Unit: College of Education

The Statewide Standard: Message from the dean

College of Education Dean, Perry L. Schoon celebrates Illinois State Homecoming in 2014 with alums Kristin and Peter RIchey, and Assistant Dean of the College of Education, Ken Fansler.

Within this issue, you will read about four of the more than 50 externally funded grant programs focused on the subjects of urban education, early intervention in special education, diverse cultural and linguistic needs, and educational leadership. You will also read about two alumni who have each been recognized as the best of the best by the state they serve and two dedicated education majors who have “dug deep” to make the most out of their time at Illinois State and ready themselves for the next step in their careers.

Naperville native garners California Teacher of the Year honors

Laughlin and her students work on a reading lesson at Hansen School in Orange County.

The line “I’m moving out to California to establish my career” is not often reserved for new teachers from Illinois. But Naperville native Amy (Brophy) Laughlin ’98 found herself sharing that exact news with her parents after attending the University’s annual education career fair.

Bringing it to the field

Tyler Lovgren in game action. There are over 50 Illinois State education majors involved in university athletics.

While completing one of the most difficult, time-intensive undergraduate programs offered on campus, Lovgren met each and every obligation set forth by his major and his team. He pulled 12-, 13-, and 14-hour days without complaint. And he did so while transitioning between a professional, reserved academic setting to the grueling environment that is division I football.

Learning to lead

Jill Tezak helped out at an elephant sanctuary in the Southeast Asian country of Cambodia.

Junior deaf and hard of hearing major Jill Tezak is not afraid to go the distance for educational opportunities. Traveling across the world to Cambodia
with a group of unfamiliar college-age students might frighten away most, but it is just the type of leadership experience that excites her.

From wrestling coach to Illinois Superintendent of the Year

Tom Bertrand with in Chicago to receive the 2015 IASA Superintendent of the Year Award.

For the past 13 years, Tom Bertrand has served as the superintendent of Rochester Community Unit District 3A (RCUD), and in 2014, he was recognized with Illinois’ highest award for the position by the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA).

EL VISTA: Giving new hope to a vulnerable population of learners

EL VISTA will serve some of the state's most vulnerable and underserved populations: Infants and toddlers with low vision, blindness, or deafblindness.

In an effort to better serve Illinois’ infants and toddlers with low vision, blindness, or deafblindness, Illinois State implemented an early intervention vision program in 2015 titled Early Learning Visual Impairment Services, Training and Advancement (EL VISTA). The grant program represents one of precious few programs of its kind in the nation and is funded by a five-year $1.23 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education.

URBAN CENTER: The next chapter in urban teacher preparation

TThe complex teacher retention issue will be at the forefront of the CTEP’s first-ever urban teacher education conference, a free-to-attend event on Saturday, 9/12 and Sunday, 9/13 at Hotel Chicago.

The Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline (CTEP) was awarded a $10 million grant last fall to expand its model in urban, high-need communities in Chicago, including Pilsen and East Garfield Park, as well as in other major cities in Illinois, including Decatur and Peoria.