(May 29, 2007) The College of Education is saddened to announce that Cecilia J. Lauby-Ryan, professor of education emeritus, passed away on May 25, 2007. She was 94.
In 1933 she received her B.S. from St. Mary’s-Of-The-Woods College in Vincennes, Ind. She received her master’s degree in 1942 and her doctorate in 1949, both from Indiana University. She also attended Indiana State University and Northwestern University.
From 1933 to 1949, Lauby was a teacher and principal in Vincennes, Ind. and Harvey, Ill. She came to Illinois State University in 1949, first as coordinator of student teaching, then as director of student teaching and professor of education, and was head of professional laboratory experiences until her retirement in 1973, at which time the university had increased from 2,000 to 20,000 students and was the second-largest teacher education program in the nation.
Lauby created a model of student teaching experiences that was copied by universities across the nation. She authored many articles and books, including co-authoring science textbooks, she edited The Theoretical Bases for Professional Laboratory Experiences, Forty-Fourth Yearbook, and was cited for her discussion of philosophy, theory and principles of student teaching supervision.
The College of Education honored her in 2004 by naming the Dr. Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center. In the fall of 2005, she created an endowment at Illinois State University for the development and improvement of the Lauby Teacher Education Center, through which all teacher education students receive assistance to help them become teachers. The other portion of her gift will establish the Dr. Cecilia J. Lauby Endowed Fellowship in Teacher Education. Dr. Lauby will be long remembered and respected for her outstanding leadership in education.
