Greetings from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. I hope this message finds you all safe and well.
The special nature of the Huskie Pack has brought us through the initial pandemic. I want to thank you all as our success has been due to you, your support and contributions to keep this department and college operating. I want to share a few of the positive projects involving students and alumni since our last newsletter.
Huskies know the strength of teams. Our outstanding Middle Level Teaching and Learning program continues to connect to the world of practice through innovative approaches to prepare teacher-candidates who understand the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, ethical and cultural needs and interests of young adolescents.
Five years ago, Amanda Baum, Donna Werderich, Jennifer Johnson envisioned a project that prepares students, community and schools to develop team-building skills that connect teachers to adolescents at Clinton Rosette Middle School. This year, alumna Emily Paniagua participated as a teacher and recalls how this project as a preservice teacher ignited her passion for teaching. This exemplary work has been accepted for presentation at the National Association for Professional Development Schools in spring.
The indomitable Huskie spirit builds leaders who unite community through a pandemic into a post-pandemic era to support learning. Elementary Education alum Zachary Craft stepped into a principal leadership role at Highland Elementary School in Downers Grove Grade School District 58, where he identifies the value of his experiences in the Elementary Education program to help him connect with teachers and children. Craft says that his “NIU degree provides him a strong foundation of good teaching practices, an understanding of what constitutes good curriculum and the ability to marry those two concepts.” The lessons Craft learned as he navigated these epochal teams provided him with motivation and yet another example of the importance of teams and relationships in our field.
The Huskie Pack seeks understanding of culture and language through global experiences. Fourteen NIU College of Education students, undergraduate and graduate, will travel to Kenya and Tanzania in 2022 for a personal immersion to understand the challenges of not only learning another language but learning in it.
Next summer’s journey will come at little or no cost to those students, thanks to funds from a Fulbright-Hays grant awarded to College of Education faculty Teresa Wasonga and James Cohen along with NIU Department of Public Administration Chair Kurt Thurmaier. Changing cultural environments encourages deep self-reflection and develops understanding of how educational systems are different while demonstrating the common community of global teachers. The experience is considered transformational as students will question preconceived notions about how students learn; revise lesson plans,; modify instruction; and reconsider expected outcomes.
Huskies develop pipelines of progress in education. The College of Education and Rock Valley Community College signed a 2+2 pathway agreement for Elementary Education. The agreement provides RVC students a prescribed, sequential set of general education courses during their first two years in Rockford to put them right on track when they arrive at NIU for the second half of the licensure program with ESL/Bilingual endorsement. Tim Spielman, manager of Academic Advising at Rock Valley, believes the agreement will encourage students to pursue elementary education at NIU. The Office for Student Success’ Christy Schweitzer (NIU alumna) and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs David Walker believe that Rock Valley is a good partner for us as we continue to prepare exemplary teachers for our region and state.
There are many more exciting projects and programs developing in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
As we continue to move through post-pandemic times, I appreciate that Huskie alumni continue to support the work of this department. The inner strength, Huskie-hearted courage and the indomitable Huskie spirit has kept this department growing and moving through hard times toward a future of excellence in teaching. You are the foundation of our success, and you are valued and appreciated. Thank you for all you are and what you do to keep the legacy of excellence in teaching thriving at NIU.
Happy Holidays!
Sally Blake
Chair of Curriculum and Instruction
Northern Illinois University
