Shaffer Receives Grant to Support Work with Special needs Children and Families

LaShorage Shaffer, SOE Instructor in the area of Early Childhood Education, has received a 2012 Early On Faculty Grant Award from the Clinton County (MI) Regional Educational Services Agency to support her efforts to enhance the skills of educators in early intervention with the families of young children with special needs. Her proposal was the only one selected for funding during this cycle. The project supported by this award will be conducted during the fall semester.

The Early On® Center for Higher Education, a project of Clinton County RESA, is Michigan’s pre-service initiative to support the development of highly qualified early intervention personnel to work with infants and toddlers, birth to three with disabilities and/or special needs, and their families.

The Early On Center supports faculty and other professional development providers to strengthen learning experiences for 2-year and 4-year college students so they are knowledgeable of Early On Michigan and competent in their future work with families of infants and toddlers.

Please join me in congratulating LaShorage in obtaining extramural support for her research interests!

SOE Student Wins Prestigious Miriam Schaefer Scholarship

At the recent 62nd Annual Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) State Conference held in Traverse City, the MCTM Scholarship Committee announced the winners of the 2012 Miriam Schaefer Scholarships. MCTM is committed to promoting and encouraging capable students to join the mathematics teaching profession. Since 1989, MCTM has awarded Over this period of time 127 scholarships have been awarded to students from over 24 universities and colleges across Michigan totaling $153,000.

These are highly competitive awards given to college seniors and juniors who are enrolled in a teacher preparation program in the state, who have mathematics as a primary teaching interest, and who have a record of academic excellence and commitment to the profession of teaching. This year three scholarships were awarded, and one of the winners is Emily Bianchi who attends the University of Michigan at Dearborn.

Emily is a graduate of Lake Shore High School, St. Clair Shores, and is currently a senior at UM-Dearborn in the School of Education. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, with concentration in Mathematics and Language Arts.

Please join me in congratulating Emily on being selected for this honor from among a large number of worthy nominees!