Ken Schaefer, Longtime College of Education Professor Set to Retire after 50 Years

by Dawn Angelique Roberts
May 26
Ken Schaefer decided after teaching at Temple University for the last 50 years and at the age of 77 that it was time to retire with 50 being a nice round number.Recounting coming to Philadelphia in 1970 from New York, Temple University was his first job after receiving his Doctorate from Columbia University. After hearing that Temple was a Baptist school, he shaved off his beard and got a tie.Even though his mother, father, aunts, and uncles were teachers, Schaefer didn't immediately see himself as a teacher. Schaefer was adamant that he would instead take the scholarly route...

Job Hunting in Uncertain Times: Advice from Career Development Experts

by Heather Goodman
May 20
On April 14, 2020 the College of Education hosted a Zoom presentation on how to find jobs during a time of uncertainty. Career Employer Partnerships Outreach Specialist Calie Condo and Assistant Director of Career Development at the College of Education Erica Johnston led the hour-long Zoom discussion sharing professional resources and advice on how to navigate the current job market. The following is a synopsis of Condo and Johnston's advice.Acknowledgements and ExpectationsWhile COVID-19 altered some College of Education students' post-grad plans, this outcome is not...

College of Education and Human Development launches a new scholarship challenge

by Dawn Angelique Roberts
May 19
During a recent State of the College address, Gregory Anderson, dean of the College of Education, announced the Centennial Scholarship Challenge, an initiative to promote the affordability of undergraduate and graduate degrees in the College of Education.  As part of the challenge, the College of Education will match up to $4 million in gifts over the next four years. Gifts will be used to establish new scholarship opportunities for students pursuing degrees in the field of education. The scholarship challenge received its inaugural gift of $250,000 from the Kurtz...

Strategies for Success in Online Learning

by Jessica Nicolao
April 07
The COVID-19 pandemic has left universities across the country scrambling to find alternative ways to educate students for extended periods of time. This rush to online learning has challenged students' and faculty's creativity, flexibility and patience. Temple University moved to online and alternative learning methods on Monday, March 16. To help ease the transition, the College of Education reached out to various departments asking for tips, tricks and recommendations for both students and faculty as they settle into online learning. Here is a selection of faculty advice for...

Student Success Stories: Sydney Smith, EDU ’23

by Heather Goodman
April 21
Sydney Smith, EDU '23, was in twelfth grade when she got the opportunity of a lifetime. As a participant in the Temple Education Scholars (TES) program, Smith got to take college courses as a high school student. Now, as a full-time College of Education student, Smith is one step closer to pursuing her dreams of becoming an early childhood educator in Philadelphia.The Temple Education Scholars program is a year-long dual enrollment program that is designed for college-bound high school seniors to take a full semester's worth of education courses at Temple University. Students...

First-Year Teacher Conor McDonald, EDU ’18, Tackles Online Teaching

by Heather Goodman
March 26
6:45 a.m.: 5th and 6th grade teacher Conor McDonald, EDU '18, arrives at St. Ephrem School in Bensalem, Pennsylvania and begins making copies, going over lessons and preparing for the day before his students arrive.8:05 a.m.: Classes start.2:45 p.m.: Students leave the building and McDonald heads to the library. There, he helps run St. Ephrem's after school program.5:30 p.m.: McDonald goes home and catches up on work.8:30 p.m.: McDonald prepares his lunch and puts his clothes together for the next day of school.This was what McDonald's average day looked like before the COVID-...

Faculty Spotlight: Elizabeth Diamond, PhD

by Heather Goodman
March 10
As the degree program coordinator, Associate Professor of Practice Elizabeth Diamond, PhD, is one of the leaders in the College of Education's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. The CTE program aims to support a diverse and impassioned group of professionals ready to make an impact as educators.CTE is unique. It prepares career and technical professionals with the skills to teach a subject in their area of occupation. The College of Education currently offers an undergraduate non-degree program in Career and Technical Education and graduate non-degree programs in CTE...

Training prepares future teachers to recognize trauma in youth

February 17
Most teacher-preparation programs don't linger long on the concept of student mental health. But considering that traumatic childhood events have far-reaching—at times, even life-altering—consequences, from risky health behaviors to poor social-emotional development and even early death, teachers are in a crucial position to help support their students.Jean Boyer, an assistant professor of instruction in Temple's College of Education and a long-practicing school psychologist, has focused on infusing just this type of trauma-informed education—also known as...

College of Education Alumna Receives Award for Education Entrepreneurship

by Dawn Roberts
February 17
Congratulations to Temple Owl Dara Ruiz-Whalen, BSEd '95, MSEd '01, and current doctoral student, and her business partner Alana O'Reilly. Ruiz-Whalen and O'Reilly are executive directors and co-founders of eCLOSE Institute, a not-for-profit public charity (501(c)3). Setting the framework for building teacher-scientist teams to bring cutting edge research into the classroom, eCLOSE programs provide professional research training to students and teachers that bring core concepts in high school science education to life. Recently, eCLOSE was named the 2020 Greater Philadelphia...

Temple Education Scholar and Assistant Dean Interviewed on iHeart Radio

February 16
Sydney Smith, 2018/2019 TES Scholar and EDU '23, along with Juliet Curci, assistant dean of college access and persistence, were recently interviewed by Loraine Ballard Morrill, director of news and community affairs, Philadelphia Region, iHeartMedia Markets Group.Curci spoke about the work that the College of Education is doing with Temple Education Scholars and Smith shared her experience as a former TES Scholar and current COE student. Listen to the interviewSydney Smith is an Early Childhood Education major and is still actively involved with TES working as a tutor, doing...

Student Success Stories: Following Up With Masaki Bolte, EDU '19

by Heather Goodman
February 12
After graduating from the College of Education in May 2019 with a BSEd in secondary education: social studies education, Masaki Bolte is already making an impact as a social studies teacher in Philadelphia. Bolte began his journey in Fall 2019 as a full-time educator at Hill Freedom World Academy, a middle and high school in Northwest Philadelphia, teaching three different social studies classes. He spends numerous hours each week planning content, creating learning support materials and teaching. Facilitating a respectful collaborative space is a priority for Bolte and is a...

Student Success Stories: Emily Zahn, EDU '16, '20

by Heather Goodman
February 05
As a child, Emily Zahn, EDU '16, '20, dreamed of a career where she could help people. In May, that dream will become a reality when Zahn graduates from the College of Education and begins her professional career as a school counselor.Throughout Zahn's life, she focused on developing deep, nurturing relationships and had a curiosity for understanding the motives behind people's behavior. This curiosity originally led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in special education at the College of Education. While Zahn loved developing relationships with students as their teacher,...

Executive Director of Institute on Disabilities Receives AAIDD Service to the Field Award

by Susan Fullam
January 28
Celia S. Feinstein, executive director of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University's College of Education, has received the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' (AAIDD) 2020 Service to the Field Award.The AAIDD was established in 1876 and is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and others concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities. With membership over 5,000 in the United States and in 55 countries worldwide, AAIDD is the leader in advocating quality of life and rights for those with...

National Mentoring Month Conversation with Donovan Forrest EDU ’20

by Heather Goodman
January 22
January is National Mentoring Month. In honor of this special occasion, we sat down with Donovan Forrest EDU '20, College of Education student and founder of the mentorship non-profit DonCARES of Philadelphia, Inc. Founded in 2015, DonCARES is dedicated to helping students in North Philadelphia achieve their dreams through education, mentorship and service. To listen to the audio from our conversation, press the play button below. The transcript of the conversation can be found below the audio recording.   Conversation Transcript[Music plays - "The Strip" by Mela]Heather...

Two College of Education Faculty Ranked Among Most Influential Education Scholars

by Courtney Douglas
January 09
In recognition of university-based scholars in the United States who are doing the most to shape educational practice and policy, Rick Hess of EducationWeek released the 2020 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings on January 8. In the 2020 ranking, two College of Education and Human Development faculty members were recognized in the top 25 of most influential scholars. Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of higher education policy and sociology, was ranked ninth. Marc Lamont Hill, Steve Charles Chair in Media, Cities, and Solutions and professor of urban education, was ranked #24...

The College of Education's 2019 In Review

by Courtney Douglas
December 20
As we enter a new decade and begin the next century for the College of Education and Human Development, it's an opportune time to reflect on the accomplishments and happenings from the past year. Below is a selection of highlights from 2019. The College of Education and Human Development Celebrates its 100th AnniversaryFor 100 years, the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University has been known for its excellence and leadership in its efforts to improve teaching and learning, particularly within the context of urban education. Throughout this time, the...

College of Education Partners on Initiative to Diversify PA's Educator Workforce

by Heather Goodman
December 13
In November, Temple University joined the Pennsylvania Department of Education and several local colleges and universities as partners of a new program titled Aspiring to Educate (A2E). The program aims to cultivate and diversify Pennsylvania's educator pool by identifying potential recruits as early as freshman year in high school and offering financial assistance to pursue post-secondary degrees in education. "This initiative is critically important and addresses a significant and longstanding shortage of teachers of color in the educator workforce," said Gregory M. Anderson...

Foundation grant funds expansion of Temple’s Urban Youth Leadership Academy

by Morgan Zalot
December 10
A cohort of girls from two North Philadelphia middle schools is now participating in the College of Education and Human Development's Urban Youth Leadership Academy (UYLA), thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Lasko Family Foundation that helped the program expand this academic year.UYLA, which piloted with six eighth-grade boys from the Duckrey and Dunbar middle schools adjacent to Temple's Main Campus in the 2016-2017 academic year, is a mentorship program aimed at setting middle-schoolers on the path toward academic success in high school and beyond. The program was operating...

Irene Eizen Honored at Temple University's Gallery of Success

by Dawn Angelique Roberts
November 22
Irene Eizen, an alumna of Temple College of Education and Human Development was honored at Temple University's Gallery of Success during Homecoming Weekend. Temple University's Gallery of Success celebrates outstanding professional achievement, inspiring students to their future and bringing honor to the institution. A graduate from each of Temple's 17 schools and colleges were honored at the awards ceremony and reception.Eizen, BS, '70, MED, '72, EDD, '95, is a three-time Owl, earning her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees all from the College of Education and Human...