Scholarship recipient hopes to pass on passion for reading | News | University of North Texas

Donors Byron Killen, far left, and Jan Killen, far right, pose with UNT senior Atticus Shaskan, middle, at the College of Education scholarship banquet Oct. 24. Shaskan received four scholarships from the College of Education to help him pay for his last year of school. Photo credit: DuranPhotography.com.

DENTON (UNT), Texas - As a high school student, Atticus Shaskan was captivated by classics like The Great Gatsby, 1984 and Flowers for Algernon.

Now a senior at the University of North Texas, Shaskan is pursuing a degree in education in hopes of helping other high school students develop the same love of reading his teachers gave him.

Shaskan was recently awarded four scholarships from the College of Education to help pay for his last year of school. Without the scholarships, Shaskan said he might not have been able complete his education.

"My highest hope for my future students is that they become independently interested in reading," said Shaskan, 22, who graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst. "Reading can be a lifelong pursuit, and it can bestow incredible benefits on us."

The College of Education handed out roughly $150,000 in scholarships to 131 students, including Shaskan, who spoke at the college's annual scholarship banquet Oct. 24 (Thursday) at Apogee Stadium. The banquet was sponsored by Verizon.

Byron Killen, a longtime donor to the college, also spoke at the banquet. Killen and his wife, Jan, created the Bessie and Joe Killen Education Scholarship, intended for full-time undergraduate and graduate students majoring in education and seeking teacher certification.

To learn more about how philanthropic support is transforming UNT or to make a gift, visit http://giving.unt.edu.

About UNT's College of Education

UNT's College of Education prepares students to contribute to the advancement of education, health and human development. Founded in 1890 as a teacher's training college, UNT now enrolls more than 4,000 students in the College of Education and certifies about 1,000 teachers a year - making it the largest producer of new teachers in the north Texas region.

Source: Unt

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Denise Spangler

Focus on Faculty

Denise Spangler, the Bebe Aderhold Professor in Early Childhood Education and head of the department of mathematics and science education, strives to create a classroom environment that is challenging yet nurturing.

Where did you earn degrees and what are your current responsibilities at UGA?

I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in mathematics from Illinois State University. My doctoral degree is from the University of Georgia in mathematics education. I am currently a professor of mathematics education and head of the department of mathematics and science education in the College of Education.

When did you come to UGA and what brought you here?

I came to UGA in 1991 to go to graduate school because my master's thesis adviser had gotten her doctorate here and told me this was the best place in the country to study mathematics education. I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to experience UGA from both sides of the desk.

What are your favorite courses and why?

My favorite courses to teach are mathematics methods courses for early childhood education majors. It is so important that children receive good mathematics instruction in the elementary grades, and I love working with future teachers to try to make that happen. So often my students have had negative experiences with mathematics in their past schooling, but by learning why certain things work the way they do in math (such as why you invert and multiply to divide fractions) and understanding how to help children learn these ideas in a meaningful way, many of my students have a complete change of attitude about mathematics. They often start their teacher education program scared of teaching math but leave the program excited about it.

What interests you about your field?

Mathematics plays a gatekeeper role in so many ways in our society, and I am intrigued by the various ways we can change that and help people see themselves as more competent mathematically. There are many ways to do that, such as curriculum development and out-of-school activities, but the approach I take is to help future teachers see themselves and their students as mathematically capable. Because I work with future elementary school teachers, I am interested in stopping the problem before it starts.

What are some highlights of your career at UGA?

The biggest highlight of my career is just being here. The fact that I get to count my former professors as my colleagues and friends is a great honor.

How does your research or scholarship inspire your teaching, and vice versa?

Because I conduct research on the very thing I teach, my teaching and research are inextricably intertwined and inspire each other. I am constantly challenged to use what I learn from my research to improve my teaching and to take an inquisitive approach to my teaching to better understand my students.

What do you hope students gain from their classroom experience with you?

I strive to create a classroom environment that is at the same time challenging and nurturing because I want students to learn to articulate what they think about a topic (whether it is research, assessment, teaching, national standards or some other topic of study), why they think this, what others (peers and scholars) think about the same topic and why, and the similarities and points of departure between their views and the views of others. In other words, I want students to have informed ideas to take with them and to know how to continue to refine those ideas and how to evaluate new ideas.

Describe your ideal student.

The ideal student has genuine intellectual curiosity, which means she/he is open-minded and reflective, willing to listen to and seriously consider other points of view, willing to share his/her point of view, and open to reshaping his/her views when warranted. I cannot possibly teach future teachers everything they will need in order to teach math in pre-K through fifth grade, so it is essential that they be genuinely curious so that they will continue to learn throughout their careers and so that they will willingly delve into students' thinking.

Favorite place to be/thing to do on campus is...

I love to walk the D.W. Brooks Mall. When I first came to UGA it was a street. Now that it is a green space, it is a beautiful place to walk (with a stop at the Creamery) and enjoy the campus.

Beyond the UGA campus, I like to...

Exercise, read and travel.

Community/civic involvement includes....

I am currently serving my third term on the Clarke County School District Board of Education. I have learned so much about what it takes to run a school district and have met so many wonderful people along the way.

Favorite book/movie (and why)?

My favorite book of recent years is "Memoirs of an Unexpected Life," the autobiography of Queen Noor of Jordan. She was born Lisa Halaby in the U.S., was in the first class of women admitted to Princeton, where she studied architecture, and then worked abroad in Australia and Iran. She left Iran when the shah was deposed and on her way back to New York to go to graduate school, passed through Jordan, met King Hussein and eventually married him. The story of how a strong, independent American woman became a queen in an Islamic country and how she used her talents to advance the plight of women there, while adhering to Islamic customs, is fascinating to me, particularly in these times when there is so much international attention focused on the Middle East.

Proudest moment at UGA?

My proudest moments at UGA are hooding doctoral students at graduation and when I hear from former students. Our students are doing many great things in the world of education around the globe, which gives me confidence and hope for the future.

Source: Uga

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Stephanie Knight Named New Associate Dean

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-Stephanie Knight, professor of education (educational psychology), has been named the College of Education's new associate dean for undergraduate and graduate studies.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with the outstanding faculty, students, staff and administrators in the College of Education in my new role as associate dean," said Knight. "The quantity and quality of college and departmental innovative activities and accomplishments are very impressive. I am looking forward to being a part of such a stimulating environment."

In her new role, Knight said she is eager to provide leadership in an era of unprecedented challenges in education, such as rapid technology changes, shrinking resources and standards-based assessment and accountability.

"If we view these challenges as opportunities for improvement, we can make an impact on K-16 education," said Knight. "I see the College of Education meeting current challenges through leadership in three areas: educational innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and diversity, and research and assessment. I hope that I can help provide a framework in the college to set and accomplish ambitious goals in these areas."

Throughout her career, Knight offered leadership to numerous higher education groups, including as director of the Center for Collaborative Learning Communities at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and as the executive director of the Houston School-University Research Collaborative, a consortium of eight urban school districts and regional service centers and the University of Houston. She also served as associate director of research into practice for the National Science Foundation Information Technology in Science Center for Teaching and Learning.

Knight has received several recognitions for her performance and scholarship, including the University Distinguished Teaching Award, an endowed chair in urban education, and an appointment as a university faculty fellow, all at TAMU.

In 2009, Knight came to Penn State where she joined the educational psychology, counseling, and special education department in the College of Education where she teaches courses in educational psychology and effective teaching.

Her research interests include classroom processes and learning environment, professional development and teacher education particularly in adverse settings. She has numerous books, book chapters, journal articles and conference presentations in these areas.

Knight currently serves as the lead editor for the "Journal of Teacher Education" and was previously co-editor of the "American Educational Research Journal."

She received her doctorate from the University of Houston and her master's degree from Lehigh University.

Knight replaced outgoing associate dean, Jacqueline Edmondson, who became the new associate vice president and associate dean for undergraduate education at Penn State.

--by Kevin Sliman (September 2013)

Source: Psu

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The University of Akron : Admission Postsecondary

Fall semester, 2002, marked the very beginning of the Honors Scholars Connections (HSC) at The University of Akron. The first class consisted of seven men and women from the surrounding school districts. As the program continues to develop, we would like to strive for an enrollment of up to fifteen students, keeping the program relatively small in order to foster group interaction among the students who are chosen for this program. The academy experience is for students who would normally be completing their senior year of high school, although exceptional juniors and first year commuter students will also be considered.

The curriculum for HSC students includes some flexibility and some requirements. Perhaps most important is that students in the academy commit to take the majority of their courses at The University of Akron. With the help of the HSC coordinator and academic advisors, those students in the academy who are planning to take the same courses are encouraged to register for classes at the same time so as to build friendships and peer support among students in the program. One major advantage of the Honors Scholars Connections is that students are given the benefit of registering for their courses before all other post-secondary students ensuring that they will be able to enroll in their first choice of classes. Students are encouraged to enroll in honors sections of courses they plan to take. Students may also enroll in elective academic subjects (for a total of twelve to fourteen credits) in their areas of interest.

In addition to taking most of their courses at UA, students in this program are given the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities at the university as well. Permission for participation is required to help support the success of post-secondary students at The University of Akron, and HSC students may not participate in athletics, speech and debate, or in social fraternities or sororities.

Another benefit of the HSC is that members are given 24 hour access to the academic wing of the Honors Complex at The University of Akron. The academic wing includes the 24-hour Honors Computer Lab, the large two-story Honors Common Room, three seminar classrooms, and one large classroom.

The Honors College sponsors HSC, and a graduate student enrolled in the College of Education serves as a mentor and coordinator for the Academy. This individual is accessible to students in the program and has an office in the Honors Complex. The coordinator of HSC arranges activities to provide a sense of community for participants. These activities may include lunchtime meetings, bowling in the Student Union, tours of campus facilities, or special lectures from UA or visiting faculty members. Prior to the beginning of each school year an introductory event will take place for students to become familiar with the expectations of the program. In addition, a banquet will take place at the close of each academic school year.

2012: There is a highlighted story of HSC student Jaremy Hatler at this site, describing his work in research in UA's polymer science department.

Source: Uakron

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