New GSE associate dean selected

Dean Randy Hitz announced the appointment of Dr. Micki M. Caskey to Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dr. Caskey has worked in the Curriculum and Instruction department in the GSE for 15 years. She has been a Graduate Teacher Education Program cohort leader specializing in the content areas literacy, action research, learning strategies, content enhancements, and teacher education. Dr. Caskey has also been the co-Principle Investigator for the American Indian Urban Teacher Program and faculty advisor for the Online Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to coming to PSU, she spent more than 20 years working with students in inner-city schools. 

GSE faculty member Deve Swaim receives national honor

Deve Swaim, MS, a Graduate Teacher Education Program instructor, cohort leader, and the program coordinator for secondary licensure in the Curriculum and Instruction Department, has been selected for induction into the North American Society for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance, (AAHPERD). This induction recognizes outstanding professionals from within the professions of health education, physical education, recreation, sport and dance.

Early childhood professor wins national technology award

“Teachers can use smart phones and tablets every day to take photos, record video and audio, and make notes, then integrate them into daily blogs and online portfolios that parents can access.” —Will Parnell, 2012

The National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) has bestowed upon Professor Will Parnell the 2012 Technology Leadership in Early Childhood Education award for community engagement, teaching, and research. His 2012 publication with co-author Jackie Bartlett, iDocument: How smart phones and tablets are changing documentation in preschool and primary classrooms, in the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) journal Young Children serves as the catalyst for this award.

The president of NAECTE, Sara Davis, said, “Will’s ability to help students construct a bridge between technology and documenting to make learning visible is amazing! Adults are not always comfortable with technology, but Will’s expertise makes them realize that technology is their friend and not an obstacle to overcome.”

PSU alumna receives state-wide library award

The Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) will honor Jenny Takeda, GTEP ’98, MS ’99, LIB ’01, at their annual conference on October 12-13, in Seaside, Oregon. She is OSLA’s District Librarian of the Year and will accept the award with mixed feelings since having her library media position eliminated in last spring’s round of Beaverton School District budget cuts.

GSE alumna honored at White House ceremony

GTEP graduate Carren Poff, ’08, was honored in August at the White House as a “Champion of Change.” She was one of 12 recipients of the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program who was recognized for outstanding effort in improving her school. She teaches English, writing, senior reading, language, and “Freshmen Success” at Ontario High School in Eastern Oregon.

Gates Foundation funds Northwest Tribal Teachers Pathway Project

In June, 2012, the American Indian Urban Teacher Program (AIUTP) was awarded $50,000 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fund a new project, the NW Tribal Teachers Pathway Project. The new project will create a teacher career pathway for four American Indian college graduates by providing tuition and living expenses as they enroll in Graduate School of Education (GSE) prerequisite courses. Additionally, the Gates funding will enable AIUTP to increase its half-time office support staff to a full-time position as student support specialist.