Winchester Elementary is named 8th Lighthouse School
Congratulations to our PDS Partner School, Winchester Elementary (West Seneca school district), and Principal Kathleen Brachmann on being recognized as the 8th Lighthouse School in the world. Winchester embraced teaching basic leadership principles to students through The Leader in Me process. Through teaching the "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," students focused on building skills in making good choices, getting along well with others and managing their time wisely. Normally, this is a 3 year process, with the ultimate goal being named a “Lighthouse” school. At the Global Summit which was held in California, Pennsylvania earlier this month, Winchester Elementary was recognized as being the 8th Lighthouse School in the world to receive this recognition, the 7th in the country, and the first to go through the process in one year! This is very exciting news for Winchester, and we are very proud of their accomplishment.
College and Community Partnerships Office Announces 2010 Minigrant Awards
Pixita del Prado Hill, Associate Professor, and Kim Truesdell, Associate Professor, Elementary Education and Reading, received a 2010 Minigrant Award from the College and Community Partnerships Office for their project “It Truly Takes a Village: Developing a College-Community Partnership to Increase Awareness through Children’s Picture Books.” The project, run in conjunction with Wegmans Food and Pharmacy, has been awarded $2,500. Congratulations!
Faculty Appreciation Award
Three members of the Elementary Education and Reading faculty have been recognized by Campus Life student-staff as outstanding faculty at Buffalo State College.
Each semester the undergraduate, paraprofessional staff in Campus Life (Residence Life, Orientation, Student Life, and Dining Services) have an opportunity to recognize Buffalo State faculty who have made a difference in their lives. Students were asked to consider faculty whose efforts have had a lasting impression on them and who have provided dynamic classroom instruction.
Elementary Education Faculty receiving this recognition are: Maria A. Ceprano, Leslie K. Day, Kim S. Truesdell
EER Faculty Receives Award from the Volunteer and Service Learning Center
Professor Mary Cummings has been selected to receive the Outstanding Faculty Commitment to Service Learning Award for her outstanding commitment to service-learning with EDU 310/311. The award cites Dr. Cummings' integration of service and learning, and providing a unique learning opportunity for her students.
EER Faculty Publication
Dr. Keli Garas-York has had her article Overlapping student environments: An examination of the homeschool connection and its impact on achievement accepted for publication in the May 2010, volume 42, number 4, edition of Education and Urban Society (pages 430-449).
Cappella and Bard Receive Poss Award for Leadership in Higher Education
Buffalo State College professors and Project Flight co-directors Betty J. Cappella, Distinguished Service Professor, Educational Foundations Department, and Geraldine E. Bard, professor, English Department, are the 2010 recipients of the Bernice Poss Award. The award is presented annually by the Western New York Regional Committee of the Network for Women Leaders in Higher Education at their Leadership Conference.
Bernice Poss was a member of the WNY Network of Women Leaders from its inception in 1983 until her tragic death in 1988. As an administrator at the University of Buffalo, Ms. Poss demonstrated a remarkable professionalism, a genuine concern for others, and a steady advocacy of the rights and advancement of women.
Students Present at the 12th Annual Student Research and Creativity Celebration
Emerging Educators Expanding Their Expertise: The Buffalo State College Chapter of the Association of Childhood Education International, presented by Liza Acanfora, Krystal Bellanti, Anna DeBalski, and John McGowan
Children's Perceptions of Scientists and How to Change Their Stereotypes, presented by Sara Knapp and Anna DeBalski
Data Collection to Measure the Impact of Professional Development Schools, presented by John McGowan
The Effects of Sheltered Instruction and Cooperative Learning On English Language Learners, presented by Rachel Barnard, Michele Beers, Ginger DeMita, and Jennifer Shane
Feedback From Teacher Candidates Regarding the Impact of Their Professional Development School Experiences, presented by Lauren Waldroff
Mathematics-Based Learning Opportunity, presented by Kelly Cleary, Maria Emiliani, Rachel Francis, Jennifer Grant, Christopher Guidarelli, Mary Hager, Lisa Henning, Farrah Hepburn, Melissa Illingworth, Michelle Joseph, Suzanne Koons, Kristin LoConti, Jessica Louttit, Crystal Marquis, Kathryn Martin, Lindsey Martin, Cori Micheletti, Alyssa Perry, Jolie Pilsbury, Ashley Simonson, Naomi Snyder, Katie Soares, Ilana Spector, and Alicia Tripi
The Positive Impact of Professional Development Schools On Teacher Candidates, presented by Rachel Barnard
Turning Theory into Practice: Implementing Theories Learned in a Methods Course into the Elementary Classroom, presented by Gloria Lassiter, Laura Jost, and Kate Racine
Turning Theory into Practice: Implementing Theories Learned in a Methods Course into the Elementary Classroom, presented by Gloria Lassiter, Laura Jost, and Kate Racine
EER Students Receive Awards from the Volunteer and Service Learning Center
Dr. Hibajene Shandomo's student group has been selected to receive the Outstanding Student Team in a Service-Learning Course: 15 hours or more required Award. Kahla Ciepiela, Melissa Cotton, Alexandra Drozd, Jillian Honan, and Nicole Irrizarry are being cited for their exceptional service through EDU 312: The Teaching of Science and Mathematics, and the effort and commitment they have demonstrated to community service.
Student Honors and Awards
The following students are recipients of the Undergraduate Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for the 2009-2010 academic year: Krystal Bellanti, Anna Debalski, Julia Gefell, John McGowan, Cheryl O'Connor.
The following students are recipients of the Graduate Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for the 2009-2010 academic year: Yadira Austin, Rachel Berg, Dawn Murphy.
John J. McGowan received the Phillip Santa Maria Memorial Award, which recognizes a Buffalo State College undergraduate student who has demonstrated a well-rounded character, exhibiting not only scholastic achievement but also active participation in campus life at Buffalo State College and in the Western New York community and a desire to improve the world.
Rachel Berg is the graduate recipient of the Buffalo State College President's Medal, which is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State College. The award is given to a student who, through use of his/her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college's mission statement. A grade point average of at least 3.5 is required for consideration of this award, along with demonstrated citizenship through membership in a professional organization or community outreach activities and leadership/creativity through local, state, national or international recognition
for excellence.
Honors Convocation
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND READING DEPARTMENT'S STUDENTS WHO WERE HONORED AT THE 53RD ANNUALHONORS CONVOCATION ON APRIL 15, 2010. Congratulations to EACH of you on your OUTSTANDING efforts!
Educator of the Year
Rachel Badger, Principal of West Elementary in West Seneca, has been named Educator of the Year by the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations!
Chancellor's Award
Elementary Education and Reading major John McGowan has received the Chancellor's Award. The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and been recognized, for the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts or career achievement.
NAPDS Conference
Professor Leslie Day, and students Rachel Barnard, John McGowan and Lauren Waldroff have been selected to present at the 2010 NAPDS Conference in Orlando in mid-March. Professors Nanci Monaco and Ann Romosz of the Educational Foundations Department have also been selected to present at the 2010 NAPDS Conference in March.
ACEI Wins Awards
ACEI, under the mentorship of Dr. McCarthy, has received two awards: Chapter of Excellence and Recognition for Outstanding Professional Development. Congratulations to our ACEI chapter and Dr. McCarthy!
Action Research Mini-Grants
The following action research mini-grants have moved forward from PDS:
1.“Using Pen Paling to Develop Higher level Expository Reading Skills of Intermediate Level at Risk Students” from Enterprise Charter.
2. “Create, Publish, and Share: Integrating Mathematics, Science, and English Language Arts, Phase 3” from West Hertel Academy.
3. “Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to Prepare elementary Students for the NYS Social Studies Assessment: Documenting our Community” from Westminster Community Charter School.
4.”The Leader in Me” from Winchester Elementary.
5.”Developing Awareness of Cultural Diversity through Multicultural and Global Literature” from Hoover Elementary.
6. “The role of a Global Book Club in Developing a Service learning Orientation in College Students” from Wegmans/CEURE/and a variety of students from Buffalo schools.
Congratulations to all project recipients. We look forward to hearing about the progress of your mini-grants at the fall 2010 PDS Retreat.
