Message from the Dean
Grace-Filled
I have been thinking recently about what it means to be a grace-filled community. When things are going well, it is far easier to be kind, generous, and collaborative. We can applaud the wisdom of those who see things the same way we do while acknowledging and learning from those who see things differently.
When facing challenges, our commitment to fostering a grace-filled community is tested. When difficult and important decisions need to be made, it can be harder to consider different perspectives. But this is precisely the time when we need to live into our commitment to be grace-filled.
“Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart?” John Wesley asked.
In the School of Education we have kept our focus on our mission throughout many transitions. We remain committed to our students and to their success. We have worked hard to maintain our long history of excellence. We have done this through our engagement with the larger education community, modeling lifelong learning and relentlessly pursuing excellence in our work.
As you will read in this issue, we have collaborated with district partners to secure grant funding to support teachers. We have held a joint event with a university in Indonesia. Our faculty and staff have published articles and given presentations at national and international conferences. Additionally, we will launch our new Elementary Education major and our revised Graduate Teacher Education programs in the 2024-25 academic year, and we will continue to offer R workshops that we began last summer as we explore alternative data analysis software. As always, our alumni and students are making their mark through their contributions to their P-12 communities.
There will always be challenges to face. That’s just how it is. We can allow challenges to fracture our commitment to each other or we can remember that not a single one of us has all the answers. To quote John Wesley again, “Condemn no [person] for not thinking as you think. Let everyone enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for [themselves].”
In such times, let us show each other more grace. Let us strive to become more like Christ. Let us have the courage to face our personal fears and still keep our hearts open.
In the face of whatever challenges come our way we will remain strong, anchored in our faith.
“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with [some] resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope,” Corazon Aquino, former president of the Phillippines, said.
Our hope is in Christ and stems from the belief that we "can do all this through him who gives [us] strength." (Philippians 4:13 NIV)
Blessings to you,
Nyaradzo Mvududu
Dean
School of Education
Alumni and Current Student Highlights
Connor Desai and Nalline Baliram were awarded a Mathematics Education Trust Classroom Research Grant PreK-6 through the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. This award grant came with a $6,000 budget. The funds will be used for Connor's dissertation research and beyond. Furthermore, part of the grant requirement is to publish the work in one of the NCTM journals.
Andy Song, a current doctoral student serving on the Kent School District Board and chief operating officer at Kids and Family Counseling, was named as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's 40 under 40 for 2024. He is a dually licensed mental health therapist and behavior analyst with a primary focus on low income and Medicaid-based families. Andy was instrumental in the development of the autism/intellectual disabilities inpatient unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Way to go, Andy!
Faculty and Staff Highlights
Two teams in the School of Education received Alternative Route Block Grants from Washington state to help fund the certification of teachers who can address endorsement shortages.
Assistant Director for Graduate Teacher Education Kirsten Koetje, with Jill Heiney-Smith, the director of Graduate Teacher Education, will partner with Kent Schools and Kim Cushman. The Kent school district has a strong and successful history of running alternative route teaching programs. Jorge Preciado, professor of Education and chair of Special Education, will be leading a team with Grace Blum, associate professor of Curriculum and Instruction ELL/Bilingual Education, and Krystle Jalalian-Chursky, director of Undergraduate Teacher Education and assistant professor of Special Education, will partner with Dana Bailey PhD '18 and Issaquah Schools for the grant.
Bailey focused on Special Education during her studies at SPU. The grants will focus on the recruitment and certification of special education teachers in the district. The awards span two cohort years, 2024-26, for a total of $280,000.
Jason Thornberry has had several items published including a poem, "Too Much," which appeared recently in the Coachella Review; his personal essays, "Scooter's People," in Rougarou: Journal of Art & Literature; "Red-Stained Surrender" in the Bicoastal Review; and a book review of the novel The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers in the Los Angeles Review of Books. He has also done several readings of his work at various locations in Seattle.
Feature
CPE Supports Lake Stevens ELL Add-on Endorsement Cohort
The Center for Professional Education has enjoyed supporting a grant-funded cohort of 17 educators in the Lake Stevens district as they gain skills in multilingual education and work toward their ELL endorsement.
Sarah Danielson MEd '10 and current executive director of student interventions for Lake Stevens School District, reached out to SPU’s Center for Professional Education to foster this partnership. Sarah has worked closely with Christy Barnes, Center for Professional Education program coordinator. She had the following to say about the experience: “SPU has been a terrific partner in helping a cohort of 17 teachers in our district earn their ELL endorsements this year through a grant we were awarded from OSPI. The staff there have been flexible in customizing the experience for our group of educators. The knowledge that our staff is gaining is also elevating conversations about supporting our multilingual learners. Thank you to SPU for being such a great partner!”
Grace Blum, associate professor of Curriculum and Instruction in SPU’s School of Education, taught several of the CPE courses in multilingual education, and reflected on her experience teaching for CPE: “It’s really rewarding to work with practicing educators. They can take what they are learning and immediately try on some of the practices and methods that they are learning about in their classrooms. Also, the connections the students make are so much more rich and meaningful because of the wealth of experiences that they bring to class.”
In the spring, our Lake Stevens cohort will complete their final capstone practicum as part of the ELL Endorsement program. They will work with SPU alum and current CPE Field Supervisor Alice Lau. Lau enjoys the collaborative, peer-coaching model within the CPE Field Experience course, sharing the following: “I deeply value the commitment to inclusivity and collegiality that each multilingual endorser has demonstrated in this program. I'd like to extend my gratitude to these wonderful educators for generously sharing their expertise and diverse teaching experiences. This special community of practice is filled with individuals who are eager to elevate their practice and advocate for learners in their local schools, and I feel privileged to have met them all.”
After completing their field experience, the Lake Stevens cohort will be officially endorsed through OSPI to work in K-12 ELL classrooms. We look forward to congratulating these hardworking educators, and we are thankful for the chance to support them as they gain valuable skills to create inclusive schools and classrooms.
News and Events
EdTalks
On Feb. 6, 2024, the School of Education hosted an EdTalks event: "Strategies to Enhance Education in the Digital Age: A Comprehensive Program Evaluation of UKRIDA's Teacher and Student Empowerment Initiative" with David Wicks and Ira Rasikawati PhD '20.
The UKRIDA Goes East (UGE) community outreach project was a collaborative effort by the UKRIDA Department of English, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Faculty of Engineering and Computer Sciences in partnership with SPU’s Digital Education Leadership program, aimed to empower teachers and students with innovative, multidisciplinary methods and technology-integrated multi-literacy approaches.
In this EdTalk, Rasikawati and Wicks guided us through the UGE's mission to enhance teaching skills and student engagement across Java and Bali, highlighted the experiences of UKRIDA and SPU professors and students during their immersive 10-day outreach, and discussed effective strategies developed for managing stress, fostering inclusive environments, and boosting digital and visual literacy.
Attendees gained insights into the significant achievements, challenges, and overall impact of the program.
Ira Rasikawati is dean of the faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at Krida Wacana Christian University (UKRIDA). David Wicks is a professor of curriculum and instruction and chair of Digital Education Leadership.
Diversity Conference
The SOE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee hosted the fourth virtual Diversity Conference titled "Placing Equity at the Heart of Multi-tiered Systems of Support" on March 9, 2024. The keynote speaker was Maria Reina Santiago-Rosario, research associate at the University of Oregon. This conference was an avenue for Washington educators to discuss the inequities in school discipline and share research showing promise to disrupt their negative effects on students. It called attendees to consider their role in the implementation of equity-focused, muti-tiered systems of support and how to move forward with this work in schools.
Job and Family Engagement Resource Fair
The SOE hosted our annual Job and Family Engagement Resource Fair on April 16. We had many of our top school district partners in attendance, as well as community-based organizations. Students left the event with promising job leads and great connections with the community organizations. The fair has representation from at least 20 districts and organizations sending representatives to network with graduating education students. Our hope each year is that students walked away with strategies to promote welcoming and equitable partnerships with families.
Kinder to College 2024
The kids are back! The SOE’s Kinder to College 2024 event will be held on April 23, 2024. The School of Education is teaming up with the Tukwila School District to bring three Kindergarten classes to campus for an enriching day of learning and fun! Join us for a day filled with engaging activities, joyful smiles, and educational excitement as we create lasting memories together. As one faculty member put it, "When Kinder to College is in town, you know it's going to be an absolute blast!"
Emily Huff in Kenya
Emily Huff, SOE director of Field Placements and Clinical Faculty, made a quick trip to Kenya in December to visit students and families in Children of the Kingdom. Children of the Kingdom is an organization that cares for children in Kenya and in India by providing education and support designed to meet their physical, spiritual, emotional, and cognitive needs. Emily is one of the directors. You can hear more about her visit in her blog posts.
Giving
Like you, we believe in our mission to engage the culture and change the world … starting in the classroom. That’s why SPU’s School of Education is always looking for new ways to help you connect with the future of education in our state and beyond. And there’s more than one way you can get involved. In fact, here are five ways to give.
Quiz
Which two SOE faculty members have completed the Chicago marathon? Find the answer on our SOE Instagram page!
On Point
Do you have news or know of any faculty, staff, or alumni who should be featured in the next issue? Please email On Point.
Which two SOE faculty members have run and completed the Chicago marathon? Find the answer on our SOE Instagram page.