NIU College of Education alumni featured in the new documentary, “A Teacher’s Shoes,” spoke about their work during a panel discussion held after the Nov. 12 debut screening. Educators Grace Desmsedt, Ashley Manor and Dominique Yackley told stories about creating routines that
Read moreDouble-alum Maurice McDavid readies Mitchell Elementary School for launch
DeKalb grew Maurice McDavid from the ground up. Born and raised in the Barb City, he called the Eden’s Garden neighborhood home. He spent kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School, transferred to Tyler for first- and second-grades and completed third- and fourth-grades at
Read moreSummer Camp 7.0 poses tough questions, encourages humanity
Exactly 12 hours later, the challenge to follow her example – and the fortitude, reflection, work and commitment that requires – was made plain. Michael Manderino, one of the four camp counselors with James Cohen, Joseph Flynn and Dana Isawi, delivered a
Read moreSummer campers attain purpose, motivation, ideas, camaraderie
After two years as a Social and Emotional Learning coach in Indian Prairie School District 204, Geraldine Troczynski is returning to the classroom this fall to teach eighth-grade English language arts and social studies. Going with her is a fresh immersion in
Read moreAlumna Dominique Yackley inspires graduates at New Teacher Send-off
As a new group of NIU College of Education licensure majors prepared to graduate and become professionals in the classroom, a seasoned veteran advised them to pack well for the journey ahead. Their luggage, said Dominique Yackley, must include “exuberance.” “If you
Read moreShifting the tone: PPABB scholars lead workshop on managing school bullying
Five NIU students receiving specialized, cross-disciplinary preparation to deal with bullying in schools recently applied their new knowledge with current paraprofessionals in DeKalb’s District 428. Chelsea Cluchey, Quinn Galindo, Catie McGinnis, Bailey Schejbal and Gretta Ward designed and delivered the interactive April
Read moreElementary Education alumni selected as Chicago-area Golden Apple finalists
Erin Odle has always loved working with children. Piotr Wojciaczyk drew inspiration from a high school music teacher. Dominique Yackley discovered her ambition from within after she left high school as a sophomore. Connecting the three NIU College of Education alumni, all
Read moreTeacher-licensure candidates volunteer at professional development conference
When the invitation came from the college’s Office for Student Success to attend the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) February conference in Chicago, the undergraduate teacher-licensure candidates weren’t sure what to make of it. But they weren’t about to pass
Read moreAmanda Baum joins NIU as coordinator of Illinois Tutoring Initiative’s Region 2
Part of the NIU College of Education’s commitment to the Illinois Tutoring Initiative is the hiring of a full-time coordinator for the 16-county hub of Region 2. After all, the project funded by $3.4 million in federal pandemic relief for Illinois schools
Read moreDancing Queen: P.E. alumna Kelly Zerby thrives as teacher, colleague, advocate
Young Sullivan Zerby could barely contain his excitement. The 15-year-old Huntley High School freshman was in kindergarten then, his mother remembers, and had come home with news about something amazing that happened in his P.E. class that day. “Sully says, ‘Mom, we
Read moreMiddle Level majors practice teaching, team-building with seventh-graders
Seventh-graders from Clinton Rosette Middle School stood in a circle, each clutching a several-feet-long string tied to the same marker. Their task: cooperate to insert that marker into the mouth of a 20-ounce plastic bottle. First, they remained still as they pulled
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