new Cherry Street Multi-Modal Transportation Facility makes it easy for those using the building to travel by public transportation.

In addition, bike racks are provided, there is pedestrian access to a variety of amenities nearby and existing green space is preserved.

The fact that the building is being renovated rather than demol-ished and replaced also conserves natural resources because only a limited amount of new materials are

required.

balch says the renovation is a tribute to the teaching

that took place in University Hall during the five decades the building served as the ISU Lab School.

“As one walks through this newly renovated building, you’ll feel that clinical pedagogy coming through, a real commitment to our K-12

partners, micro-teaching that reflects the K-12 environment and ample opportunities to invite our K-12 partners into University Hall so they have opportunities to reflect on their work and grow from it as well,” Balch said.

The building will also have ample space for educators to reflect on their teaching.

“Our K-12 partners tell us that they need a safe space, a

place to come

and think about their work, to ask questions about what’s working and what is not and so, as a part of this renovation, we’ve clearly carved out spaces for our K-12 partners to join us, because their reflections will always inform our pre-service educa-tion program work,” he said.

Recognizing that education is not always confined to

what takes place in specific rooms, Balch said the building also will offer plenty of opportunity for inci-dental learning.

“Our students, both undergradu-ate and graduate, tell us that it’s not always classrooms in which the most powerful learning occurs. It’s those chance interactions in the hallways or in a professor’s office where they have opportunities to confer one on one on their graduate or undergrad-

uate program opportunities,” he said.

“So we are ensuring that throughout this building

there’s space for those chance interactions and powerful learning oppor-tunities our students tell us were so important to their experience at ISU,” he added.

Thre are 13 classrooms in the building.

For others, ISU of-ficials believe the newly renovated University

Hall will be a symbol of the university’s future while

honoring the traditions of its past.“This will probably be the show-

case of Indiana State University as far as buildings. It has so many opportunities for education value, for community service value and for theatrics, speakers and tours,” Culp said. “It accommodates so many more things than what we have in any current building.”

By Dave Taylor

13 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 14

do that.”For Taylor, his TOTAL semester

allowed him to experience the reality of teaching.

“There’s a lot more to teaching than what I thought it would be,” he said. “A lot of teachers have been doing it for awhile and they just make it look easy. You get in there and you’re teaching one subject, it’s not too bad. But trying to do a full day and behavior management and all the other demands that are on a teacher’s time, it opens your eyes.”

Students involved in the TOTAL program likened it to an intern-ship and said it will help them not only with their student teaching but also when they walk into their own classrooms.

“I’ve gotten to see a lot more of how an experienced teacher would handle all kinds of situations,” said Jenna Mitchell, a senior elementary education major from Brazil. “I’ve seen how he or she will handle the same student differently in different situations. Each student has to be treated differently based on where they’re coming from.”

“It just makes me feel a lot more

ndiana State’s pilot program Teachers of Tomorrow Ad-vancing Learning (TOTAL) aims to give students a “to-tal” experience in terms of teaching them what it takes to lead a classroom

— and that’s before they do their student teaching.

Not surprisingly, Matt Taylor of Newport found himself shoveling mulch one day as he helped fifth graders create a quarter-mile-long walking path at DeVaney Elemen-

A ‘TOTAL’ teachingExpEriEncE

tary School in Terre Haute. Creating the path was a classroom project and part of Taylor’s duties as he worked alongside an experienced educator for a semester to prepare himself for student teaching.

“By doing this with them, I get more of an idea of their likes and dislikes,” said the ISU senior elementary education major. “Also, on days when they’re a little rowdy, it wears them out a little bit. Maybe their parents will thank me for it.”

Beth Whitaker, TOTAL student supervisor and ISU professor of

elementary, early and special educa-tion, explained that the program of-fers “an immersion semester prior to student teaching, and provides the opportunity before that culminating experience for students to ‘live and breathe’ a school and to be a part of it from bell to bell.

“They’re never responsible for everything. They’re getting their feet wet with teaching and planning and delivering instruction with the sup-port of the coaching teacher who’s been trained in a specific coaching model of supervision,” she added.

The experience differs from stu-dent teaching in an important way.

“When they student teach, at a certain point in the semester the teacher leaves them in the classroom for a two-week period to plan and deliver all of the instruction,” she said. “The TOTAL student is never left alone in the classroom and is never responsible for the full day of instruction.”

TOTAL students observe and help before gradually moving into small group instruction then to teaching subjects at the end of the semester in preparation for their student teach-ing.

“With my TOTAL student, basically I try to get her as involved as possible,” said Kristen Browne, second-grade teacher at DeVaney. “She does anything from reading a chapter book to doing a spelling lesson to doing a whole math lesson. She’s part of taking the students to art, music and physical education — anything to get her exposed to the ‘real world’ of teaching.”

The 10 ISU students who partici-pated in the pilot program’s third se-mester were divided between Fuqua and DeVaney elementary schools in Terre Haute.

“Here the TOTAL students walk in at 7:30 or a quarter until 8 and they see everything from the second those students walk through the door until 3:15 or even later,” said Browne. “They see all that hap-pens after students leave — all the grading, all the preparing for the next day, all the phone calls and everything that needs to be done to

professional and more prepared for student teaching, and my confidence has really grown,” said Heather Bender, a senior elementary educa-tion major from Logansport.

“You get to see everything your teacher does — behavior manage-ment, how you do stuff with home-work, how you deal with bathroom breaks — I mean everything. It’s just given us real experience day in and day out.”

That experience has led to growth in confidence and other areas for the TOTAL students, according to Paul Utterback, DeVaney principal.

“When they come to our school you see they dive right in, the teach-ers get them involved from day one,” he said. “Classroom manage-ment is one of those areas where we have seen a tremendous amount of growth. In the past they would come in and that wasn’t developed until later on in their student teach-ing. These students by the time they get to student teaching, you can tell that they have been TOTAL students and they have had that op-

portunity.”The TOTAL students’ professors

have noticed as well.“We’re seeing students going

into student teaching unbelievably confident,” Whitaker said. “They are ready to hit the ground running. They don’t want to have to sit back and observe like traditional student teachers have done. They are ready to teach and be teachers.”

Program offers students an immersion semester in a school prior to student teaching

“It just makes me feel a lot more professional and more prepared for student teaching, and my confidence has really grown.”

IThe program has allowed students to see everything from how to interact with the principal to how to handle lunches.

By Jennifer Sicking

15 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 16

A ‘TOTAL’ student takes a question from one of her fourth-grade students.

bENEFACTORSbENEFACTORSC o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n

Part of ISU alumni Mike and Amy Alley’s $1 million commitment to March On! The Campaign for Indi-ana State University will support the renovation of University Hall, the College of Education’s new home, through the development of the Micro Education Center.

The center will provide a pro-gram and classroom environment that permits first-year education stu-dents exposure to real-life classroom

experiences. Indiana State has remodeled Uni-

versity Hall, the former Laboratory School, into a state-of-the-art learn-ing facility that will be dedicated on Sept. 10.

“Indiana State was such an integral part of the development of both of our lives,” said Mike. “We experienced outstanding academic preparation, but more importantly, we enjoyed many opportunities to

have been actively involved in the life of ISU, providing the financial resources to enhance the institution’s tradition of strong undergraduate and graduate education for more than 20 years.

“Support from our alumni, such as the Alleys, is truly helping our College, University and campaign,” said Bradley Balch, dean of the Col-lege of Education.

The Alleys also demonstrate their devotion to their alma mater through service to the University. Mike is a member of the Indiana State Board of Trustees and the ISU Foundation Board of Directors.

He has further broadened his commitment to ISU by accepting an appointment as chair of the Na-tional Campaign Committee for the March On! Campaign.

March On! The Campaign for Indiana State University is the first comprehensive campaign conducted by the University. The campaign name is derived from the school’s fight song, “March On You Fighting Sycamores.”

“March On! comes at the right time for Indiana State,” ISU Foundation President Gene Crume said.

“Mike and Amy’s generous commitment shows the confidence our alumni and donors have in the University’s mission, presence and leadership,” he added.

The Indiana State University Foundation entered into the cam-paign as a board directive in January 2006.

The campaign, currently in its leadership phase, has targeted an $85 million goal to support four

grow personally through the student leadership activities and the lifelong relationships developed during our time at ISU.”

Indiana State has been a signifi-cant part of the couple’s life. Mike, ’78, is a graduate of the College of Business, while Amy, ’78, is a gradu-ate of the College of Education and was a teacher for a number of years.

The couple’s passion for the University has been evident as they

distinct pillars of support: students, faculty, programs, and facilities.

Part of the couple’s donation will go toward the College of Business and student activities, Mike said.

Grant to Help AddressSchool Dropout Crisis

A $20,000 grant from AT&T Inc. to the ISU Foundation is intended to help reduce the rate of school dropouts in Vigo County.

The ISU Foundation will use the funds to collaborate with ISU’s Stu-dent African American Brotherhood (SAAB) and local school districts to expand and enhance an African-American male mentors program for high schools and middle schools.

“We are committed to partnering with area educators and administra-tors to help prevent dropouts and increase student retention,” said ISU Foundation President Gene

Alleys Make Major Commitment to University Hall

Crume. “We thank AT&T for its support and look forward to putting these funds to good use in helping students succeed.”

The grant will focus on bringing additional college-age mentors into area public schools to motivate high school and middle school students to keep working toward graduation.

“Caring for others and taking responsibility for student success are two of our core values,” said ISU College of Education Dean Bradley Balch.

“The SAAB program puts these values into action and provides the area’s high school and middle school students with mentoring opportuni-ties,” he added.

“AT&T is proud to be part of the local community and we are committed to helping local students get the tools they need to gradu-ate,” said AT&T Indiana President George S. Fleetwood.

Linville Family Creates Endowed Scholarship

The family of Dr. William J. Linville established an endowed scholarship in his memory.

The William J. Linville Schol-arship in Elementary Education will support elementary education majors during their student teach-ing semester. The scholarship was established through the Indiana State University Foundation.

“Educators are the foundation

of our nation and its schools, and as such, there can be no greater investment in the future than edu-cation,” Said Dr. Brad Balch, dean of the ISU College of Education.

“Educating students to become elementary school educators was the core of Dr. Linville’s work,” he continued. “At ISU, this scholar-ship will carry forth Dr. Linville’s memory, while continuing to pro-vide a level of educational excel-lence and carry on his life’s work. The fund also serves as a tribute to Dr. Linville’s family.”

17 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 18

Amy and Mike Alley

INQUIRY

“Overall this study adds to the literature base on black Greek letter organizations, and it gives women a voice. . .”

INQUIRYC o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n

“I came back to myself. I’m from teenage parents and from an inner-city school. I did not get the best education,” Floyd says. “I asked myself: ‘What kept me in school?’ ” For her, the answer to that question was “the relationships I developed

Completing college can be a consid-erable challenge for anyone, but for African-American women who are contending with racism on predom-inantly white campuses, the task is even more daunting.

According to Rosiline Floyd, who

foundations, says Floyd’s research is groundbreaking because there is little written about the experiences of black women on predominantly white campuses or the link between retention of black females and black Greek letter organizations for women.

“There are numerous articles about the negative impact of sorori-ties and fraternities that focus on things such as alcohol abuse, hazing and attrition,” Howard-Hamilton, the author of “Standing on the Out-side Looking In: Underrepresented Students’ Experiences in Advanced Degree Programs.”

“However, the positive aspects are rarely discussed and the question of how colleges and universities can be

Study: black Sorority MembershipIncreases Odds of Graduating

Teacher AcademyPromotes Creativity

Alisa Isaacs-Bailey of Center Grove Middle School in Green-wood worked steadily setting up her booth presentation of “Fai-rytales in the Classroom” for a Teachers Academy presentation at Indiana State University.

“I’ve always been interested in teaching European fairytales,” said Bailey. “It was an amazing oppor-tunity.”

In 2005, Bailey applied for a Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant that allowed her to travel to Europe for a month where she studied European fairytales and did creative writing of her own.

In order to obtain the grant, Bailey had to write an essay explaining what she wanted to do with the grant money and why it would be beneficial to her teaching in the classroom.

The purpose of the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship is to extend teacher creativity within the class-room.

To qualify for the grant, an in-dividual must have been a teacher for at least three years, be seeking renewal of their teacher license and be planning on teaching after the project is complete for at least another three years.

The academy, which took place last fall at Indiana State’s College of Education, was a chance for the winners from Indiana to share

their creative projects with teacher education faculty and pre-service teachers from around the area.

The academy, which is funded by the Lilly Endowment, is part of a larger external teacher creativity grant and is held biannually. As part of the academy, teachers at-tended different classes throughout the week to present their projects to education students at Indiana State, according to Susan Powers, project director and associate dean of the College of Education.

Michelle Barnes, a teacher at Fall Creek Middle School in In-dianapolis, was awarded the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship in 2003.

“I spent a summer in Louisi-ana studying Cajun music,” said Barnes. “The cultural differences helped me relate to students from other cultures.”

Barnes, whose presentation was entitled, “They still need to play, sing and dance: The elements of Orff Schulwerk in Middle School,” dealt with the Orff Ap-proach, which is a developmental approach to music education for children. Originally developed by Carl Orff, a German composer, this style of teaching has become extremely popular in classrooms alike.

“I definitely recommend other teachers apply for this grant,” said Barnes. It’s a wonderful way to combine creativity and education in the classroom.”

more supportive in retaining these organizations on campus needs to be addressed,” she adds.

Floyd’s research allows women to be examined as a distinct group.

“Overall this study adds to the literature on black Greek letter organizations, and it gives women a voice and provides a ‘within group’ source of information rather than lumping everything under the large category of ‘black Greeks,’ ” How-ard-Hamilton says.

Floyd’s research showed that race and racism substantially affected the women’s post-secondary experiences. Besides the traditional adjustment to college, Floyd says they had to contend with race and racism as a part of everyday life.

received her Ph.D. from Indiana State in May 2009, there is some-thing that mitigates against racism and increases the odds of Afri-can-American women completing college.

That “something,” her research shows, is membership in a black so-rority (formally known as a women’s fraternal organization).

As part of Floyd’s doctoral studies in educational leadership, adminis-tration and foundations, she discov-ered that 46 percent of black women entering college complete their degrees as opposed to 66 percent of white women.

That finding led her to examine her own life and the lives of other successful black women to see what factors enabled them to succeed.

with and within the sorority.” As an undergraduate at Purdue

University, Floyd was a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. There, she said, she received support from her sorority sisters.

Floyd also interviewed members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho sororities at In-diana State, Indiana University and Purdue University.

She learned the same basic thing from those interviews as she did from her self-examination. In a black sorority, she says, “there is someone to talk to who understands your struggles.”

Mary Howard-Hamilton, Indi-ana State professor of educational leadership, administration and

19 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 20

Rosiline Floyd

College Challenge

For more than 25 years, ISU ’s “College Challenge” program has partnered with high schools to offer dual-credit classes to qualified high school students.

In 2008, the Indiana Legislature passed the “double up law” requiring all high schools to offer at least two college credit-bearing courses.

ISU is eager to partner with high schools across Indiana to help them “double up” to offer a low-cost transi-tion to college for Hoosier students. ISU is developing flexible programs to qualify high school teachers to teach college credit-bearing courses in part-nership with ISU.

For more information contact: Tom Steiger, director, College Challenge Program, at 812-247-3426 or tsteiger@indstate.edu.

PEOPLE PEOPLEC o l l e g e o f E d u c a t i o n

21 Sycamore Educator Sycamore Educator 22

1930sMartha Morgan-Naylor, bS ’30, Gary, celebrated her 100th birthday in Febru-ary 2009. The 1930 graduate atrributes her good health to healthy eating and years of exercise. She majored in physi-cal education at the Normal School. She was featured in the Dec. 15, 2008, issue of Newsweek for her active lifestyle and states that she still mows her own lawn.

1960sAlice Fuller, bS ’68, MS ’73, principal, Sugar Grove Elementary School, Terre Haute, was among the Indiana Associa-tion of School Principals Distinguished Principals for 2008. She also will serve as president of the Vigo County Admin-istrators Association for 2009-2010.

1970sW. Diane Cargile, bS ’70, MS ’71, principal, Rio Grande Elementary, Terre Haute, will serve as president of the Na-tional Association of Elementary School Principals for 2009-2010. Cargile was the principal at Davis Park Elementary in 2000-2001 and has been Rio Grande principal since 2001. Steve L. Collings, bS ’71, recently retired from the Marion County School System in Ocala, Florida after 36 years of service. The bulk of Steve’s teaching career was spent as a principal. Steve served his last four years as principal at Hillcrest, a school for special needs students. Mark Miller, bS ’72, MS ’76, princi-pal, Sarah Scott Middle School, Terre Haute, was among the Indiana Associa-tion of School Principals Distinguished Principals for 2008.Madonna Johnson, bS ’73, MS ’70, principal, Lost Creek Elementary, Terre Haute, will serve as president for

District 8 of the Indiana Association of School Principals for 2009-2010.Dirk Flick, bS ’75, EdS ’01, princi-pal, Whiting High School, Whiting, was among the Indiana Association of School Principals Indiana’s Distin-guished Principals for 2008.Joanne (Hutchins) Collins, bS ’77, MS ’81, PhD ’05, recently retired as direc-tor of education of ResCare Residential Program.kevin Stewart, bS ’77, MS ’81, prin-cipal, Southmont Senior High School, Crawfordsville, was among the Indiana Association of School Principals Distin-guished Principals for 2008.

1980sChristi Fenton, bS ’80, MS ’85, MED ’85, EDS ’06, is title I coordinator for the Vigo County School Corporation, Terre Haute and will serve as president of the Indiana Association of School Principals for 2009-2010. Don DeWeese, MED ’86, EDS ’03, principal, North Wayne Elementary School, Indianapolis, was among the Indiana Association of School Principals Distinguished Principals for 2008.Tim Teel, MED ’88, principal, North Elementary School, Poseyville, was among Indiana Association of School Principals Distinguished Principals for 2008.

1990sPaula M. keeton, MS ’93, PhD ’98, was recently promoted to clinical direc-tor at the University of Iowa’s University Counseling Service where she works as a senior staff psychologist. Paula is also an overall assistant director in the agency.Meg Nowak, MS ’93, accepted the position of vice president for student affairs at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.

Catherine Hagerman Pangan, bS ’95, has accepted an assistant professorship in Butler University’s College of Educa-tion in Indianapolis. Steve Yager, PhD ’96, was awarded the Northeast District II 2009 Indiana Su-perintendent of the Year Past-President’s Award.Robert k. Johnson, EdS ’97, was named the Southwest District VII 2009 Indiana Superintendent of the Year.

2000sRandy C. barrett, EdS ’01, has retired as superintendent of Eastern Greene Schools after a 37-year career in educa-tion. He and his wife, Alice, reside in Bloomington, Ind.Todd Slagle, MED ’01, has been named principal at Delaware Elementary School in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, Evansville. brent Stevens, EDS ’03, has been named assistant principal at Evans Middle School in the Evansville Vander-burgh School Corporation, Evansville. He is currently in the PhD program at ISU.brent Gage, PhD ’04, has been named to fill the newly created post of associate provost for enrollment management at the University of Alabama Birmingham. becky Courtney-knight, PhD ’05, principal, Whiteland Elementary School, Whiteland, was among the Indiana Association of School Principals Distinguished Principals for 2008.Philip Harrison, PhD ’05, who serves as the principal of South Vermillion High School in Clinton, was among the Indiana Association of School Principals Distinguished Principals for 2008. Charlene Gyurko, PhD ’06, of the Higher Education Leadership Program in ISU’s department of education lead-ership, administration and foundations

made a presentatoin on the country’s nursing shortage at the American Asso-ciation of University Professor’s Confer-ence in June 2009. She is also an RN.Tieree Smith, MS ’06, who worked at Nebraska Wesleyan College in Lincoln, Neb., was instrumental in the city re-naming a street for Rosa Parks and was honored by other groups for her work with the African American community there. She has since moved to Indianap-olis and is working at a charter school.Clint Whitson, MS ’07, has been active in Indiana with student affairs organi-zations. He is working at Ivy Tech in Indianapolis and is actively involved with NASPA Region IV-East and the Indiana Student Affairs Association. He is married to Jennifer Nebesny Whitson ’08, who is employed in the registrar’s office at Franklin College.Mary Schweizer has been named princi-pal at McGary Middle School, in Evans-ville. She expects to complete her EdS degree from ISU in December 2009.

Faculty and StaffWill barratt, associate professor, ELAF, has been appointed acting chair of the department of educational leadership, administration and foundations, from summer 2009 through summer 2010. Denise Collins, assistant professor, ELAF, was appointed College of Educa-tion administrative fellow in the dean’s office for fall 2008 through spring 2010.Sue kiger, associate professor, CIMT, was appointed chairperson and associate professor in the department of curricu-lum instruction and media technology.Marlene Lu, blumberg Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Special Education, was named a trustee of the Gilmer Institute of Learning of the Society of Government Meeting Profes-sionals at the May Educational Summit

in Louisville. Susan Powers, associate dean, College of Education, will serve as an academic affairs fellow in the capacity of co-coor-dinator for the North Central Asso-ciation from fall 2008 through spring 2010.

In Memoriambenjamin F. Walker, emeritus profes-sor, 1966-81, passed away April 21, 2009. Ben spent his lifetime in teaching and school administration from elemen-tary through university levels. He was a professor at Indiana State University for 19 years.Russell L. Hamm, emeritus profes-sor 1965-88, passed away Dec. 11, 2008. Along with the many books he wrote during his tenure at Indiana State University, he also edited Contemporary Education, a publication known world-wide. Melvin E. “Tony” Frazier, emeritus professor 1967-89, passed away March 5, 2009. Along with other teach-ing responsibilities in the elementary education department at Indiana State University, Tony supervised elementary student teachers and served as director of elementary student teaching.Jon J. Laska, emeritus professor, 1955-81, passed away April 21, 2009. Jon taught art at the University Lab School from 1955 until 1981. Some of the locations his work is displayed include the Eugene Debs House, Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Indiana University. He designed the Debs Award and the Indiana Special Olympics Award, both of which are given annually.William J. Linville, emeritus professor 1962-96, bS ’55, MS ’63, passed away Jan. 1, 2009. Bill taught at Indiana State University from 1962 until 1996.

He began his ISU career teaching in the Laboratory School and then continued his career with ISU in the College of Education teaching mathematics meth-ods for elementary education majors and supervising student teachers. An endowed scholarship has been created in his name at ISU.Miriam Howell Turney, M.A. ’68, passed away Oct. 6, 2008. Miriam was an elementary teacher in Vigo County from 1969 to 1977.Walter J. Sanders, emeritus professor 1971-93, passed away Dec. 12, 2008. During his tenure at ISU, Walt co-au-thored a series of mathematics text-books and workbooks for students at all academic levels, including Freshman Mathematics for University Students. His interest in music led him to play clarinet and saxophone for the local band “Easy Street.”

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDTerre Haute, Indiana

Permit No. 48

Sycamore EducatorCollege of Education Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute, IN 47809

Choose from over 20 workshops presented by talented professors, graduate students, ISU alumni, and technical experts on topics including:• Exploringthe Center for Mathematics Education•Section504•SeriousLearning with Fun Games•SocialNetworking Tools•StudentResponse Systems•Project-based Teaching

Deadline for registration is October 23, 2009.

For more information visit the Sycamore Educators Day Web site at: www.indstate.edu/coe/sed or contact Connie Simrell at 812-237-2899.

Time: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Location: University Hall , Indiana State University’s new location of the College of Education

Keynote Speaker: Diane Cargile, President, National Association of Elementary School Principals

Register Online: www.indstate.edu/coe/sed