Education Department Newsletter - October 2023

Education Department ENewsletter

Sara Baillie GormanOctober here on campus is all about advising and looking toward the next step in education for our students. Our current students are picking their schedules for spring term and getting ready for registration. I want to take a moment to use this “advising” month to encourage you to think about your future and classes too!

Our Education Unit has always strived to encourage our students to become lifelong learners. It’s been wonderful to see this in practice! I have been able to see past students at conferences- both as participants and as speakers. However, my favorite way to engage with students again is as a graduate student. I love having past students in graduate courses – getting to see how far they have come and where they are going.

With that, I’d love to encourage you- our alum, our partners, and our friends- to consider joining us next fall for our graduate program. We have a graduate program that leads to a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction as well as a sequence that leads to an English Language Learners (ESL) and/or Bilingual endorsement on your license.

The masters degree delves into cultural competence, communication and collaboration, technology, literacy in a multicultural context, children’s literature, behavior and the environment, diverse students, and a research project. It is 30 credit hours.

The ESL endorsement is 6 courses, 18 credits total. It can also be combined with some of the course classes of the graduate program to earn a degree (note the degree might require 2x per week).

Both of these programs can be completed in one year, only one night per week. If you want to learn more, reach out to the admissions representative at cynthia.coffey@trnty.edu

I really hope to have the privilege of seeing you continue in your learning.

Sara Baillie Gorman, EdD, BCBA
Professor of Education| Director of Education Operations

Thrive Open House Event

Meet The Education

The Education office will be hosting an Open House! Come and meet us for a chance to win some great prizes!

Wed, Oct 18th
10:30am – 11:30am
Vander Velde Hall

Thrive Open House Event

Advising DayAdvising Day *New Format*
October 25th
You will complete the Advising Module (linked below) prior to your 1:1 Advising Day meeting with your advisor. Please see all details below. Note: Advising Day is required for all undergraduate students.
Advising Day Requirements:
  • Prior to your 1:1 Advising Day meeting, complete the module, specific to you, linked below. Be sure to complete the Quiz at the end. Advising Module
  • Meet 1:1 with your Advisor, on our around Advising Day, as their appointment schedules permit. (Bring your course of study document and your proposed schedule for the spring semester to the meeting.)
  • Drop in session for Cross-Advising and Q&A (8am – 10am in Education Conference Room) (optional) – Come prepared with any questions you may have regarding your Education program.
  • Attend (1-hour) of the Connections Event (details below)

Connections Event

The Connections Event is Wednesday, October 25 from 1pm – 4pm. As Student Teachers, you are being given priority access to the following Mock Interview schedule (linked below). Be sure to sign up right away! The schedule will be sent to all other education majors tomorrow afternoon. I’ve also included a list of employers attending Connections. The attached pdf has hyperlinks to each employer’s website.

Event Schedule:

  • 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Open Hours with Employers
  • 2:00 – 3:00 pm: Mock Interviews and Open Hours with Employers
  • 3:00 – 4:00 pm: Mock Interviews and Open Hours with Employers

Mock Interview

Reminder: all (Traditional) Junior and Senior education students are required to complete (2) 20-minute mock interviews. Adult undergraduate Junior and Senior students are highly encouraged to attend and sign up for mock interviews. Please be sure to schedule your Mock Interview by Monday, October 23rd at 5pm.

Connections Event

Faculty Accomplishments

Dr. Boerman-Cornell Publishing
Book Celebrations
Congratulations to Dr. Boerman-Cornell, who recently published the following books:
Using Graphic Novels in the English Language Arts Classroom (Bloomsbury Academic, 2020), Bill Boerman-Cornell and Jung Kim
 and
Young Adult Literature and Spirituality (Rowman and Littlefield, 2022), Bill Boerman-Cornell et. al.

Adjunct Professor Spotlight

Ellyn Mcllamara
Kevin Barron
Learn more about the Grant and Project https://t.e2ma.net/click/gxqrtn/ce9llu5/sqxhhkk
Education Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Barron ’13 https://t.e2ma.net/click/gxqrtn/ce9llu5/8iyhhkk
FREE Professional Membership for Student Teachers
Current Student Teachers!!
Take advantage of this opportunity to receive resources bi-weekly to support you in your semester long student teaching. CEC will provide you with the tools you need to succeed this semester!
You Will Receive:
  • Complimentary CEC Pre-Service Student Membership thru 12/31/2023
  • Access to bi-weekly resources to support you in student teaching
  • An online community where you can share questions and gain feedback from your peers
  • Opportunity for your cooperating teacher and university faculty member to be provided the same resources, as well as talking points to discuss the resource with the student teacher
  • Membership includes $1 Million Student Educator Professional Liability Insurance Policy

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship Cap
Knowles Teaching Fellows Program
The Knowles Teacher Initiative is a nonprofit organization that supports a national network of mathematics and science teachers who are collaborative, innovative leaders improving education for all students in the United States. We strive to create an educational system that is led by teachers who are equipped to solve difficult problems and respond to local challenges in order to serve all of our nation’s students.
Valued at up to $150,000 and renewable for up to five years, the Knowles Teaching Fellows Program is awarded to America’s best and brightest new teachers of high school mathematics and science. Fellowship benefits are extensive and encompass financial resources, professional and leadership development, teaching tools and materials, and access to a coast-to-coast network of like-minded colleagues. Applicants must be entering their first, second or third year as teacher of record during the next academic year from now. Fellowship awardees will be announced in May 2024.
Deadline to Apply: January 8, 2024

Illinois Association of Teacher Education Fall 2023 Conference

Attend A Conference
IATE is extending a special invitation to ALL educators (e.g. college faculty & administrators, classroom teachers, school administrators, undergraduate/graduate students) and business leaders to attend the Fall IATE Conference on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Bradley University. Reduced rate of only $40.00 for students.

Volunteers Needed

Voulunteers Needed
Fall Fest Volunteer
Fall Fest is looking for education students to help with the very popular, KidZone area. If you are interested in volunteering, sign up at KidZone Sign Up.
Christmastide Volunteer
Are you interested in helping with pre-concert activities at Christmastide? If so, please contact Toni Esker at Toni.Esker@trnty.edu
Work Opportunities
Are you looking for a Full-time or Part-time job? Schools and organizations are looking to fill a variety of positions, such as teachers, substitute teachers, paraprofessionals, classroom aides, translators, afterschool, program leaders, academic tutors, and more. Click on the following links below to learn more.
To view additional opportunities, visit Handshake and Brightspace (linked below).
Full-time Teaching and Education related positions can be found on the Handshake system.
Part-time, full-time, internship and volunteer education related opportunities can be found on your Brightspace – Education Unit Home Site – Job Board.
We’d love to hear about your experience(s).
Upcoming Events

Fall 2023

  • Oct 18: Thrive Department Open House Event
  • Oct 25: Advising Day/Fall 2023 Connections Event
  • Dec 11: Fall Education Commissioning & Celebration
  • Spring 2024
  • Jan 3: Adult Program Orientation
  • Jan 8: Spring Student Teacher Orientation
  • Mar 13: Advising Day
  • Apr 23: Young Authors Reception
  • Apr 24: Young Authors Festival
  • April 29: Spring Education Commissioning & Celebration