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Laura Hedin

‘A positive influence’: Laura Hedin ready to retire, continue impacting teachers

March 15, 2024 Mark McGowan enewsletter, SEED

Teaching, at least in the classroom sense, wasn’t Laura Hedin’s intention. She liked the humanities and contemplated a career in creative writing, “but my dad kept telling me I’d never make any money.” Plan B: Her older sister, Teresa, worked as a

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Hope (Bess) Wilson named SEED chair

July 5, 2023 Mark McGowan enewsletter, SEED

Hope (Bess) Wilson is the new chair of the Department of Special and Early Education. She comes to NIU from the University of North Florida, where she had taught since 2012 and most recently served as a professor in the Department of

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Three additional 2+2 agreements signed with Waubonsee Community College

August 21, 2022 Mark McGowan enewsletter, KNPE, SEED

Three more NIU College of Education bachelor’s degree programs are now available in a seamless 2+2 format to Waubonsee Community College students. Early Childhood Education, Special Education and Kinesiology have joined Elementary Education, Physical Education and Sport Management on the menu of

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Message from the Chair

April 22, 2022 Mark McGowan enewsletter, SEED

Spring greetings from the Department of Special and Early Education! It is hard to believe that commencement is just around the corner. As a magnificent thunderstorm brews outside my window, I am reminded that spring brings change – change for flora; change

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U-46 paraprofessionals ‘leap’ to begin journey to Special Education degrees

February 2, 2022 Mark McGowan enewsletter, SEED

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

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