Did You Know ….?

Did you know that the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) is not only a world-class child care facility but also a major source of professional education for students at UM-Dearborn who are preparing for careers working with children?

During the Fall 2011 term there are a total of 88 SOE students involved in practica/internships at the ECEC. Of the 88 students, 60 are elementary certification students (language arts, science, social studies, math, learning disabilities, and early childhood) electing the Child Development Practicum. An additional 70 students are employed by the ECEC this term.

All of these students are working in classrooms under the direction of ECEC teachers. They gain valuable experience through observation and practice under the tutelage of excellent teachers who utilize and model best practices.

Though located at an off-campus suite, the ECEC is a vital part of the School of Education at University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Tracy Blakely-Thompson Named 2011 SOE Alumnus of the Year

UM-Dearborn has honored 8 outstanding alumni for their contributions to the University and community, naming them as recipients of the 2011 UM-Dearborn Alumni Awards. Among the winners was Tracy Blakely-Thompson, who was selected as the School of Education Alumna of the Year.

Tracy earned her Master of Arts in Education from the SOE in 1992. She then pursued a Master of Arts in pastoral counseling and recently received her doctor of ministry in domestic violence and sexual assault. In 2006, Tracy began her own company, Inspiring One, L.L.C. through which she provides counseling therapy and training workshops for individuals and organizations.

Through her experience and education, Tracy has served as a resource to and advocate for victims of domestic violence, both on this campus and in the larger community. She is a dedicated volunteer at HAVEN − a domestic violence agency and shelter, where she has been a guest speaker and inspirational speaker at different events and conferences. She has conducted workshops for female prisoners at Huron Valley Correctional Facility, speaking about the importance of self-improvement and education. She has also performed in the campus’ Vagina Monologues, a production designed to highlight the severity of domestic violence, and was the keynote speaker during the Women’s Resource Center’s Take Back the Night event.

In addition, Tracy has helped launch the School of Education’s Dean’s Alumni Council, where she will work to create a speaker series and revitalize the connection between alumni and the SOE. Please join me in congratulating Tracy on her great accomplishment and in thanking her for her dedication to the education profession.

Michigan Early Childhood Education Teacher Educators

On October 14, 2011, UM-Dearborn was host to the fall meeting of the Michigan Early Childhood Education Teacher Educators. This group is a state affiliate group of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators NAECTE.

Approximately 35 teacher educators from across Michigan the state discussed how teacher preparation programs are working to meet new standards for early childhood teacher education that emphasize preparing teachers to work with children with special needs. A highlight of the meeting was a tour of UM-Dearborn’s Early Childhood Education Center and Oakwood Health System’s Center for Exceptional Families, which provided a glimpse of excellent facilities and first-class collaboration underway between these two organizations.

SOE is Best Decorated Office!

As part of its 2011 Homecoming events, the University of Michigan-Dearborn sponsored a door/office-decorating contest. The theme for this year was “Las Vegas.”

I am pleased to report that the School of Education staff, led by our very capable student assistants, assembled some totally fabulous door displays. The judges evaluated a dozen entries from across the UM-Dearborn campus on theme, creativity, originality, and school spirit, and they selected the School of Education to receive the award for Best Decorated Office!

Bravo to all who contributed!

SOE Doctoral Student Receives Major Promotion & Scholarship

Christopher Tremblay, a doctoral student in the UM-Dearborn School of Education, was recently promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at the university. In his new role, Tremblay will provide strategic leadership and management to the offices of Admissions and Orientation and Financial Aid and Scholarships in order to meet and maintain the university’s undergraduate enrollment goals. He will work with the deans in the academic units and with other enrollment/student life units to help shape enrollment priorities and strategies that will meet the university's enrollment goals.

Tremblay was also recently selected as the recipient of the Norman K. Russell Scholarship from the National Orientation Directors Association. The scholarship will assist him to defray expenses in pursuit of his doctoral degree.

Please join me in congratulating Christopher Tremblay on these recognitions and in wishing him much success in his future endeavors!

SOE Students Contribute to Tutoring Program Recognized for Excellence

The Volunteer Tutoring Program that is managed by the Oakwood Center for Exceptional Families was one of five Michigan programs nominated for the 2011 Governor's Service Award in the category of Outstanding Volunteer Program. This category was established to recognize the “extraordinary work volunteers accomplish in communities” and to “acknowledge the importance this support can make in community life.”

UM-Dearborn School of Education students play a key role in the success of this program. Students in EDC 460 (Exceptional Child) routinely volunteer to tutor a child for 10 hours during a semester. Students from other courses (e.g., EDC 241) also frequently volunteer their time as tutors in this program.

Congratulations to our partner, Oakwood Center for Exceptional Families, on being nominated for this prestigious award. Thanks to all the UM-Dearborn students, faculty and staff who have helped to make the program a success worthy of distinction!

SOE Research Colloquium Features Work with Teachers of English Language Learners

The second session in the School of Education Research Colloquium Series was held on October 19, 2011. Martha Adler (SOE Associate Professor) presented findings from her multi-year project with secondary school teachers in Dearborn Public Schools. In that project, which was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Adler and her collaborators assisted teachers of secondary school subjects incorporate “sheltered instruction” techniques to assist students with limited proficiency in English. The study design, findings, and implications were presented and discussed with a diverse audience of UM-Dearborn faculty, staff and students.

The next colloquium in this series will be on November 9, 2011 at 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the School of Education conference room (252 FCS). Professors Mary Schleppegrell and Annemarie Palincsar, both from the School of Education at UM in Ann Arbor will report research related to the use of “functional grammar” to assist elementary school teachers in their work with English language learners.

Faculty and students from across the UM-Dearborn campus are invited to attend. Please visit the SOE Research Colloquium page for more information regarding dates, speakers, topics and updates: http://www.soe.umd.umich.edu/soe_research_colloquium.