For the first time since January 2020, the NIU College of Education’s Educate U.S. program will this May transport select licensure candidates to the Houston Independent School District for a week of immersion in the life of a teacher. Aimee Zepeda knows
Read moreThree first-year faculty members share details on teaching, research interests
It’s still Year One for three NIU College of Education faculty members who joined the team in August. Read below to learn more about Quortne Hutchings, Farah Ishaq and Stephen Walker – in their own words. Quortne Hutchings Ph.D., Higher Education, Loyola
Read moreU-46 paraprofessionals ‘leap’ to begin journey to Special Education degrees
Thirty-five paraprofessionals from School District U-46 have begun their employer-paid pursuit of NIU bachelor’s degrees in Special Education. Part of the College of Education’s PLEDGE-Partnering to Lead and Empower District-Grown Educators initiative, the new Licensed Educator Accelerated Pathway (LEAP) program provides a
Read moreNIU celebrates fall commencement
Congratulations to our newest NIU College of Education alumni! Two of our amazing graduates were featured in videos shown during the ceremonies. Meet Alexander Kramer, who earned his B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education … … and Eduardo Perez, who completed his M.S.Ed. in
Read moreJohnson named Senior Faculty Fellow
Newly out of college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Jesse “Woody” Johnson could not find a job that matched his preparation. So he took what did come his way – “working with kids with very severe challenging behavior,” he says –
Read moreMessage from the Chair
Season’s Greetings to all our Special and Early Education alums and supporters! The 2021-2022 academic year has launched with many changes for SEED. Although a few of these changes are sad—for example, the retirements of Barb Amberg (undergraduate advisor), Valerie Sawyer (clinical
Read moreSEED Alumni Accomplishments
Congratulations to these graduates of the Department of Special and Early Education! Kevin Baldus, M.S.Ed. Special Education, ’05, has been named director of Special Education Services at Riverside-Brookfield High School, where he previously served as an instructional coach. Baldus began his career
Read moreBolstering the early childhood workforce
Eager to supplement your staff in early childhood programs with highly qualified, baccalaureate-level professionals? Do you have paraprofessionals or other team members interested in becoming licensed teachers, but financial barriers are preventing them from enrolling in a university? We have great news
Read moreSix named Dean’s Achievement Scholars
Growing up in Crestwood, Ill., “a tiny little south suburb of Chicago not too far from Midway Airport,” Kayla Anderson found her passion at the local ice rink. Figure skating is a vital part of who she is – and something that
Read moreThe ‘Write’ Stuff: College of Ed enrolls eight faculty in Hanover Grant Academy
Eight NIU College of Education faculty are participating in the Hanover Grant Academy to advance their skills in securing external funding for their scholarship. The academy is a service of Arlington, Va.-based Hanover Research, a global research and analytics firm that delivers
Read moreStephanie DeSpain among first winners of inaugural NIU online teaching award
Stephanie DeSpain can count herself among forward-thinking educators who were somewhat prepared to handle the sudden shift to remote learning in March 2020. An assistant professor of Early Childhood Education, DeSpain already had developed and was teaching some classes online in the
Read moreNIU distributing iBill currency readers to individuals with visual impairments
NIU is now a distribution center for free iBill currency readers that enable people with visual disabilities to sort their paper money. The designation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing comes thanks to the work of
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