Spotlight: Educational Professions

Oct 22, 2024 2:17 PM

The Department of Educational Professions continues to revise its curriculum and streamline course offerings in order to be more efficient and effective. In an effort to streamline and be more fiscally conscious relative to the budget, the department reduced its’ program coordinators by 50% and eliminated two concentrations. The department received approval from MSDE to offer a major in early childhood/special education to meet the needs of the communities in the Western MD region.

Faculty in the advanced programs (Educational Leadership (MEd/EdD) continued to engage in scholarship through publications, grant awards and presentations at National/Regional/state/Local conferences. Dr. Michael Williams continues his scholarship through active memberships in AERA, CPED and NASPA. Dr. Jodi Wesch presented at the National Literacy Conference with Dr. Kris McGee in 2023. Dr. Jodi Eirich wrote an article about mental health and mindfulness that was published in a peer reviewed journal as well as an article on bridging research to practice in the Journal of the National Association of Professional Development Schools. The EdD program was named a finalist for the Doctoral Program of the Year by CPED in 2023. Dr. Jennifer Rankin implemented a $50,000 MCCE grant on Integration of Emerging Technologies in Pre-service Programs at Frostburg State University. The REACH multiyear 3.4-million-dollar federal grant entered the second year of a five-year project to support the newly approved Elementary/Special Education dual certification program and provide a pathway for not only traditional students but non-traditional instructional assistants to gain teacher licensure. Several faculty members supported outreach activities through grants, which include Dr. Sarah O’Neal for the Children’s Literature Centre, Dr. Kris McGee for the PALs reading program at USMH, and Dr. Jamey Tobery-Nystrom’s HUB project for the Hagerstown community.