Top IU School of Education teachers honored
The Indiana University School of Education honored its top teachers during the annual “Celebration of Teaching” on Wednesday, April 22. Awards to top teaching faculty, associate instructors, and recognition of general excellence in the School’s teaching ranks are the highlight of the event. The celebration also marked the official unveiling of the latest class of Armstrong Teacher Educators.
The top teaching award went to Literacy, Culture, & Language Education faculty member Chris Leland from the IU School of Education at IUPUI. Leland started her career as an elementary teacher in Massachusetts, but has been a fixture on the IUPUI faculty since 1991. Leland’s research focuses on critical literacy, urban education, inquiry-based learning, and teacher professional development.
All of those areas of knowledge came to bear on one of her most notable projects, the development of the Center for Inquiry in Indianapolis Public Schools. The “school within a school” concept was created along with IU Bloomington faculty emeritus Jerome Harste. The school has been very successful since it started, earning National Blue Ribbon School status and the first elementary international baccalaureate school in the state.
Leland has earned the respect of her peers, reflected in her nomination letters. Executive Associate Dean Pat Rogan wrote that Leland’s skill in inviting students and practicing teachers to collaborate on research, write articles, and present at state and national conferences has touched many in education. ““I cannot imagine a candidate whose achievements epitomize excellence in teaching more than hers,” Rogan wrote. “She excels in every dimension of teaching and her achievements reflect the exact criteria of this award.”
The Celebration of Teaching, held each spring, is organized by the Faculty Development Committee of the IU School of Education. Below is the full list of award recipients.
Gorman Award
Christine Leland, Literacy, Culture & Language Education, IU School of Education at IUPUI
Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award
Lucinda Carspecken, Counseling and Educational Psychology
Armstrong Teacher Educator Awards
Mike Applegate, Peru High School
Desirée Brooks, Fox Hill Elementary, Indianapolis
Matt Ehresman, Center Grove Middle School Central, Greenwood
Antonia Escobedo, Frankie W. McCullough Academy for Girls, Gary
Katie Gordon, Stephan Decatur Elementary, Indianapolis
Yvonne Lucas, Frankie W. McCullough Academy for Girls, Gary
Mary Pat O’Connor, Cardinal Ritter High School, Indianapolis
Adam Pietrykowski, Switzerland County High School, Vevay
Roseann Wilson, Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Evansville
Outstanding Associate Instructor Awards
Beth Buchholz, Literacy, Culture & Language Education
E340: Methods of Teaching Reading 1
Rachel Feldwisch, Counseling & Educational Psychology
G203: Communication for Youth-Serving Professionals
G302: Resources for Counseling with Youth
Eric Jones, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
H205: Introduction to Educational Thought
Ya Huei Lu, Instructional Systems Technology
W200: Using Computers in Education
Alina Mihai, Curriculum & Instruction
Teaching All Learners: Supervision
K307: Methods of Teaching Students with Special Needs
Andrea Rehak, Counseling and Educational Psychology
P251: Psychology for Elementary Teachers
M101: Laboratory/Field Experience, Elementary Education
Allie Weiss, Curriculum & Instruction
M303: Field Experience, Secondary Education
M403: Field Experience, Secondary Education
S303: Classroom Management, Topics in Secondary Education
Maria Zoretic-Goodwin, Curriculum & Instruction
E328: Science in the Elementary School
E351: Foundations of Early Care and Education II
M401: Seminar/Field Experience, Elementary Education
M424: Supervision of Student Teachers
Trustees Faculty Teaching Awards
Dionne Cross Francis, Curriculum & Instruction
Joshua Danish, Counseling & Educational Psychology
Suzanne Eckes, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Amy Hackenberg, Curriculum & Instruction
Jessica Lester, Counseling & Educational Psychology
Ray Smith, Literacy, Culture & Language Education
Joel Wong, Counseling & Educational Psychology
Student Choice Award
Leana McClain, Curriculum & Instruction
E325: Social Studies in the Elementary Schools
M401: Seminar/Field Experience, Elementary Education
Award for Excellence in Mentoring
Mary Waldron, Counseling & Educational Psychology
More information about the awards and the Celebration of Teaching
The Celebration of Teaching is organized by the Faculty Development Committee which consists of the following members:
Sylvia Martinez (Chair), Joyce Alexander (Ex Officio), Evan Mickey (graduate student representative), Letha Taylor (staff representative), Barry Chung, Sharon Daley, Adam Maltese, Mary Piontek, Hannah Schertz, Dubravka Svetina, and Gina Yoder.
Armstrong Teacher Educator Award
The Armstrong Teacher Educator Program was created by a gift from Cook Group Companies to establish the Martha Lea and Bill Armstrong Fund in Teacher Education. This program is intended to increase involvement among teachers, Indiana University School of Education faculty, and pre-service education students. One aspect of the program allows IUB to identify a small, select group of public school teachers each year from across the state of Indiana who will work with faculty and students in our undergraduate teacher education program. This year's awardees, who come from all parts of the state, have been identified by their colleagues and administrators as being truly outstanding.
Outstanding Associate Instructor Award
These graduate students are living proof that the collective instructional competence of the
School is substantively improved by Al instruction in our undergraduate programs. There is remarkable sophistication, passion, and sustained competence in the teaching process evident in these profiles. The committee is honored to count these teachers as colleagues. Their department affiliations and recent teaching assignments are listed after their names.
Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award
This award is given to outstanding adjunct faculty instructors for 2013-2014. The committee found their accomplishments quite exceptional. The committee commends these recipients for their outstanding accomplishments.
Trustees Faculty Teaching Award
These are our outstanding faculty from 2013-2014. The committee found their accomplishments quite exceptional. The committee commends these colleagues for their outstanding accomplishments.
Student Choice Award
This award is presented by the Deans Advisory Council (DAC), an undergraduate honorary organization committed to the School of Education's mission to provide students with a positive environment and worthwhile learning experiences. The DAC selected the 2013-2014 Student Choice winner from among a long list of outstanding instructors nominated by students.
Graduate Studies Faculty Mentor Award
The recipient of this award is chosen yearly from faculty nominated by graduate students.
Burton Gorman Teaching Award
The Burton Gorman Teaching Award was established by a benefactor alumnus of the School of Education for the purpose of recognizing creative teaching in the preparation of education professionals at Indiana University. Criteria for the award include creativity, pioneering, and Impact of teaching. “Teaching" is broadly construed, so as to include conceptualization, planning, integration of courses, research, instruction in classrooms and/ or other settings, individual work with students, and evaluation.
Dean Gerardo Gonzalez presents the Gorman Teaching Award to Chris Leland during the Celebration of Teaching ceremony.