From the Dean

The School of Education faculty is very impressed with the quality of our current students and often amazed of the accomplishments of our alumni. Every time I visit a school or a school district office, I run into at least one former student. Some of you are doing very interesting things in the classroom, some of you have moved into administrative and support services jobs, and some of you have moved into completely different professions. But regardless of what you are doing, you are doing great things. Regarding students I did not teach, like Kinesiology and Counseling students, I hear about you from your professors and the story seems to be the same. Wesleyan alumni are making a difference out in the real world!

     The purpose of this newsletter is to reach out to you.  Honestly, we want you back. We want to see you on campus attending our events, interacting with our current students, but - most importantly - providing us with your input. We know that you are vested in Wesleyan and we want you to be a part of our decisions.

     The School is growing and we have many plans. We have plans to expand and grow our Burleson campus, to develop an Intensive English Program, to establish a Counseling Center, and to implement doctoral programs in Education. We even have plans to expand our facilities here on campus. We want to know what you think, but most importantly, how you can help. In essence, I want to hear from you. I want you to let me know where you are and what you are doing. My goal is to hear from at least 50 of you before the next issue of this newsletter.

Dr. Patsy Robles-Goodwin is associate professor of ESL/Bilingual Education. Dr. Robles-Goodwin comes to Wesleyan with many years experience at the University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, Region X, and the Plano and Richardson ISDs. She attended Texas Tech, Southern Methodist and Texas Woman’s Universities. Dr. Robles-Goodwin recently published an article in Cultural and Linguistic Issues for English Language Learners.

If you haven’t received your Fall 2006 Wesleyan magazine just wait! This issue is packed with stories and photos of alums, soon-to-be alums and professors from the School of Education as they travel the world and make a difference in our community. Dr. Aileen Curtin and Ann Reed traveled to China as the third destination for the Texas Wesleyan Global Scholars program. Dr. Pam Rast and others, including Wesleyan graduate Debi Zufinetti Lamb, traveled to Cozumel, Mexico, during summer break on the largest ever saltwater dive excursion sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology and Texas Wesleyan Scuba. If you are interested in future trips or training, contact Dr. Rast at prast@txwes.edu.   

     A group of 18 students, including six Wesleyan alums, spent 10 days in San Paolo, Brazil. Debra Thomas, education instructor, and Michelle Adams, BS '05, Conrad Herrera, BS '03, Rita Martinez, Johnny McKenzie, MEd '06, and Kellie Molden, BS '04, taught English and enjoyed the culture (and food). A trip to a different destination is planned each year. Back at home, Robert Smith, MEd '01, like many educators, fell into teaching while waiting for his real job to start. Smith completed his master’s degree in education in 2001, has not stopped since, and according to Robert, “I’ve never regretted it.” Awards like Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006 and three-time Teacher of the Month might indicate a true love of and gift for teaching.  Smith is currently teaching at Kirkpatrick Elementary in Fort Worth. Read more in Wesleyan.

The first full semester is underway at the new Texas Wesleyan satellite site in Burleson. Three degree-completion programs are offered: EC-4 Generalist (education), general business, and liberal studies. Judy Arnold, former administrative assistant to Dean Martinez, is the site coordinator for Burleson.

Click on photo for larger image.

Texas Wesleyan shares the site with Hill College, and recently participated in the Burleson High School Homecoming Parade with Hill College.

For more information about the Burleson site, click here.

Dr. Twyla Miranda, professor of education and director of graduate studies, has published her second book, Longfellow Ponds: A Chipmunk’s Tale, in the Longfellow Ponds series. The 84 pages allow the reader to follow the escapades of a striped chipmunk named Tjaart as he encounters various inhabitants of the wild. Many lessons are learned from the journey. The book is available in the Texas Wesleyan bookstore. Watch for a book-signing party in the spring! 

Dr. Bruce Benz and Dr. R.J. Wilson are excited to be in the second phase of the second year of the new TQ Biology grant. The project allows science teachers the opportunity to look at issues in the news, study the science behind the news and develop lessons for use in the classroom. Most recently students in the project studied the migration of monarch butterflies. Locally, they caught, tagged and released the butterflies. Over the winter break the group traveled to Chapas, Mexico, to look for the tagged butterflies. Click here to read more about their trip to Mexico in Wesleyan magazine.

     If you are interested in participating in the TQ grant, contact Dr. Benz, Dr. Wilson or admissions.  As a result of this project the School is working on offering a master's in Science Certification, possibly as early as summer 2007!

Associate Professor of Education Dr. Aileen Curtin has signed a publisher’s contract with Pearson, Merrill, Prentice Hall to write a textbook on English as a Second Language (ESL) strategies for new teachers. The working title is Overcoming the Learning Curve for Alternative Certification Teachers and, according to Curtin, it aims to “demystify teaching strategies for new, alternatively certified teachers working with English language learners.” She promises that the book will not be heavy on theory but, through real scenarios, offer practical approaches for overwhelmed teachers at all grade levels.

Dryden	Reed	Robles-Goodwin

Conferences: Dr. Lisa Dryden and Ann Reed recently returned from speaking at the IRA Plains Conference in Omaha. Dr. Patsy Robles-Goodwin presented at the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in Galveston.

Kappa Delta Pi hosted a brunch Oct. 28 at the home of Ann Reed. The guest speaker was author and Wesleyan professor Dr. Twyla Miranda. The new officers are:

Wesleyan Scuba Club meets monthly. Contact Pam Rast at (817) 531-4876 or email her here to find out more.

Texas Wesleyan Sports Medicine Society – Inactive this semester

BESO elected officers at their first meeting of the year and made plans for the year. The new officers are:

[click on photo for larger image] L-R: Vanessa Y. Hernandez, Dulce Barrera, Karina Olivera, Ana Alaniz, Maryanne Pina

Student Education Association members attended the SEA district conference at TCC on Nov. 4.  Watch for fundraising events to send four members to Austin in April for the state convention. The officers for this year are:

[click on photo for larger image] L-R: Nicole Gilmore, Sarah Hoverman, Shannon Phelps, Kathryn Guidry, Hollie Hilton, Maryanne Pina

Texas Wesleyan was well-represented at the TexTESOL V 2006 Fall Conference held at North Lake College Sept. 30. Graduate student Sheryle Kuehl and Kary Johnson, MEd '03, packed the room with their presentation, "Hands-on Methods to Integrate Reading and Science." Lillian Hartman, also a graduate student, presented "An Alternative Proposal for Bilingual Education."  

Texas Wesleyan grads recently featured in the Fort Worth Star Telegram include Misty Matcham, BS '06, first-year teacher at Shady Brook Elementary in Bedford, on her personal journey into the classroom. Also seen in the Star-Telegram was Christina Myers, BS '03, teacher at D. McRae, for her victory over a brain tumor and involvement in the Ride for Kids to raise funds for research.

In September, 2003 Wesleyan graduate Kyle Beck, BS '03, was hired as the Head Athletic Trainer for Paschal High School. Kyle is 1999 Paschal graduate and very excited to be walking those halls again and to be working with faculty who were his past teachers. Kyle said, “It is nice to be able to help the school that helped me so much.”  

Bryant Wilson, BS ’03, has signed a professional baseball contract with Trenton Thunder, the AA New York Yankees club.

Graduate student Mike Myers, BS '02, received a $2,500 grant from the Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program. Funds will purchase robotics materials which are used to teach math and science. Mike teaches math at D. McRae Elementary in Fort Worth. 

Conference: TexTESOL Annual State Conference 2006 in Austin. Oct. 26-28. www.textesol.org

Grant: Teaching Tolerance offers grants of $500 to $2500 to preK-12 classroom teachers for projects designed to reduce prejudice among youth, improve inter-group relations in schools and/or support educator professional development in these areas. There is no deadline.  Go to www.teachingtolerance.org.

Grant: Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant program provides grants of up to $5,000 for K-12 school projects that encourage parent involvement and build stronger community spirit. Get more information at www.toolboxforeducation.com; deadline Feb. 15.

Grant: The American Association of University Women awards $5,000 to $10,000 grants annually for projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. Go to www.aauw.org for specific information.

Grant: Target Corporation is providing grants for field trips.  Any organizations working with youth that want to submit for this should apply by Feb. 1.  The corporation will provide 800 grants of up to $1,000.  To apply, click on http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentid=prd03-002537

Grant: Check out www.ing.com/us/unsungheroes for possible grants for your classroom from ING.

Grant: The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has several opportunities to fund classroom research.  Visit www.nctm.org for more information.

Upcoming: Please join us this spring for an evening gathering at a date and location to be announced. We will have entertainment and food to feed your soul and body. Watch for regular gatherings and entertainment hosted by the School of Education. Be sure to send your contact information (see below) so you do not miss any of these events.