Take Note ~ Fall 2010

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TAKE NOTECollege of Education Magazine [ FALL 2010 ]

Out of AmericaEducation students study abroad in Tanzania

Newest cohort of fellows2nd group of Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows begins

It’s Fun to Work at the...Two graduates land jobs at the Y

A Winning EquationCatching up with the Chamberlins

2 FALL 2010

THE COLLEGE From the Dean 3Strategically Speaking 10-11Snapshots 16-17

STUDENTSTanzania Study Abroad 4-5Getting an Education 6

FOCUS ON STEM Meet the Fellows 8-9Fellows Teaching 10

RESEARCH Research Briefs 18

ENGAGEMENT Students Help the Environment 7

FACULTY and STAFFNotables 12-13Time for Change 14-15Notables 14-15

DEVELOPMENTLasting Impression 19

ALUMNIIt’s Fun to Work at the... 20-21Where are They Now? 22-23Other Side of the World 24-25A Winning Equation 26Book Smarts 27Alumni Notable News 26-27Paul Schuyler 30-21

TAKE NOTE

is an annual publication by Purdue University College of Education.

Purdue University, College of Education Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education100 North University StreetWest Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098Phone: 765-494-2341 | Fax: 765-494-5832Email: [email protected]: www.education.purdue.edu | www.teach.purdue.edu

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Contact Tonya Agnew at [email protected] or 765-494-0568 with comments or questions about the magazine. Articles without a byline are written by Tonya Agnew. Graphic design by Tonya Agnew. © 2010 Purdue University, all rights reserved

An equal access/equal opportunity university.

On the cover: (background) Safari excursion in Tanzania, pages 4-5; (from top) study abroad students on the Monduli Village excursion, pages 4-5; second cohort of Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching fellows during their welcome reception, pages 8-9; Beth Riedeman at the Lafayette Family Y, pages 20-21; Scott and Michelle Heger Chamberlin, page 26

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Welcome!The fall semester has the campus buzzing with returning students, new students, faculty and staff. The College of Education starts the semester with a renewed energy, enthusiasm, and readiness to tackle the opportunities and challenges of the coming year. Armed with our strategic plan (page 11), we’re moving forward preparing exceptional teachers and intellectual leaders, improving educational outcomes and advancing scientific discovery.

As part of the plan’s goals we will continue to:• Fosterresearch• Strengthenprograms• Buildpartnerships• Modelinclusiveness• Enhanceourworkplace

Moving upWe’re already on our way. Last spring U.S.News & World Report ranked the College of Education graduate programs 44th in the nation—a 24–place jump from our 2008 ranking of 68th. We’re confident that we’ll continue that momentum as we forge ahead.

New challengesAs you may know, last year the University grappled with

significant budgetary issues that were a direct result of the national and state economic downturn. Although actions were

taken to address these issues a significant recurring deficit remains. Therefore, the Provost has asked all academic units to plan for an

additional 3-percent reduction in our general fund budget for each year of the 2011-2013 biennium. To address the budget reduction requirement, the college leadership has begun developing a strategy to examine the operations of the college in a way that will include input from faculty and staff, and will allow programs to identify ways to realize greater efficiencies while striving to make progress on the college’s strategic plan. This process provides opportunities to develop bold initiatives, streamline efforts and create efficiencies.

Creative solutionsThe college has many innovative, creative individuals who can help us collectively problem-solve and emerge from this challenge as a stronger, more focused unit. Each of them is a critical resource in helping us identify ways to effectively address this difficult task. Throughout this process I will do all that I can to ensure the success of our students, faculty and staff. And together we will launch the futures of generations to come.

Maryann Santos de Barona, Dean

FROM the DEAN

4 FALL 2010

OUT of AMERICAEducation students study abroad in Tanzania

The Purdue group: (left to right) Kate Kerkhove, Kelsey Lindauer, Mike Lolkus, Andrea

Frost, Jackson (our guide), Kari Wortinger, Evan Hanna, Corryn Brown, Thomas

Christenson, Heather Hochstedler on the Monduli Village excursion

(Left to right) Kari Wortinger and Andrea Frost play with a boy at Samaritan Village, a local orphanage

Kate Kerkhove teaching at Assumption Nursery

and Primary School in Arusha, Tanzania

Kelsey Lindauer, Mulala Village excursion

Andrea Frost reading with a boy at Samaritan Village, a local orphanage

(Left to right) Kate Kerkhove and

Mike Lolkus, safari excursion

4 FALL 2010


Home to the Serengeti National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania is an exotic, tropical land with amazing wildlife and culture to discover.

Tanzania is on the eastern coast of Africa and is bordered by Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. It’s a country of more than 40 million in roughly 120 ethnic communities in an area slightly smaller than New Mexico and Texas combined, according to the U.S. Department of State’s website (www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2843.htm).

It’s also an incredible place to host a study abroad program.

Why Tanzania?“I chose Tanzania for this study abroad program for many reasons. It is safe, interesting, exciting, beautiful, and I’ve never found more wonderful people anywhere in the world,” explained Jill Newton, assistant professor of mathematics education and Tanzania study abroad program leader.

In May Newton, along with colleague Lisa Kasmer, assistant professor of mathematics education at Auburn University, hosted eighteen students—nine students from each university.

“My experience in Tanzania was more than just an academic journey to build our teaching skills and research abilities,” said Thomas Christenson, a senior in social studies education from Carmel, Ind. “It was also an adventure that led us to experience and love a different culture from our own.”

Based in Arusha, Tanzania, the study abroad program is geared for education students and includes immersion in Tanzanian culture, teaching in local schools and excursions—including camping/hiking trips and a four-day safari to Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Students earn six to nine credits during their 28-day stay.

ItineraryDay 1 Travel to Tanzania Days 2-3 Program Orientation in Arusha, Tanzania Days 4-5, 8-11, Mornings in Local Schools, Afternoon 16-19, 22-26 Classes at OutpostDays 6-7 Monduli Village Excursion Days 12-15 Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater Safari Excursion Days 20-21 Arusha National Park/Mulala Village Excursion Day 27 Prepare for Departure Day 28 Depart Tanzania

“Being in the beautiful country of Tanzania surrounded by equally beautiful and welcoming people led me to experience a joy and passion for life unlike anything I have ever experienced,” said Kelsey Lindauer, senior in mathematics education from Evansville, Ind. “In the four

weeks, I made new friends, fell in love with a new culture, witnessed nature in its purest form, and made memories that I will cherish forever. The program provides the perfect combination of education, teaching experience, fun and adventure, and I would do it all again in an instant!”

Newton plans to offer the Tanzania study abroad each Maymester.

Global awarenessThe goal of the Tanzania study abroad program and all of our study abroad programs is for our students to gain understanding and cultural awareness and develop teaching skills, but it does so much more than that.

Evan Hanna, senior in mathematics education from Angola, Ind. said, “My teacher, fellow students and the staff and students of those schools that I worked in shaped my experience in its entirety. I had not witnessed true poverty before this experience and it left me puzzled as to why life there was so much more upbeat and friendly than here in the states. If I learned one thing in Tanzania, it is this—money is materialistic. True happiness lies in the ability to be content. ”

In addition to Tanzania, the College of Education offers enriching and rewarding study abroad programs in Honduras, Germany and India specifically for education majors. There is also a “Reading London” program offered through the College of Liberal Arts geared for English education majors.

Online: www.edci.purdue.edu/studyabroad/tanzania

Estimated costs for futureTanzania study abroad

$270 Purdue Study Abroad Fee $32 International Medical Insurance $3,500 Program Fee $200 Medications/Immunizations $200 Non-included Meals/Transportation+ $1,800 Tanzania Flight

$6,002 TOTAL

If you’d like to contribute and help a student afford the wonderful study abroad opportunities awaiting him or her, contact Jennifer Jeffries at [email protected] or 765-496-3545.


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6 FALL 2010

GETTING an EDUCATION

This summer Hannah Ames is getting an education outside her college studies. The 21-year-old Purdue University senior was selected to be the summer intern for United Way of Putnam County in Indiana under its director David English. “It’s been a blessing in disguise,” she said about the unexpected internship with an organization committed to improving lives and building stronger communities through bringing the best resources together to provide help where it’s needed. Since starting her internship June 10, Ames has learned about the history of the United Way and how the organization works in local communities like Putnam County. She has also been “put in charge” of some very special projects. “There are four big projects,” she said without showing a hint of intimidation. The first has already taken place, which was organizing a picture for the

local youth league at Big Walnut Sports Park; and second is getting a first-hand look at local agencies by contacting directors and learning about each agency, which will be compiled into a document for United Way board members to review. “It’s an insider’s look into the agencies,” said English. Ames’ third project is organizing the 30th annual United Way of Putnam County golf scramble to be held on Aug. 6 at Old Hickory Golf Course. She was elected to help with bringing in new sponsors, which has given her an appreciation for residents and businesses that care enough to get involved. As an aspiring teacher, Ames said this experience has taught her the importance of taking the time to be involved in the community. “It is definitely important to be active,” she said. The final project will bring Ames back after fall classes have started again. The United Way kick-off breakfast to the Day of Caring will be in August. She has been in charge of scheduling the guest speaker, the invitations, food, brochures and the location. English said Ames has done a terrific job with her responsibilities. Ames, a Fillmore native, graduated in 2007 from South

Putnam High School. She is the daughter of Kerry and Corliss Ames of Fillmore. Ames is studying elementary education, a career she

didn’t desire to pursue growing up. “I come from a family of teachers,” she explained.

But as a senior in high school, she was a cadet teacher at Fillmore Elementary, her former stomping grounds and where she fell in love with teaching. Ames said her studies at Purdue have reinforced her wishes to be an elementary school teacher. “It’s definitely meant to be,” she said of her future. And so was the summer internship with United Way. “The whole summer has been a blessing,” Ames said. English said Ames’ help in the office has been a blessing to him, too. “By being a blessing to me, it has been a greater blessing to the community and United Way by allowing us to expand and develop other funding sources. “Always remember, this is United Way of Putnam County and we will only be as a strong as the community wants us to be,” English concluded. Ninety-eight percent of funds raised through United Way stay in Putnam County.

Reprinted, by permission, from the July 26, 2010, edition of the Greencastle Banner-Graphic, Greencastle, Ind.

—Shannen Hayes, journalist, Greencastle Banner-Graphic

...outside of the classroom


STUDENTS HELP the ENVIRONMENTGERI campers take chemical engineering class

The mayor of West Lafayette listened Friday as 13-year-old students proposed designs for manufacturing plants to create a better form of biodiesel with vegetable oil. Students from around Indiana, the United States and the world gathered on campus for the Gifted Education Resource Institute. Most are 13 years old; all impressed their chemical engineering teacher, Gilberto Jimenez, a graduate student in the College of Science. The students had a chance to perform experiments that most first-year chemistry classes have their students perform, such as creating scents, producing slime and making a stink bomb – even though they were told it was fertilizer. The students had the opportunity to choose what classes they would take, and 13 students chose this chemical engineering class, in which they also got to impress Mayor John Dennis. “The students will design a biodiesel manufacturing facility, since global warming and fossil fuel based pollution is such a hot topic today,” Jimenez wrote in an e-mail. Each student received a signed letter from Dennis that challenged them to come up with this facility. In the letter, Dennis said, “It is important that you understand that there are far more advantages to constructing a biodiesel manufacturing plant than just helping the environment. This manufacturing facility will provide many jobs for the local people for its construction and then its operation.” On their own, the students had five days to design the plants and crunch numbers together of the prices of every chemical they needed and the overall cost. “Some days they get to actually perform an experiment, which they then have to scale up (design a processing facility) and then present. Other days they’re just drawing, crunching numbers or even calling suppliers to figure out costs!” Jimenez wrote. “They did their own research and found their own solutions. Though most of them focused on cost other considerations like the amount of oil obtained per acre were considered.” The designs were drawn onto computer paper that was taped together, forming larger posters. As the individual groups were called up, Jimenez introduced them by their group names; “The Smoothies,” “The Banana Pancakes” and “The Biodegradable.” “Because of their tremendous mental agility and professionalism, it is sometimes easy to forget that they kids are only 12 and 13 years old,” Jimenez wrote. “I let kids be kids in class just as long as they meet deadlines, work productively and keep a safe environment at all times.”

Reprinted, by permission, from the July 26, 2010, edition of the Purdue Exponent.

—Alissa Berger and Amanda Sliepka, summer reporters, Pudue Exponent

The Gifted Education Resource Institute at Purdue University conducts research into the psychology of gifted and talented individuals and effective educational practices for high ability youth. Super Saturday and the GERI Summer Camps, GERI’s youth talent development programs, provide challenging learning opportunities and a healthy social environment to a diverse population of high ability children and teens. A center located in the Department of Educational Studies in the Purdue University College of Education, GERI offers graduate programs in gifted education and a licensure program for K-12 educators in Indiana. GERI also provides training to pre-service teachers through hands-on opportunities and training in connection to Super Saturday and the GERI Summer Camps. Under the leadership of Executive Director Professor Marcia Gentry, GERI provides leadership in gifted education, and serves as an advocate for programs and services to high ability students. GERI alumni serve in leadership positons across the United States and abroad and in hundreds of K-12 classrooms.

8 FALL 2010

The second cohort of Purdue Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellows started this summer. They are participating in a pioneering program to staff rural secondary schools with highly qualified science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers.

Michael Arvola, Lafayette, Ind. Purdue University ‘07, mechanical engineering technology Process engineer, with experience in manufacturing and mechanical engineering; member of Tau Alpha Pi, an engineering technology honor society; active in faith-based organizations, including mission trips through the Baptist Student Foundation and volunteer with the Tippecanoe Camp and Retreat Center.

Jessica Austin, Russiaville, Ind.Kettering University ‘96, manufacturing systems engineering Engineer of 18 years with Delphi Corporation; looks forward to utilizing this experience to show students that “science is fun and applicable in their everyday lives.”

Kelly Babb, Lafayette, Ind.Purdue University ‘96, genetic biologyUniversity of Kentucky, M.S., medical sciences Research associate in microbial ecology, with over 15 years’ experience; author of peer-reviewed publications including one book chapter, 16 journal papers, and seven conference papers/abstracts.

Aaron Baker, Lafayette, Ind. Purdue University ‘96, mechanical engineering technology Engineer of more than 10 years; current owner and office manager of Wildcat Valley Animal Clinic Inc.; a volunteer reader/listener for elementary school children and coach for T-ball, basketball and soccer.

Andrew Bever, Bloomington, Ind.DePauw University ‘08, physics Former Science Research Fellow at DePauw; involved with a variety of campus activities, including Pep Band, WGRE-FM Radio, Young Life, Relay for Life and Physics Club (president); maintains membership in the Society of Physics Students; recently served as camp counselor for the Diabetes Youth Foundation.

Dane Brown, Valparaiso, Ind.Saint Joseph’s College ‘07, environmental sciencePurdue University, M.S., earth and atmospheric sciences Former lab teaching assistant at Purdue University; First Tee Instructor for Junior Golfers, volunteer golf instructor for the Special Olympics, umpire for Little League Baseball, and volunteer unified basketball coach for middle school students.

Crystal Collier, Lafayette, Ind. Florida A&M University ‘01, actuarial science Adjunct instructor at Ivy Tech Community College, with insurance and accounting experience as an underwriter; experience substitute teaching and tutoring in math in the Chicago Public Schools.

MEET theFELLOWS


Candice Kissinger, West Lafayette, Ind.Ohio Wesleyan University ‘73, botany/bacteriology University of Massachusetts-Amherst, M.S., food science and nutritionOver 30 years’ experience in scientific research and product development; author of several peer-reviewed publications and holder of numerous patents; recently a substitute teacher and adjunct instructor/research associate for Purdue.

Moira McSpadden, Garland, TexasArizona State University ‘82, industrial technologyArizona State University ‘84, microelectronics engineering technology Northeastern University, M.S., information systems Business analyst of more than nine years; assisted in design and implementation of training materials on new engineering processes.

Michael Mieher, Ossian, Ind.Purdue University ‘88, mechanical engineering Former mechanical engineer with over 15 years’ experience in product design and manufacturing, consulting, management and sales; experience in substitute teaching and working with youth through church groups.

Nelson Pelton, Lafayette, Ind.Purdue University ‘09, biology Recipient of the National Smart Grant; former Purdue laboratory assistant; four years as a guitar instructor; active member of church worship team.

Edwin Ramos, Evansville, Ind. Northwestern University ‘02, classicsUniversity of Southern Indiana ‘10, mathematics Substitute teacher and study skills specialist, tutoring in mathematics, ESL, and Latin; experience as a librarian and literacy specialist for K-8 students; graduate coordinator for America Reads/America Counts; fluent in Latin.

Daniel Sacre, Caitlin, Ill. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ‘10, chemistry Dean’s List student; Junior Achievement instructor; volunteer with Salt Fork Storm Athletic Boosters and the Children’s Museum.

Cortnaye Smith, Stilesville, Ind. University of Indianapolis ‘10, biology and chemistry Recipient of the Brooker Science Scholarship and Outstanding Junior Biology Major Award; volunteer with the State Science Fair, Sheltering Wings and ResCare; assistant coach and umpire for Little League baseball.

Robin Truesdell Townsend, Kokomo, Ind. Purdue University ‘85, mechanical engineering Engineer of more than 25 years with Delphi Electronics and Safety; church youth leader; mentor for elementary school students through Bridges Outreach.

Jenafer Wolf, Lafayette, Ind.Purdue University ‘07, atmospheric chemistry and synoptic meteorology Research technician and member of the American Meteorological Society; former president of the Purdue University Meteorological Association; co-founder of Purdue Letters From Home, in support of U.S. soldiers.

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10 FALL 2010

The Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship, which began at Purdue in the summer of 2009, seeks to attract talented, committed individuals with backgrounds in the STEM fields into teaching in high-need Indiana high schools. While other participating universities are making efforts to tackle the challenges of urban schools, the focus at Purdue is on rural schools. Funded through a $10 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, the Fellowship offers rigorous courses, extensive clinical experience and ongoing mentoring. Fellows receive a $30,000 stipend while working towards their master’s and commit to teaching in a rural school for three years. Purdue’s first cohort began teaching this fall. While not all have secured teaching positions in this difficult job climate, most have their own classrooms.

Where are they now?Zachary Blackwood, mathematics teacherLewis Cass High School; Walton, Ind.Dusty Hughes, technology teacherCulver Community High School; Culver, Ind.Katie Hughes, biology teacherFrankfort Senior High School; Frankfort, Ind.Tim Jacobs, mathematics teacherJustice Thurgood Marshall Intermediate School; Marion, Ind.Lauren Klemme, mathematics teacherAttica High School; Attica, Ind. Mark McClenning, high school mathematicsIvy Tech Community CollegeMichelle Moreland, biology, earth science, physics teacherCalumet High School; Gary, Ind. Laura Norris, biology teacherRichmond High School; Richmond, Ind.Alyce Porawski, biology teacherNorth Judson-San Pierre High School; North Judson, Ind. Janelle Shore, mathematics teacherWinchester Community High School; Winchester, Ind. Rebecca Taylor, biology teacherLanesville High School; Lanesville, Ind.Nikki Whethington, biology teacherShelbyville High School; Shelbyville, Ind.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2011 cohort. Eligible applicants include current undergraduates, recent college graduates, mid career professionals, and retirees who have majored in, or had careers in, STEM fields.

Online: www.wwteachingfellowship.org

FELLOWSTEACHING


The College of Education began over 100 years ago when the first professor of education was hired in 1908. The mission then was to prepare teachers with rich content knowledge and strong instructive skills. Over the years that mission has expanded. We are now the hub of teacher education at Purdue University. Undergraduate teacher education majors are dispersed across six colleges—we coordinate the clinical experiences of each student while our colleagues coordinate content knowledge. And interwoven with our commitment to teacher preparation is our commitment to meaningful research and engagement. To continue with our expanded mission, we needed to develop a guide—something that defines our goals and aids us in making decisions.

The road mapWork on the 2009-2014 strategic plan for the college began in the fall of 2008. A committee of faculty, staff, students and P-12 partners was formed and three teams within were created. Each team was assigned a topic to investigate—Discovery with Delivery, Launching Tomorrow’s Leaders and Meeting Global Challenges. White papers were produced as a result of input collected from a variety of stakeholders via forums, surveys, data analyses, and web-based feedback. The white papers were then used to develop the integrated plan. Using our strategic plan as a road map, we’re setting out to launch the future—the futures of our students, staff and faculty and the futures of those touched by our education professionals and our education research. The reach is immeasurable.

A snapshotOur visionLaunching the future through the discovery and development of human potential

Our mission• To prepare exceptional teachers and intellectual leaders• To improve educational outcomes through inspired

teaching, research and public service• To advance scientific discovery related to learning and

human development

By• Creatingacultureofinnovation• Deliveringrevolutionaryandresponsivecurriculum

STRATEGICALLYSPEAKINGCreating a road map to the future

• Empoweringfaculty,staffandstudentstoeffectpositive change

• Tacklingcriticaleducationalchallengesthrough cross-disciplinary collaboration

• Influencingeducationalpoliciesandgovernance• Attractingandretainingstellar,diversefaculty,

staff and students

Getting there; our goalsFoster researchWe will increase knowledge about what works in education in order to transform learning and enhance human development.

Strengthen programsWe will create and deliver outstanding educational programs, preparing professionals who will be intellectual leaders.

Build partnershipsWe will forge partnerships to anticipate and respond to the real needs of the global community.

Model inclusivenessWe will celebrate cultural and intellectual diversity.

Enhance the workplaceWe will sustain a positive work environment where outstanding faculty and staff can excel.

With the college’s strategic plan in hand, we’re on the path to make a real difference in the field of education. Through outstanding teacher preparation, scientific discovery in the field of education and partnerships—locally and beyond—we’re launching the futures of generations to come.

Online: www.education.purdue.edu/strategic_plan

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12 FALL 2010

Emily Bouck has been selected as a presenter for the Purdue University President’s Council Back-to-Class this fall.

Ayşe Çiftçi was appointed to the editorial board of The Counseling Psychologist for a three year term beginning Jan. 2011.

Peg Ertmer has been named a Fellow of the Purdue University Teaching Academy, a network of scholar-teachers committed to the continual improvement of teaching and learning at Purdue University.

Jeffrey Gilger was elected as a member of the newly formed Indiana Department of Education Secondary Literacy Council. He has also been named to the Scientific Advisory Board for the Learning Enhancement Corporation.

Signe Kastberg has been appointed to the governing board for the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness in College and Careers, a 26-state consortium.

NOTABLESLyle Lloyd, Mick Isaacson (an advanced doctoral candidate) and Cary Supalo (CEO of Independence Science LLC, a startup company in Purdue Research Park) have obtained an NSF SBIR phase I grant to increase STEM access by individuals with print disabilities.

Erik Malewski was the invited keynote speaker for the Multicultural Teaching and Learning Institute Conference at Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis. The topic of his talk was “Allies at the Intersections: Creating and Sustaining Inclusive Classrooms, Departments and Universities.”

Jill May was elected to a three-year term

on the Anne Devereaux Jordan Award Committee of the Children’s Literature Association.

Carrie Wachter Morris was recognized with an Early Career Award by her alma mater, the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Tim Newby and Peg Ertmer received the 2010 Class of 1922 Helping Students Learn Award for their work “Transforming Students’ International Experiences Through the use of Web 2.0 Tools.”

Helen Patrick, Panayota Mantzicopoulos and Ala Samarapungavan won the 2010 Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST) Award for their article titled: “Motivation for Learning Science

Faculty and staff achievements, awards and recognitions

Promoted to professorMarcia Gentry, Department of Educational StudiesHelen Patrick, Department of Educational StudiesCarole Pistole, Department of Educational Studies

Promoted to associate professorTara Star Johnson, Department of Curriculum and Instruction and Department of EnglishErik Malewski, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Promoted to clinical associate professor Rebecca Mann, Department of Educational Studies

in Kindergarten: Is There a Gender Gap and Does Integrated Inquiry and Literacy Instruction Make a Difference” by the National Association for Research in Science Teaching.

Jean Peterson has been named assistant head for the Department of Educational Studies. She also received a Mensa Education and Research Foundation/Mensa International Ltd. Award for Excellence in Research for her article “A Longitudinal Study of Negative Life Events, Stress and School Experiences of Gifted Youth.” In addition, Peterson’s Gifted at Risk: Poetic Profiles was a finalist in the poetry category of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards.

JoAnn Phillion’s book “Personal~Passionate~Participatory Inquiry into Social Justice in Education” (co-edited with Ming Fang He; 2008, Information Age) was named to the 2010 Critics Choice Book Award of the American Educational Studies Association.

Jennifer Richardson received a PRF International Travel Grant to attend the Future-Learning Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Anita Roychoudhury was named fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ala Samarapungavan was named a Committee on Institutional Cooperation Academic Leadership Program fellow for 2010-2011.

Maryann Santos de Barona was recognized for her leadership and accomplishments by the Mortar Board, Barbara Cook Chapter, a national honor society.

12 FALL 2010


In the newsPeg Ertmer’s (editor of “The Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning”) interview with WBAA is archived here: http://bit.ly/ertmerjournal (search “Peg Ertmer”).

Tara Star Johnson, “Crossing the Line: When Pedagogical Relationships go Awry”See her interview here: http://bit.ly/starjohnsoninterview

Helen Patrick, Youli Mantzicopoulos and Ala Samarapungavan’s Scientific Literacy Project was featured in the March issue of Scientific American,http://bit.ly/slp_sa.

Phil VanFossen is quoted in a Christian Science Monitor article about proposed changes to social studies textbooks in Texas: http://bit.ly/vanfossencsm.

Welcome, new arrivals!Daniel Graysonlimited term lecturer, Dept. of Curriculum and InstructionKaren HailadvisorJohn Hardycontinuing lecturer, Dept. of Educational StudiesSigne Kastbergassociate professor, math educationTana Mansfieldadmission/retention clerkErin SchultzadvisorQiu Wangassistant professor, educational studies

DepartingLisa Bohlinclinical faculty, educational psychologyShaunna Carisecretary, CLEARKevin Kellyprofessor, counseling and developmentA. G. Rudhead, Department of Educational StudiesAndrew Tyminskiassistant professor, math education

Heather Servaty-Seib received a Hancook Faculty Fellowship to support “BRIDGe— By Remembering I Develop & Grow—a service-learning project that helps families through the grief process.

Melanie Shoffner was awarded a PRF International Travel Grant to attend the National Association for the Teaching of English conference in Hinckley, England.

John Staver received an NSF grant to support the Midwest Noyce Regional Conferences in 2010 and 2011.

Phillip VanFossen was named a Committee on Institutional Cooperation Academic Leadership Program fellow.

Bill Watson received a grant from the Stevens Institute of Technology to participate in a four-university team designing and developing an educational simulation for systems engineers.

Yan Ping Xin was invited to serve on the National Science Foundation Review Panel.

Aman Yadav has been selected for a Teaching for Tomorrow Award by Purdue’s Office of the Provost.

Purdue University ITaP recognized the following faculty members for their distance learning courses that were rated highest in course design, interaction or collaboration, assessment and learner support:Luciana C. de Oliveira, EDCI 591—English Language DevelopmentNadine Dolby, EDCI 591—Global Perspectives in the ClassroomTimothy Newby, EDCI 270—Introduction to Educational Technology and ComputingTeresa Tabor Doughty, EDPS 665— Collaboration and Transition Practices in Special Education Jennifer Richardson, EDCI 566—Educational Applications of Hypermedia

In memoriamTerry Wood, professor emeritus, Nov. 26, 1942 – Jan. 14, 2010.

Sandi Abell, former science education faculty, Feb. 24, 1956 – Aug. 24, 2010.


14 FALL 2010

TIME for CHANGEPurdue Education fertile ground for future deans

Seeking experience and leadership, universities are turning to Purdue Education to fill their top spots. Two recently tapped are Kevin Kelly, now dean of Education and Allied Professions at the University of Dayton, and A.G. Rud, now dean of the College of Education at Washington State University. Announcing Kelly’s selection, University of Dayton Provost Joseph Saliba cited Kelly’s “experience, strategic planning skills, strong record of scholarship and his commitment to advancing the university’s leadership in urban and Catholic education.” Rud received acclaim from Warwick Bayly, Washington State University’s provost and executive vice president, for his “very strong background in education and administration” and promise of “excellent leadership and stability.”

Kelly now a Dayton Flyer Kelly settled in at Dayton in May, taking along 25 years’ experience at Purdue, where his posts included professor of education, head of the Department of Educational Studies and interim dean of the College of Education. His research focus has been on career indecision, career assessment and validity of career development assessments.

Reflecting on his Boilermaker years, Kelly says opportunities were the hallmark. He launched the counseling psychology doctoral program, now nationally known. Serving as a department head was “Leadership 101.” Avenues for collaboration were valuable. And he worked with undergraduate advisors on a program for students who had not declared a major. “They learned from us, we learned from them, and we helped students succeed at Purdue.” Two other key experiences that helped prepare him for Dayton were the strategic planning process and engagement. “Purdue really lives by the strategic plan. That was a special set of skills and experiences I acquired. And Purdue’s emphasis on engagement was important, being involved in activities that have a positive impact for your stakeholders.” Kelly guided 30 doctoral students at Purdue, and many more in their master’s programs. “I loved being a professor, but that would be a safer option than trying to challenge myself,” he says of his decision to accept the offer from Dayton, which has 8,000 students, 20 percent of them in education. “The opportunity to provide leadership to a school is compelling,” Kelly says. “I’m being challenged.” At Dayton, where he’s guided by principles of justice, peace, adaptation, change and Catholicism, Kelly is responsible for a broad range of education professions, including health and sports science, nutrition, dietetics, exercise physiology and others. Kelly grew up in suburban Boston and earned his bachelor’s in psychology from Boston University and doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Iowa. He enjoys reading as a pastime.

Rud joins Washington State University CougarsRud was enjoying living in his new home and heading Purdue’s Educational Studies when he got a call, asking him to apply for the dean’s job at Washington State University. “I wasn’t looking to leave Purdue, but the opportunity came along, and I was intrigued by the position,” he says. He’s now dean of Education, based in Pullman, Wash., and overseeing education at three other campuses—Spokane, Tri Cities and Vancouver. About 18,000 students are enrolled at the main campus; 24,000, combined. Sixteen years at Purdue prepared him well, he says. “Purdue is a wonderful place to learn how to be a leader, with terrific opportunities to learn how to become a dean and do different things all over the university.” He donned the gold and black in 1994. “I wanted to come to a large university and take advantage of all the Kevin Kelly on the University of Dayton campus

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things a big research university could offer.” And he did, from restructuring the teacher undergraduate program to chairing the University Senate Education Policy Committee, serving on the Purdue Press editorial board and cochairing Education’s professional development steering committee. He also worked with about a dozen graduate students. “I enjoyed my teaching, too—courses in the history and philosophy of education,” he says. His research focused on the moral dimensions of teaching and learning, the philosophy of education and conceptual issues in higher education. He also spent about five years working on issues of academic integrity and research ethics at Purdue. “I’m very interested in fairness and justice issues in schooling,” he says. “School is where a lot of these important social issues get played out.” His book, “Albert Schweitzer’s Legacy for Education: Reverence for Life,” will be released in January 2011 by Palgrave Macmillan. Rud grew up in western Massachusetts. He earned a degree in religion from Dartmouth and a master’s and doctorate in philosophy from Northwestern University. He came to Purdue from The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, a program he helped established. He’s also consulted for schools and organizations around the country on moral education, school reform, leadership and critical thinking. He enjoys family time, his pets and gardening.

Interim heads namedAla Samarapungavan, who joined Purdue’s College of Education in 1993, has been named interim head of the Department of Education Studies. Phillip VanFossen, a Boilermaker since 1997, is serving as interim head of Curriculum and Instruction. Dean Maryann Santos de Barona will announce the search for permanent department heads.

Ala SamarapungavanDepartment of Educational StudiesSamarapungavan says she brings to her new post “a very fresh and direct memory of what it means to be a faculty member, to work with students and to contribute to the body of scholarship.” She hopes to facilitate faculty in their endeavors while she focuses on moving forward with strategic goals in discovery, learning and engagement. Samarapungavan’s research focuses on reasoning and learning in science and mathematics from childhood through adulthood. She’s particularly interested in how science knowledge is acquired, including outside-the-classroom experiences, such as museum trips and 4-H projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bombay, master’s from the University of Delhi and doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before coming to Purdue, she spent two years at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In her new post, she is overseeing graduate programs in counseling psychology, gifted education, educational leadership and cultural foundations, educational psychology and research methodology, school counseling and special education.

Phillip VanFossenDepartment of Curriculum and InstructionAs he leads Curriculum and Instruction, VanFossen says his strengths include a “broad understanding of the various program areas, background in academic leadership and a commitment to continue to make our teacher education program graduates the best in Indiana.” His focus will be on preparing for program reviews, responding to changes in state teacher licensure, overseeing the budget and addressing strategic needs. At Purdue, he is also the James F. Ackerman Professor of Social Studies Education, associate director for the Center for Economic Education and director of the American Center for Democratic Citizenship. Among his research interests are the potential of online role-playing games for K-12 civic and economic education, Internet use in social studies classrooms, the impact of technology on citizenship and citizenship education, the intersection between civics and economics and the degree of social studies in the K-5 curriculum. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and a doctorate from The Ohio State University.

A. G. Rud in his office at Washington State University

16 FALL 2010

SNAPSHOTSPhotos from recent activities and events

Susan Gunderson (top, left)

with Norm Nierstheimer

(top, right) talks about Susan

Nierstheimer, for whom

the Susan Nierstheimer

Memorial Book Fund is

named, to children at

Prairie Crossing Elementary

School in Oxford, Ind. The

fund provides books to

first-graders in the Reading

Recovery program.

Richard (Dick) Lesh, Rudy Distinguished Professor of

Education in Learning Sciences at Indiana University

and associate dean for research in education at

Purdue, was the keynote speaker at the Annual

Graduate Student Educational Research Symposium in

March. The next symposium will be held on March 30,

2011. Find out more at www.purdue.edu/agsers.

Linda Austin (center), director of the Office of Field Experiences, poses with (from left) Brittany Booth (LA‘10,

art education), Rosanna Marangelli (Edu‘10, elementary education), Sarrah Van Sickle (Edu‘10, special

education) and Jenna Ruch (CFS‘10, family and consumer sciences education) after they were honored with

Oustanding Future Educator awards by the Indiana Association of Colleges and Teacher Education.

Yang Yang (front, left), graduate student from China, is interviewed by Kyle Boots (front,

right), a student in Jean Peterson’s summer EDPS 545 course, Social and Affective

Development of Gifted Students. During one part of the course, students conducted

several interviews with culturally diverse adolescents and adults about school experiences.

Lynette Flagge, director of diversity initiatives for the College of Education, smiles after receiving her master’s in curriculum studies.


Rachael Smith (second from right), instructor of the

Gifted Education Resource Institute’s (GERI) summer

camp class “Mini-med,” and fifth- and sixth-grade

campers dissect a cow heart. For more than 30 years,

GERI has offered programs including summer camp

and Super Saturday for gifted and talented students.

Find out more at www.purdue.edu/geri.

High school campers explore teaching as a career during EXCITE!

(Excel, Create and Inspire Teaching Experience!)—a four-day

residential camp. Contact Lynette Flagge for more information

at [email protected].

The College of Education hosted a Women for Purdue event with participants: (back row, from left)

Heather Servaty-Seib, Sharon Kraebber, Carrie Wachter Morris, Joanne Troutner, Kathy Dale, Lori Barber,

Judy Nixon, Maryann Santos de Barona, Sandy Shoemaker, Rosemary Ricci; (front row, from left)

Chrystal Johnson, Eileen Steele , Betty Nelson and Jennifer Jeffries.

Sue Reagin, a Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellow from the first

cohort, teaches a class at Taylor High School in Kokomo, Ind. last spring.

(From left) Maryann Santos de Barona (dean), Jennifer Jeffries

(director of advancement) and Kate Spanke (development assistant)

take a break at Purdue Day at the Indiana State Fair. The College of

Education hosted “Constitution Quiz Game” on the stage.

18 FALL 2010

The College of Education faculty are investigating ways to make an impact in the field of education. Here is a small selection of their current research projects.

Education help for military families Jennifer Richardson, associate professor in educational technology, and Bill Watson, assistant professor in educational technology, received a grant for “Heartlink and Key Personnel,” a project to develop online modules for families of active military personnel.

Technoligies in special educationEmily Bouck, assistant professor in special education, and Teresa Taber Doughty, associate professor in special education, were awarded a four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education ‘s Office of Special Education Programs. The grant funds twelve doctoral students in special education for two years each and prepares them for academic positions in higher education. More: www.tisescholarspurdue.com/ Developing math skillsYan Ping Xin, associate professor of special education, received an increase in funding by National Science Foundation for her project “Nurturing Multiplicative Reasoning in Students with Learning Disabilities in a Computerized Conceptual-Modeling Environment.” More: http://nmrsd.education.purdue.edu

Engaging Latino youth“Organizing Schools and Classrooms to Engage Latino Youth in Academically Challenging Work,” funded by the W. T. Grant Foundation (co-principal investigator Luciana de Oliveira, assistant professor of literacy and language education, and directed by Betty Achinstein and Rod Agawa of the University of California, Santa Cruz), investigates instructional interactions and social settings of schools that engage Latino youth in academically challenging work.

Creating a concerned engineerCarrie Wachter Morris, assistant professor of counseling and development, and Johannes Strobel, assistant professor of educational technology and engineering education, received an internal grant for their project, “Pilot Study: Creating a Concerned Engineer in a Changing Environment.”

RESEARCHBRIEFS Current grants and research projects

Global citizenship educationAnatoli Rapoport, assistant professor of social studies education, was awarded a Synergy Grant for his project “Constructing Knowledge in Global Citizenship Education: Development of the Teaching Device Inventory for Secondary Social Studies.”

Critical thinking of students to be assessedNathalia Jaramillo, assistant professor of educational leadership and cultural foundations, and Judy Nixon, Purdue education librarian, received an internal grant from Purdue Libraries to use the iCritical Thinking instrument to assess the information literacy skills of students in the College of Education. Indiana campus compact grantHeather Servaty-Seib, associate professor of counseling and development, is one of only two Purdue faculty members to receive a 2010 service-learning grant from Indiana Campus Compact. Her project is “BRIDGing (By Remembering, I Develop and Grow) Multiple Connections: Support for Grieving Families.”

Gifted Education Researcher Awarded IES GrantMarcia Gentry, associate professor of educational psychology and research methodology, received a grant from the U. S. Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences to investigate the effects of scaling up the Total School Cluster Grouping Model. Preparing students for the solar economyBrenda Capobianco (co-PI), associate professor of science education and courtesy faculty member in engineering education, and Rakesh Agrawal (PI), professor of chemical engineering, received a National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship grant for their project focused on preparing students for the solar economy of the future. More: www.igert.org/projects/235

For more information about these and all College of Education research projects, contact James Lehman, associate dean for research and faculty development, at [email protected].


LASTING IMPRESSIONEndowments honor Education professors

When people are asked to recall their most influential teacher, many will mention an educator from their elementary or secondary school experience. For others, that transformational educator was someone from their days at Purdue. That’s not so surprising. Our 102 years of preparing educators at Purdue has been marked by the contributions of influential and renowned faculty scholars who have advanced the science of education and shared that knowledge with thousands of graduates. Several students have felt such appreciation and gratitude toward a particular professor that they have endowed professorships and scholarships named for that person. Endowments are gifts held in perpetuity: the principal is invested and the income provides a stable funding source for the college. Endowments build a permanent financial foundation and are a way to celebrate the professor’s achievements and create a legacy that will continue into the future. Just this spring, former students of John Feldhusen initiated the John F. Feldhusen Faculty Support Endowment in Gifted, Talented and Creative Studies. Feldhusen was the founder of the Gifted Education Resource Institute (GERI) and propelled Purdue to the national forefront of gifted, talented and creative studies. His students have gone on to be top scholars in the field, and countless high-ability P-12 students have benefitted from enrichment programs like Super Saturday. When completed, the endowment will provide financial support for GERI faculty and ultimately fund an endowed faculty chair named for Feldhusen. Other College of Education professors who have been similarly honored with endowed scholarships and faculty chairs include Bruce Shertzer, Charles Hicks and Mary Endres. Not only alumni, but family members and friends of education faculty have chosen to tell the stories of their parents and colleagues and perpetuate their legacies with an endowment. In January, professor of mathematics education, Terry L. Wood, died after a battle with cancer. Her twin children, Rob and Christie, decided to honor their mother with an endowed scholarship in the college. While Wood was respected internationally for her published works and teaching, she also had a passion for international travel and multiculturalism. It was this passion that is reflected in a scholarship for students who participate in study abroad experiences. Scholarships in Wood’s name will be distributed for the first time in the fall of 2011. Other College of Education professors recognized by their family and colleagues include Susan Nierstheimer, Raymond Ryder, dean emerita Marilyn Haring and dean emeritus Robert Kane. These endowments are invaluable to the College of Education. By honoring a significant faculty member from their own Purdue experience, alumni are also providing significant financial support to the college for years to come. It is an opportunity to honor the people who have guided the college and students in the past while providing resources for those who will continue to move us forward.

Certainly there are other professors worthy of lasting recognition. Who will be next? Who was the faculty member who changed your life? Could that professor be recognized through an endowment? The university requires a minimum gift of $25,000 for an endowment. Endowments can be funded by outright gifts of cash, securities or stock, or they can be pledged over time or be part of an estate plan.

To learn more about endowments, contact Jennifer Jeffries, director of advancement for the College of Education, at 765-496-3545 or [email protected].

MAKE YOUR IMPRESSION

20 FALL 2010

IT’S FUN TO WORK AT THE...

Ryan Habben (BA ‘10, elementary education)Straight Arrow Day Camp DirectorLafayette Family Y, Lafayette, Ind.

What are your job duties at the Y?RYAN HABBEN: I am in charge of hiring and training all new camp staff, running daily activities (which include fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, archery, climbing wall, slingshots, obstacle course, etc), organizing and planning family night, developing new fun activities for campers and ensuring the safety of over 800 campers every summer.

Why did you choose Purdue? RH: I chose Purdue for its excellent and well-rounded education program. The program allowed me to get in the classroom and have more field experience than any other university offered. I have also been a Boilermaker fan since birth and have enjoyed having the university in my backyard for my entire life.

Why did you choose the major/field you did? RH: I chose to become a teacher because so many of my teachers have had a positive impact on my life and I wanted to do that for

someone else. I think I will be an excellent male role model for the children that I get to teach.

What clubs and organizations were you involved in at Purdue?RH: Mortar Board Leadership Conference cochair, Purdue Iron Key, Purdue Student Government, College of Education Ambassador and Education Organizations Board.

What is your favorite Purdue memory? RH: One of my most exciting memories from Purdue was getting to be a part of Iron Key. Iron Key is a secret senior honor society where a group of 12 seniors work together to complete a project for the university without recognition. Getting to bond with the other 11 students, our honoraries and advisors and then seeing our project come to life has been my favorite part of Purdue and the one thing I will remember the most.

What advice do you have for current students?RH: Go to class, listen to what your professors say, apply that to your field experience and teaching. But most importantly get involved in student organizations because this will help you with time management and help you meet some extraordinary people.

Now that his summer job has ended Habben is teaching fourth grade at South Haven Elementary in Valparaiso, Ind.

Two graduates land jobs at the Y

20 FALL 2010


Beth Riedeman (BS CFS ‘02, MS EDU ‘10)Community Program DirectorLafayette Family Y, Lafayette, Ind.

What are your job duties at the Y?BETH RIEDEMAN: I oversee all school age child care, day camp and youth sports. This includes the daily operations of these programs and hiring, training, educating and evaluating all staff; preparing and administering program budgets, complying with state child care licensing requirements and building relationships with the community and other agencies in the area.

Why did you choose Purdue?BR: As an undergraduate I chose it partially because I was familiar with the campus after spending summers here in 4-H camp along with the fact my sister graduated from here and I spent some time here with her. As a graduate student I chose it because I wanted to stay in Lafayette and because of the high quality education.

Why did you choose the major/field you did? BR: I was actually recommended to my major by an advisor in another department. I knew after years of working in the nonprofit field with at-risk youth that I wanted to eventually write curriculum and grants for agencies that worked with this population. I originally enrolled in the Department of Youth Development and Agricultural Education in the School of Agriculture. After one meeting with an advisor she recommended that I speak with James Greenan in Career and Technical Education. After meeting with him I realized that this program was perfect for me especially because it focused on working with youth that are on different paths (some that may go to college, some that may go to community college and some that may go straight into the workforce). I definitely feel I chose the correct field and it has provided me with the proper knowledge and skills to progress in my career.

What clubs and organizations were you involved in at Purdue?BR: As a graduate student I was involved in the community: Historic Ninth Street Hill Neighborhood Association, Project Safe Neighborhood and VillageFest Annual Benefit Concert. As an undergrad I was in Purdue Student Union Board, Collegiate 4-H and was a Lafayette Urban Ministry After School Program volunteer.

What is your favorite Purdue memory?BR: First is spending time on campus with my sisters who both also went to Purdue—especially going to football games together. Second is from when I was an undergraduate when Drew Brees led the Purdue football team to a Big Ten Championship and to the Rose Bowl. I rushed the field with everyone else when we locked up the championship and trip to the Rose Bowl.

What advice do you have for current students?BR: My advice would be to find your passion and go for it no matter what it is. Both of my older siblings are engineers and I caught a lot of flack for going into the nonprofit field. However, I wouldn’t take back that decision for a moment, and my experience working with youth is extremely rewarding. I have a favorite quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that I live by and I encourage my staff and students to live by it, too: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”


22 FALL 2010

NANCY BANGEL Purdue Degree: MS ‘04 Edu, PhD ’07 EduOccupation: Assistant professor, Department of Educational Studies

Employer: Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne Location: Fort Wayne, Ind.

ASHLEY COLSTEN Purdue Degree: BA ’10 Edu, elementary educationOccupation: Kindergarten teacher, fall semester; permanent substitute

School: Cumberland Elementary SchoolEmployer: West Lafayette Community School CorporationLocation: West Lafayette, Ind.

ANGELA COOPER Purdue Degree: BS ‘09 COS, math educationOccupation: High school mathematics teacherSchool: Gibson Southern High School

Employer: South Gibson School CorporationLocation: Fort Branch, Ind.

BRENT DRAKE Purdue Degree: PhD ’09 EduOccupation: Director enrollment management analysis and reporting

Employer: Purdue UniversityLocation: West Lafayette, Ind.

LISA DUFFIN Purdue Degree: PhD ’09 EduOccupation: Assistant professor, Department of PsychologyEmployer: Western Kentucky University

Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky

AUBREY GARRETT Purdue Degree: BA ’10 Edu, elementary education

Occupation: Substitute teacher Location: Delaware County, Ind.Upcoming:Occupation: English conversation teacher

Employer: Amity English SchoolsLocation: Japan

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?Catching up with recent graduates


WHERE ARE THEY NOW?RYAN HOFFMAN Purdue Degree: BS ’09 COS, math educationOccupation: Mathematics teacherSchool: Environmental Charter High School Employer: Environmental Charter SchoolsLocation: Lawndale, Calif.

JEONGAE KANG Purdue Degree: MSEd ‘08 EduOccupation: Special education teacherSchool: Key Middle SchoolLocation: Houston, Texas

KATIE LUNSFORD Purdue Degree: BA ’10 Edu, elementary educationOccupation: Media specialistSchool: Westfield Intermediate SchoolEmployer: Westfield Washington Schools Location: Westfield, Ind.

WINSTON LY Purdue Degree: BA ’09 Edu, elementary educationOccupation: Sixth grade STEM teacherSchool: Lafayette Sunnyside Middle SchoolEmployer: Lafayette School CorporationLocation: Lafayette, Ind.

JESSICA MARKSTROM Purdue Degree: BS ’09 COS, math educationOccupation: High school mathematics teacherSchool: Plymouth High SchoolEmployer: Plymouth Canton Public SchoolsLocation: Plymouth, Mich.

KIM MOORE Purdue Degree: BA ’10 Edu, elementary educationOccupation: Fourth grade teacherSchool: Galileo Charter SchoolLocation: Richmond, Ind.

STEPHANIE MORRIS Purdue Degree: PhD ’09 EduOccupation: Integration specialistEmployer: San Luis Valley Mental Health CenterLocation: Alamosa, Colo.

MATTHEW PISTILLIPurdue Degree: MS ’01 Edu, PhD ‘09 EduOccupation: Senior assistant director and coordinator of evaluation and administrationEmployer: Purdue UniversityLocation: West Lafayette, Ind.

RACHEL ROBERTS Purdue Degree: BS ’09 Ag, BS ’09 COS math educationOccupation: Mathematics teacherSchool: John Marshall Harlan Academy High School Employer: Chicago Public SchoolsLocation: Chicago, Ill.

KAYLA SMITH Purdue Degree: BA ‘10 Edu, elementary educationOccupation: Academic achievement coordinatorEmployer: Omaha Housing AuthorityLocation: Omaha, Neb.

KYLE WHITEMAN Purdue Degree: BA ’10 Edu, elementary educationOccupation: Title One interventionist School: Riverside Intermediate SchoolEmployer: Plymouth School CorporationLocation: Plymouth, Ind.

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24 FALL 2010

Two grads teaching in JapanOTHER SIDE ofthe WORLD

Two Purdue elementary education graduates are beginning their third year of teaching in Japan. Danny Williams (BA ’07 Edu, elementary education) and Dusty Miller (BA ‘07 Edu, elementary eduation) began teaching at Gunma Kokusai Academy, an English immersion school for grades one through eight, in Ota City, Japan. By 2011, Gunma will expand its offerings through grade twelve. Initially, Williams and Miller committed to teaching for two years but have decided to stay an additional year. We catch up with them half way around the world via e-mail.

Online: www.gka.jp/english

DANNY WILLIAMSWhat are you teaching this year?I am teaching first grade again this year, which has been a real delight.

What is a highlight of your Japan teaching experience so far?It is amazing to see the transformation in the students from shy little kids that do not speak much English to students who are able to hold a simple conversation with each other. Last year was my first time to teach first grade and I loved it. By the end, I was very attached to my kids and it was difficult to say goodbye. This was a big change from the previous year.

How have things changed for you since your first year? When I came to Japan, I started in the middle of the school year and it was difficult to feel a connection with my students. I was sharing my homeroom with two other teachers and always felt like a visitor. Last year and this year, I have had my own homeroom and that has made a big difference in how I connect to the students. My role is much more important. I am teaching English and math this year and assist in teaching the morals class.

Why did you decide to stay a third year? The decision to stay for third year was an easy one. I am enjoying

everything over here and still have a lot more to do.

What is one challenge you face living in Japan?One challenge for me is learning the language. I never feel I have the time or energy for taking a class in Japanese. However, my inability to speak Japanese has not been a hindrance, at least.

What’s your advice to others considering teaching abroad?If other students are interested in teaching abroad, my advice would be to jump right in and do it. It is a great experience and most schools have a wonderful support system in place to help you in every way.

24 FALL 2010


DUSTY MILLERWhat are you teaching this year?I am a second grade homeroom teacher this year. I teach English, math, morals and art to my 36 fabulous students.

What is a highlight of your Japan teaching experience so far?There have been so may highlights while I have been in Japan. I feel lucky to have been able to travel around to see and experience true Japanese culture. But I would have to say that the best part is learning something new from my students every day. They come to school every day with a great attitudes and beautiful smiles. What I am most proud of is the time I have been able to spend learning how to become a better teacher. I feel as though I have gained some valuable teaching experience that I will take with back to Indiana.

How have things changed for you since your first year? I feel much more confident than I was when I first started. I know more about my strengths and weaknesses as a teacher. I feel much more confident in my ability to handle a wide variety of challenging situations are they arise.

Why did you decide to stay a third year? The decision to stay in Japan was not an easy one. While I enjoy teaching at Gunma Kokusai Academy and working with lots of great teachers from around the world, I do miss

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being home. I decided to stay for one more year because I was not optimistic about finding a full time job in Lafayette. I will begin to start sending e-mails and calling schools in the Lafayette area in the near future to see if some elementary positions will become available. So if any principals are reading this, keep one eye and ear open for my e-mail and call!

What is one challenge you face living in Japan?The language barrier is the most challenging aspect of living in Japan. Japanese is not the easiest language to learn. I am able to buy food at the store and go shopping at the mall without any help, but I miss the casual conversations with people around the town.

What’s your advice to others considering teaching abroad?I would recommend teaching abroad to anyone who feels like they might enjoy the challenge. If you can find a great school like I have then you can use the opportunity to learn not only a lot about teaching but a lot about yourself and another culture. I am really happy I made the choice to teach in Japan. I think others would feel the same way wherever they chose to teach.

Dusty Miller (back, left) poses with his classroom at Gunma Kokusai Academy in Ota City, Japan.


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26 FALL 2010

A WINNINGEQUATIONPurdue + math + education = University of Wyoming careers

Mutual interests in math education, the outdoors, University of Wyoming careers and young son, Nolan, are just the right equation for Michelle Heger Chamberlin (PhD ‘02 Edu) and Scott Chamberlin (BA ‘89 Edu, BA ‘93 HK, PhD ‘02 Edu), who also share some research and publishing credits. One of life’s pluses was Purdue Education’s doctoral program, where they met in 1999. Hailing from Colorado, Michelle earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics at Colorado State University. “I looked at a variety of math education programs,” Michelle said. “Purdue’s was one that interested me and so did some of the things professors were working on. For personal growth, too, I thought I should go outside Colorado.” At Purdue, she especially enjoyed the range of professional experiences, from video conferencing with faculty from around the world to presenting at conferences. Meanwhile, Purdue-educated Scott, a Hoosier from Bremen, had picked up a University of Utah master’s and taught elementary school for a few years before returning to West Lafayette for his doctorate. “Purdue is an interesting school,” he said. “It’s a world-class institution, yet it still has a nurturing atmosphere. You can

—Kathy Mayer, freelance writer

Scott Chamberlin and Michelle Heger Chamberlain

get one-on-one help. If you put in a day’s work and prove you are capable, Purdue will reward you.” Michelle’s focus was mathematics education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction, and she continues mathematics education research today, particularly in how to increase teachers’ mathematical knowledge and teaching abilities. “I’m looking for ways to improve teaching. At the same time, I’m a math educator, so my research ties into my teaching. They feed each other,” she saod. Scott’s doctorate in educational psychology included an emphasis in gifted education and mathematics education. He appreciates the challenges he found at Purdue. One was Boilermaker Athletics, running cross country and track. “Coach Dave Collins instilled in me a work ethic that has proven instrumental in accomplishing many goals in life.” In the College of Education, he said, “Purdue helped me get where I am by having world-class researchers with world-class expectations of me.” His research today is the intersection of gifted education and mathematics education. He’s assessing affect—primarily feelings, such as anxiety, aspiration, attitude, interest, locus of control, self-efficacy, self-esteem and value—during mathematical problem solving. In 2003, Scott joined the faculty of the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at the University of Wyoming. Besides research and teaching, “I enjoy going into elementary classrooms with student teachers in the spring. I get to see the culminating product. That’s really gratifying, and it’s enjoyable and fun for me.” Michelle first taught at the University of Northern Colorado, then in 2007 became a faculty member in Wyoming’s Math Education Department. Both have been widely published, participated in numerous proceedings and secured research funding. Last year, Michelle received the Extraordinary Merit Award for Teaching from Wyoming’s College of Arts and Sciences. The previous year, Scott earned the Outstanding Teacher Award from Wyoming’s School of Education. Off campus, the Chamberlins enjoy cooking together, mountain biking—“but not since Nolan (photo to right) was born,” Michelle explained—and walking.


Community volunteer Michele Lehman* says she knows the power of reading with young children. "I realized small children need books in their hands and someone to read to them in order for (them) to be more successful in school," she said. "If a child develops love for reading at a young age, it will carry them on and help them through their whole life." That realization led Lehman to help start Hands Across the Wabash, a new reading program aimed at children and scheduled to coincide with the 2010-11 school year. She helped raise $2,500 through Purdue Student Services, said Barry Richard, executive director of the Lyn Treece Boys & Girls Club in Lafayette. Hanna Community Center in Lafayette, Purdue University's College of Liberal Arts and College of Education, the Boiler Volunteer Network and Lyn Treece Boys & Girls Club will participate in the program. Volunteers from Purdue will work with teens at the Boys & Girls Club and Hanna Community Center, preparing them to read books to Head Start children and Lafayette's first-, second- and third-grade students. "We hope to start the program within this month," Richard said. Richard said the Boys & Girls Club will be in charge of bookkeeping for the program. The club and Hanna Center will take turns transporting the children back and forth. "I told Angie Ferguson at Hanna to buy the books," he said. "This will be great for the Dennis Burton Child Care next to Hanna." Richard said teens already read to younger children at the Boys & Girls Club. "The ultimate goal is to create a program that is absolutely sustainable that will be here 50 years from now," said JoAnn Miller, associate dean for interdisciplinary programs and community engagement in Purdue's College of Liberal Arts. "We want to make a program that will connect Purdue with community, and for community centers to have a resource that will benefit their teens and young children." Miller said the program plans to include Spanish books in the spring and text-based performance skills, such as reading and performing plays, in fall 2011. The primary goals of Hands Across the Wabash are to develop interpersonal skills in teens and teach children to read. But the program also will provide participating children with a book to keep. Tippecanoe County Public Library experts will select age-appropriate books for the children involved in the program. "Many kids we work with don't have books at home to call their own," said Ferguson, program director for Hanna Community Center. "It gives the child a sense of pride and ownership."

Reprinted, by permission, from the Aug. 8, 2010, edition of the Journal & Courier, Lafayette, Ind.

* Michele Lehman (BA Edu ‘74, elementary education) is on the College of Education Dean’s Advisory Council.

BOOKSMARTSNew program puts books into children’s hands

—Liz Schrader, reporter, Journal & Courier

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Mary Kay Sommers (PhD ‘90 Edu) was named Colorado elementary school principal of the year by the National Association of Elementary School Principals. She will be honored this fall by the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C.

1980sKristal Slovinski (BA ‘87 Edu) has earned her master’s in math education from Walden University.

Sue Gore (BA ‘85 Edu) took a position with Discovery Charter School in Chesterton, Ind.

1970sDavid Fenell (PhD ‘79 Edu) has been named interim dean of the College of Education at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. He is a retired U.S. Army colonel and previously served as the department chair for Counseling and Human Services.

Steve Hickey (BA ’77 Ag, MS ‘79 Edu) has been named director of leadership programs for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. In this role, Hickey will serve as the executive director for Future Farmers of America and Indiana Young Farmers Association.

Donna Hanlin (BA ’77 Edu) was appointed recently to the Maryland Council for Educator Effectiveness. She is the Washington County assistant superintendent for curriculum, school administration and improvement.

Laura Reasoner Jones (BA ‘73 Edu) recently published a book titled “The All-Wise Being: A Tale of God and Republicans.” The book, which follows a Hoosier politician’s life “against a backdrop of momentous events,” is available from Amazon.com.

Sandra Richardson (MS ‘02 Edu, PhD ‘04 Edu), professor of mathematics and professional pedagogy at Lamar University, received a Merit Award for outstanding performance in the classroom.

Krista Bailey Alm (BS ‘00 CFS, family and consumer sciences education) has started a website dedicated to meal planning and everyday cooking. You can find her online at: http://cookingwithkrista.blogspot.com.

1990sCari Pyka (BA ‘99 CFS) and her husband, Brian Pyka (BSEE ‘98) welcomed their second child, Mia Marie Pyka, on June 29, 2009.

Bryan Feldman (BA ‘98 Edu) has been named principal at West Creek Middle School in Clarksville, Tenn.

Zhihui Fang (PhD ‘97 Edu) was awarded an honorary distinguished professorship by the University of Shanghai in Shanghai, China.

Cory Marshall (BA ‘96 LA, MS ‘00 Edu) was named one of Tippy Connect’s Top 10 Under 40 award winners.

Margaret Xioufaridou (BA ‘95 Edu, MS ‘05 Edu) is the new principal at Happy Hollow Elementary in West Lafayette, Ind.

2010sAshley Colsten (BA ’10 Edu) was featured on Lafayette, Ind. news channel WLFI-TV 18 this spring during her job search. Colsten has now secured a job at Cumberland Elementary, West Lafayette, Ind.

2000sTaylor Richard (BA

’08 Edu) and Ben Bumgarner (BCM ’09) were married on July 28 at La Jolla Beach in San Diego, Calif.

Kimberly Ksander (BA ‘07 Edu) and her husband

Jeff are proud to announce the birth of their son, Brayden Scott Ksander. He

was born March 12 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Megan Dalton Gowan (BA ‘04 Edu) and husband Adam welcomed their son Aidan Joseph on January 4.

Ernesto Flores Martinez (BA ‘04 Edu) is now

working at Discovery Charter School in Chesterton, Ind.

Erin Addison (BA ‘02 Edu) was awarded an intervention specialist position at the Dayton Early College Academy. It is a partnership with the Dayton Public Schools and the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

ALUMNI NOTABLE NEWS

Your news hereSend us your news and look for it featured here or in the monthly e-newsletter.Mail: Purdue University, College of Education Magazine, 100 N. University St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2098. Online: Update your information at the Purdue Alumni Association’s website at www.purduealum.org. On the right under the “Quick Links” section, click on the “Submit a Class Note” link.E-mail: Send your news and photos to [email protected] with “MAGAZINE” in the subject line.

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Sharon Kraebber (BS ’73 CFS, PhD ‘07 Edu) was awarded the Purdue Academic Advising Association’s Outstanding Advisor for 2010.

Karen (Hansen) Thompson (BA ’72 Edu, MS ’74 Edu) volunteers for the Smithsonian Institution’s bobbin lace collection.

Sally Downham Miller (BS ‘71 Edu, MS ‘80 Edu, PhD ‘82 Edu) retired from Happy Hollow Elementary School in West Lafayette, Ind. this spring. She is a 2006 Distinguished Alumna from the College of Education and a member of the Gifted Education Resource Institute Advisory Board.

1960sDama Burkhart (PhD ‘68 Edu) received the 2010 Austin C. Furbee Award from an alumni chapter of Ohio University in recognition of her dedication to the community.

Ann Stock (BA ‘68 Edu) was sworn in as the assistant secretary of state U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. ABBREVIATION KEYAg College of AgricultureCFS College of Consumer and Family SciencesEdu College of EducationEng College of EngineeringHS School of Health SciencesKran Krannert School of ManagementLA College of Liberal ArtsNu School of NursingPhar School of PharmacySci College of Science T College of TechnologyVet School of Veterinary Medicine

It’s an expression of loyalty.For Randy (A’76) and Robin Bellinger, their ties to Purdue may be a

bit different but their love of the Gold and Black is the same. Randy

is a Life member and holds a degree from the College of Agriculture

in turfgrass science. His education prepared him for his role as the

co-owner of Bellinger’s Professional Ground Maintenance and

Bellinger’s Tree Care, which provides landscape design and industrial,

commercial, and residential grounds maintenance throughout the

Lafayette area. Robin, on the other hand, came to Purdue in 2002

as a senior director of advancement. As her career took off at Purdue,

so did her love for the university. Now as a Loyal Boilermaker member,

she currently serves as the associate vice president for advancement.

Both Randy and Robin want to see Purdue prosper. This is why they

are members. They know that loyalty lives at Purdue Alumni.

Express your loyalty by becoming a life member today.

Call us today at (800) 414-1541 or visit

www.purduealum.org/member

The Bellinger’s share a passion for Purdue.

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30 FALL 2010

PAULSCHUYLER Former jock goes to bat for academia

—Jeff Manes, freelance writer and syndicated columnist

Like Gene Hackman as coach Norman Dale in the movie "Hoosiers," Paul Schuyler wondered what kind of hand he'd been dealt while pulling into Lowell behind the wheel of his 1952 Ford. He had been hired as a shop teacher, but—first and foremost—as Lowell High School's basketball coach. Schuyler, 81, hasn't lived anywhere but Lowell since that fall day in 1953. He and his wife, Mannee (pronounced Mah-NEE), have been married almost 60 years. They've raised five children; their youngest died of cancer at age 27. She, too, was a teacher. "I was one of six kids; we grew up on a farm in North Judson," Schuyler began. "It was a dairy farm; we delivered milk around town."

How did you meet Mannee Pellegrini? "I was her milkman. Mannee's father used to come down from Chicago to hunt. He took a liking to North Judson and bought Harry's Sweet Shop. Mannee was working behind the counter, selling ice cream."

Sounds like the Italian girl from the city melted the farm boy from Starke County like a bowl of spumoni on a hot August night. That's amore! "Something like that."

You were quite an athlete at North Judson. "I played basketball and ran track."

As a senior, you were the second-leading scorer on the basketball team and set the school record in the pole vault. "Yes, back then, we shot our free throws underhanded and vaulted with bamboo poles. I went on to pole vault for Purdue University and lettered my junior and senior years."

Personal best? "Thirteen feet; I never conquered 13 feet, 6 inches. I was drafted during the Korean War, but the draft board let me finish my senior year at Purdue before I went into the Army."

Education at Purdue? "I earned a specialist in education degree, which is between a master's and a doctorate. Basically, it qualifies you to be a superintendent."

First teaching job? "Lowell High School was desperate for a basketball coach, and I was desperate for a job. I got out of the Army the third week in September; school already had started. My classes had to be covered by a substitute."

Paul Schuyler with his ‘52 Ford

“...I got a hot-rod Ford And a two-dollar bill

And I know a spot Right over the hill ... .”

—Hank Williams Sr.


The classroom? "I taught industrial arts. When computers came in, it eased out shop. I had about 40 students per period: beginning woods, electricity, sheet metal, welding and metal lathe all in the same period to freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors."

You also had your work cut out coaching the Red Devils. "While still in Los Angeles, I asked the superintendent over the phone how the team was doing. He kind of brushed off my question. Once I finally arrived in Lowell, I found out they had lost 49 straight ballgames.

Didn't Jigger Sirois play basketball for you? "Yes, Jigger was a senior the first year I coached at Lowell. Those boys had never won a game in their high school careers. I used to let Jigger take my '52 Ford on errands. That's before you had to worry about lawsuits. Little did I know, the kid I let drive my car would be competing at the Indianapolis 500 time trials a few years later."

Good call, Coach. Jigger probably had that Ford A-Line going from 0 to 60 mph in about two seconds, and that was just backing out of the school parking lot. "If you look out the kitchen window, you can see her parked under that shade tree."

You still own the car? Ain't she a beaut! "We eventually snapped the losing streak in January against St. Mary's of Michigan City."

Was it their boys team? "Jeff, I have to tell you, there was a reporter from the Chicago Sun-Times who came down to Lowell and spent that entire day writing a story about maintaining a losing tradition. His name was Jerry Holtzman. When it was time for him to head back to Chicago, he kind of laughed as we shook hands, and said, 'In case you win tonight, give me a call because I'll have to change my story.' We won it, so I gave him a call."

You eventually became principal at Merrillville High School."Yes, I started in 1978-79."

Tell me about that. "Merrillville was coming off a state championship in football. They had finished in the Final Four in basketball. So there was a lot of emphasis on athletics. The honor students came to me and asked, 'Why do the athletes get all the attention and we don't?'"

And? "We had a big brainstorming session with parents and teachers -- 250 people. We talked about ways of getting more academic attention from the press. That's how it all started. "Jeff, they talk about transparency in politics today. Well, you have to have transparency in education, too. Everybody needs to know what's going on. As an administrator, I always believed strongly in that. The parents' advisory group came in once a month—anybody could come in. You didn't have to be an officer. You could just come in, have coffee and talk. If parents had questions, they asked them and they got answers."

During your last two years at MHS, you founded the Academic Decathlon in Indiana. "The Academic Decathlon started in Orange County, Calif., during the mid-'70s. In '83, I called out there and asked how we could get our kids involved. I was told, 'If you promise to get this started in Indiana, we'll let you in this year's competition.' We went out to California immediately and competed against state-champion teams."

Then what? "MHS hosted and won the Indiana state championship the next year and, in so doing, qualified to go back to California."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Schuyler left Merrillville High School to become president of academics downstate, where he worked with the Principals' Association, assuring the Academic Decathlon got off to a good start. To this day, the former jock who went to bat for academia remains as classy as his '52 Ford coupe. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

Reprinted, by permission, from the Aug. 9, 2010, edition of the Post-Tribune, Merrillville, Ind.

Jeff Manes is a freelance writer and syndicated columnist. His human interest column appears in the Post-Tribuneon Thursdays and Sundays. The column also is published in three weekly newspapers: Lowell Tribune, Cedar Lake Journal and Lake County Star. Jeff’s column can be read online at post-trib.com by scrolling down to “featured columnists” and clicking on his name.

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