Andrew Davis Joins School of Education as Associate Dean and Head of School
Please welcome Andrew Davis who is joining the School of Education Monday, July 17 as associate dean and head of school. His office is on the 5th Floor of Enderis.
Hope Longwell-Grice, who has served in that position and has been with the School of Education for 20 years, is retiring. Longwell-Grice has agreed to remain with SOE for several weeks after Davis鈥� arrival to assist with the transition.鈥�
Andrew Davis
As the head of school and associate dean, Davis will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations in the School of Education. In this position, he will also be responsible for community engagement efforts and serve on the leadership team for the College of Community Engagement and Professions.
Before accepting the position at 51猎奇, Davis was chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at Ball State University and was director of the Ball State University Neuropsychology Laboratory.
He has experience鈥痠n administration, leadership, mentorship, teaching, research, and clinical service provision in educational and health care settings. He also brings an extensive research record, with more than 50 peer reviewed publications, four edited books, and鈥痭umerous鈥痯ublished book chapters, presentations, and funded research projects. He was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
In addition to his leadership duties, Davis will also be a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology.鈥����&苍产蝉辫;
鈥�&苍产蝉辫; 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
School of Ed Alum Chosen for Leadership Program
Jaclyn Stoczanyn earned her master鈥檚 degree in administrative leadership from 51猎奇 in May and headed to Harvard University for four days in June.
Stoczanyn is one of ten Milwaukee leaders selected to take part in the Harvard Kennedy School of Business Young American Leaders Program (YALP) as part of the 2023-24 delegation. Leaders from Milwaukee nominated emerging leaders from across the city who are shaping their communities today and who collectively have a broad view of, and credibility with, the next generation. The Greater Milwaukee Committee selected the members of the local cohort and are co-sponsors for the YALP program. GRAEF, under the leadership of John Kissinger, CEO and president, is the other sponsor.
The Harvard program, which started in 2015, aims to develop leaders from various backgrounds who can develop cross-sector collaboration at the community level. This year鈥檚 session started June 20 and included delegates from 14 cities. The program originally focused on the economic competitiveness of cities but has expanded to look at issues of equitable prosperity. That includes expanding education, improving economic infrastructure, and encouraging skills in workforce development.
Stoczanyn found the opportunity a perfect fit for her passion for making Milwaukee a better place. She is honored, she said, to be selected to represent her alma mater and the City of Milwaukee.
鈥淭he goal of the program is to develop leaders who understand such cross-sector collaborations for shared prosperity and can implement them more effectively鈥�, she said. 鈥淲e will identify our platform and plan cross-collaborative ideas that we can bring back to our cities.鈥�
Stoczanyn earned her undergraduate degree in community education and engagement and her master鈥檚 degree in administrative leadership with a concentration in adult education, both from 51猎奇.
As a graduate project assistant and student, she helped design leadership, career discernment, and internship preparation workshops as a student and corporate recruiter for the 51猎奇 Student Success and Talent Pipeline Initiative.
In the process of working with students from diverse backgrounds, she explored student identities and experiences with navigating system barriers, racism and inequities, in addition, to their limited access to paid internship and experiential learning opportunities.
鈥淎s a student success coach, I kept student success at the forefront through mentorship, empathy, encouragement, and motivation, but most importantly, with authenticity,鈥� she wrote in her YALP biography.
She said that her experience as a first-generation college student of Ukrainian and Guatemalan background inspired her to help others and provide them with the encouragement and support, she received in her own academic journey. At one point of her undergraduate journey, she had a 1.2 GPA and never thought she would be obtaining her master鈥檚 degree. With hard work, she finished her master鈥檚 degree with a 4.0. 鈥淚 never dreamed when I started that I would be able to do that.鈥�
The Milwaukee leaders selected to take part in the Harvard Kennedy School of Business Young American Leaders Program for 2023-24. Photo courtesy of Harvard Kennedy School of Business.
At the Harvard Kennedy School of Business, she will engage with Harvard Faculty and work with fellow Milwaukeeans from varied backgrounds to develop tangible solutions for issues facing the city. Participants include a diverse group of educators, businesspeople, community and government leaders, sustainability experts, and others. Over four days, the delegates will discuss case studies, listen and engage with prominent speakers for fireside chats, and collaborate on developing equitable solutions to Milwaukee鈥檚 problems that encourage prosperity.
Stoczanyn has worked at 51猎奇 for more than 20 years as a staff member in several departments and started the master鈥檚 program to explore and expand on her passion of leadership and organizational change. 鈥淚鈥檓 closing one chapter of my life at 51猎奇 and grateful for the opportunities I have experienced. I am ready to transition into my new chapter in adult education.鈥� The Young American Leaders Program at Harvard, she said, 鈥渓ets me hit the ground running鈥� on the next phase of her career and as a Milwaukee leader.
“The Harvard faculty were phenomenal, and this was a very prestigious program to be selected to be a part of.”
If you would like to help fund Community Engagement, please visit the聽听飞别产辫补驳别.
Grant Supports Cooperating Teachers
A School of Education, Women鈥檚 Giving Circle grant for 2023 will help the teachers who work with 51猎奇 student teachers.
Anna Bierce, Clinical Experience Coordinator, and Jenny Brownson, Teaching Faculty for the elementary education program, are designing an effort to support and mentor 51猎奇 teacher candidates. The grant, which runs from March to December 2023, will take place in Milwaukee Public Schools and will provide mentorship and support for cooperating teachers and the work they do with 51猎奇 teacher candidates.
This work will include providing a Cooperating Teacher Verification Workshop for future cooperating teachers, an advanced workshop that will look at ways to address equity issues including culturally relevant teaching and inequity in school communities, and mentoring opportunities for cooperating teachers and 51猎奇 teacher candidates (such as co-planning or holding courageous conversations) within the school.
Women鈥檚 Giving Circle 2023 Awards
In 2023, one-year Women鈥檚 Giving Circle awards went to the following projects and research.
Teacher Candidate Retention in the Elementary and Middle Education Program. Liz Daniel, teaching faculty, and Angel Hessel, distinguished lecturer.
Bringing Theory to Life. Tara Serebin, teaching faculty and Elementary and Middle Education, K-9 program director.
Supporting and Mentoring 51猎奇 Teacher Candidates. Anna Bierce, clinical experience coordinator, and Jenny Brownson, teaching faculty.
SOE Jumpstart First Year Experience. Jeremy Page, assistant dean for student services.
English Program Redesign. Kristine Lize, English and Language Arts, 4-12 Education program director.
Character Education Partnership Honors 2023 Award Winners
The Wisconsin Character Education Partnership annually recognizes schools throughout the state that work collaboratively to create and implement a plan to foster a more harmonious and educational environment. The 51猎奇 School of Education is a partner in this project.
After planning, implementing, and assessing their results, schools can earn the Promising Practice Award for enhancing character education within their school communities.
This year, six public and private schools, including primary and high schools, are being recognized.
They are:
Appleton Public Montessori School (Appleton School District): 鈥淲ork Journal Virtues Reflections鈥�
Students in grades 1-3 journal about their own virtue growth. Each student shares their journal with their teacher and parents. Students learn that they have the capacity to make choices that reflect ethical values.
Eastbrook Academy (Milwaukee Private School): 鈥淐ommunity Days鈥�
The school community creates cross-age group sets of activities from sports to social. Guided discussions are held, and the goal is to provide opportunities to come together to create a greater sense of community.
River Falls High School (River Falls School District): 鈥淲iley鈥檚 Common Ground鈥�
The school鈥檚 student-run coffee shop allows students with diverse abilities to learn about business and practice character skills in a very hands-on approach. Students use the proceeds monthly to share with others. One example involved a local nursing home where students visited, spent time with residents, and provided free beverages.
River Falls High School (River Falls School District): 鈥淲iley鈥檚 Wardrobe鈥�
鈥淲iley鈥檚 Wardrobe鈥� is an example of character in action. This student-led action grew from a desire to get clothing and personal items to those with basic needs. Access was handled with dignity and discretion. Moving from bins to a store/closet-like space, students place the items and work in the space for those who stop by.
Rockfield Elementary (Germantown School District): 鈥淧eaceful Pathway鈥�
From second through fifth grade, students experience conflict resolution by learning to use their voice assertively while exhibiting empathy for others. Empathy, respect, and responsibility are the goals of students, faculty, and staff.
Tomorrow River School District: 鈥淓mbedding Character and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into District Strategic Plan.鈥�
The school district incorporates SEL in the K-12 curriculum to promote a common language throughout the district, emphasizing character traits. Using DPI grant money, the district hired an SEL coordinator. The curriculum is focused on character lessons like integrity, empathy, and conflict resolution.
For more information about the individual schools and WCEP in general, please contact WCEP@srpff.org.
If you would like to help fund Community Engagement, please visit the聽听飞别产辫补驳别.
EdLine 2023
.
The 2023 edition of the EdLine, the School of Education alumni publication, highlights:
Updates on the School of Education鈥檚 alignment with two other schools under under the new College of Community Engagement and Professions.
Andrew Davis is joining the School of Education this summer as associate dean and head of school as long-time leader Hope Longwell-Grice retires.
An Electa Quinney program is supporting American Indian educators and administrators.
How a School of Education alumnus had combined his expertise in American Sign Language with his love of sports into a business.
The Student Parent Success Program helps students who are parents finish their educations.
A new research grant is funding a program on inclusive early childhood education.
Update on how the Women鈥檚 Giving Circle is supporting the School of Education.
Because of limited resources, we are printing a reduced number of copies, and hope you enjoy reading this issue online. The software we use allows you to flip through the pages just like a regular magazine. You can follow news from the SOE throughout the year by going to the School of Education News webpage.
If you would prefer a print copy, please contact us at edline@uwm.edu.
EdLine Archive
School of Education in the News
Pachoua Lor, a School of Education alumna, was featured in a May 31 on the experiences of young Asian Americans.
Lor who is now a retention technology manager in 51猎奇鈥檚 Student Success program, earned her master鈥檚 degree in administrative leadership in 2019 with a concentration in adult, continuing and higher education administration.
A story about her own journey and her passion for working with first year students was .
SOE Grad Tannar Thompson: Making an Impact Through Teaching
Thompson took an unusual path to teaching. After serving four years in the Navy, he started classes at 51猎奇-Washington County before transferring to the Milwaukee campus to complete his degree in elementary education, with certification for K-9th grade.
鈥淎ll of my professors have been so welcoming and kind and just,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut I want to give a special shout out to all the cooperating teachers I鈥檝e had.鈥� They have really helped him understand classroom teaching, he said.
Currently, he is student teaching at Indian Hills Elementary in River Hills. 鈥淎ngie Dolan (My cooperating teacher for student teaching) has been an amazing mentor and because of her knowledge, skills, and leadership, I feel confident and ready to do this. I鈥檝e learned so much from her already.鈥�
He chose a career in teaching because he wanted to make an impact on the community. 鈥淚 want to help raise the next generation of our nation’s citizens to be the best that they possibly can be and make a difference.鈥�
Becoming a teacher isn鈥檛 easy, he said. 鈥淎t first it鈥檚 really overwhelming. It鈥檚 a lot of work and it鈥檚 a lot to really understand. But at the end of the day, the payoff is you know how to make those lessons so well and so well thought out.鈥�
One of his best memories of his time at 51猎奇 was returning to classes after the COVID pandemic and reuniting with his cohort, he said. They have all depended on each other during their teaching journey. 鈥淚鈥檓 definitely going to miss this cohort that I鈥檝e been a part of. I鈥檝e made a lot of really good friends and it鈥檚 been really amazing seeing everyone be so successful and learning how to be great teachers.鈥�
He鈥檚 also had a great deal of support from family and friends over the past five years, he said.
鈥業 am inspired by my late grandfather, Neil Thompson, who motivated me and gave me encouragement on those days when I felt like giving up, as well as my girlfriend Anna who has lifted me up whenever I needed a pep talk.鈥濃��
Right now, he鈥檚 finishing his student teaching and beginning his search for a teaching position. He had his first interview the week after graduation.
Now that he鈥檚 about to head into his own classroom, Thompson feels ready and confident. 鈥淚 know how to work with these kids and build relationships with these students, which is the most important part. A couple of years ago, I would never even have had a clue.鈥�
鈥淭he School of Education has done an amazing job of preparing students to teach in the real world.鈥�
If you would like to help fund Student Success, please visit the聽听飞别产辫补驳别.
First M鲁 College Connections Students Are Becoming 51猎奇 Graduates
Kayla Jackson is graduating from 51猎奇 in May with a bachelor鈥檚 degree and a double major in psychology and neuroscience on the pre-med track.
Jackson is one of the first 51猎奇 graduates who benefited from the M3 College Connections program, a partnership involving 51猎奇, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the Milwaukee Public Schools.
She credits the Educational Psychology course she took through that program with giving her the tools she needed to succeed in college.
鈥淚 learned the process of college and the class format. I was able to see how different high school and college were,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 was better prepared to make the transition into college.鈥�
M3 College Connections is an award-winning program that allows eligible Milwaukee Public Schools students to complete their high school graduation requirements while earning up to 20 college credits.
Since the pilot courses started in 2019, 325 high school students have gone through the program. Currently there are 87 students in the program. The high school students take mathematics and English courses at MATC and an educational psychology class and ethnic studies class at 51猎奇. The educational psychology course focuses on helping high school students develop the tools they need to succeed in college. That course has expanded to help high school students select majors and figure out future careers.
鈥淚t was great to get those credits and save some tuition money,鈥� said Jackson, who also works for 51猎奇 as a campus ambassador.
She plans to take a gap year after her May graduation to prepare for the medical school admission test and develop the personal statement needed for her application, Jackson said.
She decided to enter the medical profession and become a psychiatrist after seeing the mental health challenges her own family faced after her father died of complications of diabetes in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic also had a powerful impact on mental health in her community. Her long-term goal is to serve the African American community in Milwaukee.
鈥淚鈥檇 recommend College Connections to others,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淚 learned where to go for support, and not to be afraid to ask your teachers questions. It鈥檚 been amazing.鈥�
If you would like to help fund Student Success, please visit the webpage.
ASL Students an Integral Part of 51猎奇 Play
A group of students from the ASL English Interpreting program joined Peck School of the Arts theater students to integrate ASL into the production of the Pulitzer Prize winning play 鈥淪weat鈥� by Lynn Nottage.
Instead of standing off to the side, the interpreters were on stage with the hearing actors and integrated into the action.
鈥淪weat鈥� marked the first play at 51猎奇 where there was not an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter standing off to the side during the performance. Instead, interpreters were on stage, with the hearing actors, and moving in sync with them. 51猎奇 Report posted a story about the project.
