SOE Sponsors Early Childhood Conference in May 2011

On May 6, 2011, the School of Education, Early Childhood Education Center, and Oakwood Healthcare Center for Exceptional Families will host a conference, “Making Inclusion Work in Early Childhood Education with Transdisciplinary Teaming,” focusing on research-based strategies, techniques and promising practices for including young children with special learning needs within natural environments and general education settings. The keynote speaker is Dr. Pretti-Frontczak, Professor of Special Education- Early Intervention at Kent State University. Her presentation is “Creating Meaningful Learning Opportunities within the Context of Everyday Activities and Events.” The presentation will be followed by breakout sessions that focus on the best inclusive practices in early childhood education. Early childhood special education and medical professionals will present on strategies for teachers and other professionals on the transdisciplinary team for working with children with and without disabilities and their families in early childhood settings. The conference time is 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and the venue will be the Fairlane Center North Building, immediately adjacent to the School of Education.

For further information about registration and the availability of academic credit associated with the conference, follow the link on the SOE home page: http://www.soe.umd.umich.edu/.

UM-Dearborn Faculty Assist MDE in Review of Programs

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) periodically reviews teacher preparation programs in the state to ensure the quality of the programs and compliance with mandated content coverage. For reviews conducted during the 2010-2011 school year several UM-Dearborn faculty from the School of Education and the College of Arts, Sciences and Letters have been recruited to assist in this process: Professor John Poster (SOE), Associate Professors Chris Burke (SOE), Susan Everett (SOE), Angie Krebs (Mathematics), Julie Taylor (SOE), and Assistant Professor Karen Thomas-Brown (SOE). Please join me in thanking them for being taking on this important professional responsibility and for representing UM-Dearborn at the state level.

SOE Launches Searches for New Faculty

The School of Education recently announced the availability of two tenure-stream Assistant Professor faculty positions. Both positions require the promise of a strong research program and a demonstrated commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching. In addition, each position has additional attributes.

For the position in the area of early childhood education we seek candidates with an earned doctorate in Early Childhood Education or Early Childhood Special Education, experience working in an inclusive early childhood setting, and a willingness to work collaboratively with a transdisciplinary team in an early childhood laboratory school, early childhood programs and agencies, and school districts in culturally diverse communities.

For the position in the area of reading/language arts we seek candidates with an earned doctorate in an appropriate field; scholarly interests or professional experiences related to literacy programs in urban schools, working with below-grade-level readers, or assisting children for whom English is not their first language; and a willingness to work collaboratively with faculty colleagues and school district partners.

Further details about the positions can be obtained by clicking on the “faculty searches” link on the SOE home page http://www.soe.umd.umich.edu/. Please share this information with individuals who might be suitable candidates.