2011 DoE Alumni Inaugural Event: "Teaching Counts - Joining the Art and Science of Teaching"
David Hernandez, Presenter
The Department of Education Alumni Association held its inaugural gathering on January 29 at the University Club on the Irvine campus. Graduates of the Credential, Intern, Masters, and Ed.D. programs participated in a morning devoted to considering the components of teaching excellence.
DoE Professor and Chair Deborah Lowe Vandell opened the event by welcoming participants to the 40th anniversary year of the founding of the UC Irvine Office of Teacher Education. As she traced the history of the various programs that have produced over 3,700 alumni, Dr. Vandell expressed her hope that the projected yearly gatherings of graduates would provide a forum to explore the latest findings in education research, address the challenges that practitioners and researchers are facing, and facilitate networking among educators working to improve opportunities for students.
Following Dr. Vandell's welcome, the first presentation was a panel discussion hosted by Tim Allen, Executive Director of the Carlston Family Foundation, based in San Rafael, California. Prior to introducing the panelists, Mr. Allen explained the mission of the foundation:
We focus on rewarding outstanding secondary school teachers for exceptional performance, especially those teachers that work in low-income areas and with disadvantaged sutdents. Our goal is to form a community of exceptional teachers to share information and resources, to excite more great teachers about teaching, and to motivate more students to pursue higher education.
For the panel, Mr. Allen and Director of the Alumni Association and Multiple Subject Coordinator Christina Giguiere had invited four educators recognized for their excellence in teaching:
- Nicole DiRanna, Carlston Fellowship Recipient, Biology Teacher at Centennial High School, Compton, California
- Marlene Carter, Carlston Fellowship Recipient, English Teacher at Dorsey High School, Los Angeles
- David Hernandez, Kindergarten Teacher at Newport Heights Elementary, BITSA Trainer, and University Lecturer
- Michele Ogden, First Grade Teacher at Vista Verde Elementary, Irvine
The panel discussion was guided by four questions:
- How do you establish high academic standards and expectations in your classroom?
- How do you approach the planning and presentation of the material required by the standards and yet maintain originality, interest, and inspirational lessons?
- Would you like to be a student in your classroom? How do you demonstrate your love and knowledge of your subject?
- How do you ensure your classroom is safe, welcoming, and inspirational, and encourages open discussion?
Following a group Q & A, the panelists talked informally with individual participants.
Panel Discussion Power Point Presentation: Teaching Counts
Following a mid-morning networking/refreshment break, two members of the Department of Education presented some of their latest research findings:
- Doctoral Student Erik Ruzek discussed Value-added Models of Assessing Teacher Quality.
- Associate Professor Judith Sandholtz shared findings from her investigation of PACT Predictions and Performance.
During the ensuing Q&A session, alumni offered their perspective on some of the challenges they were facing in the current climate of assessment and accountability.
Throughout the morning, DoE doctoral students displayed their research findings and were available to discuss their work. Abstracts of Poster Presentations
For information about the DoE Alumni Association, please email gseinfo@uci.edu.
Click on the thumbnail image below to access the larger photograph.
Left to right
1. Thumbnail: Marlene Carter; larger image: Tim Allen, Marlene Carter, Deborah Lowe Vandell
2. Thumbnail: Nicole DiRanna; larger image: Nicole DiRanna and alumni in informal discussion
3. Thumbnail: Ph.D. student Huy Chung; larger image: poster presentations
4. Thumbnail: alumnus; larger image: alumni
5. Thumbnail & larger image: Michele Ogden
