Interim Dean’s Welcome

Welcome to the 2013-2014 academic year. As our College’s new interim dean, I have been reminded that, generally, there is little that college administrators do that makes a difference and even less that interim college administrators are likely to accomplish. While this may be true, I also recognize that, together, we can accomplish tremendous things. In areas where we (faculty, staff, alumni, students, and administrators) unite, we can influence on our policies, programs, and practices in ways that ultimately make a major difference for the individuals we prepare and the communities we serve. I have great confidence in our collective capacity to shape our work in ways that will elevate our stature both locally and nationally, while strengthening our impact on everyone whose lives are touched by our graduates. I look forward to helping us build upon our considerable strengths. While I acknowledge that we may not agree on everything, I am confident that we will find areas where we share a common commitment to make our College a better place to learn and work. In this regard, I am honored to work for you and with you. I look forward to a great year.

Dr. Cristina Alfaro Spearheads Department Redesign

College of Education Professor and Interim Department Chair Cristina Alfaro is spearheading an effort to redesign our Department of Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural Education. The goal is to build the College’s capacity to pursue two goals. Dr. Alfaro explained, “First, we want to make sure that SDSU has one of the nation’s premier preparation programs for educators who teach in dual-language programs.” Throughout San Diego, California, and the rest of the nation, school districts are eager to find individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are necessary for work in dual-language academies. SDSU’s dual-language program has a strong reputation, but the goal is to strengthen the program so that we prepare educators who are able to help students learn challenging academic skills, while helping them pursue proficiency in more than one language.

Ed Leadership Faculty Win Book of the Year

ForeWord Review's 2012 silver-award winning Book of the Year in education was written by SDSU faculty members Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey. Their book, Common Core English Language Arts in a PLC at Work™, Grades K–2, explores strategies for integrating the Common Core State Standards for English language arts in primary grades. Based on both research and practice, the popular book helps educators design instruction, curriculum, assessment, and intervention that will ensure that students learn challenging Common Core State Standards through professional learning communities. Drs. Fisher and Frey are professors in the Department of Educational Leadership.

Visit the Department of Educational Leadership website.

Two SDSU Bilingual Credential Students in Top CTA Positions

Current Bilingual Credential Program Students Deborah Miller and Alexandra Contreras are making a difference this year with their new teacher education liaison positions!

Deborah Miller has been named the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) Liaison. This position is appointed by the California Teachers Association (CTA) Board of Directors and is a very important role. Deborah will be the only student who attends meetings and reads documents about policy making in Sacramento.

In her role as CCTC Student Liaison, Deborah will communicate between students, CTA, Universities, and the Commission about issues or upcoming action items. Deborah will advocate from the student perspective and work to build strong partnerships.

Alexandra Contreras has been named the Southern Regional Vice President of the Student California Teachers Association (SCTA).

This role is equally important and will keep Alexandra busy connecting with all of the SCTA chapters in Southern California. Through campus visits, emails and phones calls, Alexandra will make sure that the Southern chapters are updated on what the Executive Board is up to, as well as to offer support, resources, and advice on how to recruit members and grow as local chapters.

Both Deborah and Alexandra are recent SDSU graduates from the Liberal Studies program (Deborah also double majored in Spanish) and were active members and officers in the SDSU SCTA chapter last year.

For more information on the CTA/SCTA visit the California Teachers Association website

Child & Family Development Department Welcomes Dr. Diana Schaack

The College of Education and Department of Child & Family Development is pleased to welcome Diana Schaack, Ph.D. (Loyola University Chicago/Erikson Institute 2011).

Dr. Schaack’s research and work focuses on improving childcare settings, teacher practices and children’s social-emotional well-being. She is a principal investigator on an evaluation examining the outcomes of an infant/toddler professional development initiative.

Dr. Schaack is also completing a study examining the effects of daily caregiving discontinuity in childcare on children’s development. She is starting a follow-up study on the influence of childcare providers’ own attachment histories on caregiving practices and relationships with children.

The College is excited to have Dr. Schaack on board for the Fall 2013 semester.

Read more about Dr. Schaack and the other new faculty beginning at SDSU this Fall at the SDSU NewsCenter website.

UCEA Membership Granted to EDL and COE

The EDL Department and the College of Education have been granted membership within the University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA). UCEA is a consortium of higher education institutions committed to advancing the preparation and practice of educational leaders for the benefit of schools and children. The Council fulfills this purpose by:

• Promoting, sponsoring, and disseminating research on the essential problems of schooling and leadership practice;
• Improving the preparation and professional development of educational leaders and professors; and,
• Positively influencing local, state, and national educational policy.

UCEA has a rich history, originally founded more than 50 years ago by 15 universities, the Kellogg Foundation, and the regional Centers for Educational Administration. Founding members recognized the need for inter-university collaboration to build a knowledge base of research and effective practice for the field of educational administration. Today, UCEA has become a collective of top research institutions with programs in educational leadership and policy and the leading professional organization for professors of educational leadership and policy. San Diego State is the 94th institution nationally to be granted membership in UCEA. Also, SDSU is the only university in California that is a current member of this distinguished organization.

COE Creative Media Lounge Newly Renovated for the New School Year

Current College of Education students can study in style beginning this Fall 2013 in the newly renovated Creative Media Lounge located in the North Education building, room 275.

The Creative Media Lounge offers the latest software and hardware for all of your computing needs, as well as a variety of services including self-printing and scanning. Users have a wealth of resources at the CML including powerful new MAC and Windows PC workstations for digital video & image editing, web development, and various other forms of media production.

With wireless Internet access and group meeting space in the form of tables or comfy couches, the Creative Media Lounge is the perfect location for group projects.

COE Faculty and Staff are also invited to utilize the Creative Media Lounge!

Many thanks to COE staff member Gregg Koyamatsu, Information Technology Consultant for his hard work in the lab redesign and overall lab management.

Check out the CML website for current hours of operation and lab policies.

Dr. Joeseph F. Johnson, Jr. to Assume Role as Interim Dean of the College of Education

Dr. Joeseph F. Johnson, Jr. has a distinguished record of leadership roles within school districts, state education agencies and the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Johnson joined the College of Education in 2005 as a professor of educational leadership and executive director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation and he leads efforts to identify, study and promote the best practice of high-performing urban schools and districts. As a member of the Education Leadership faculty, he helps develop and teach programs designed to prepare effective school and district leaders.

He will begin serving as interim Dean on July 1, immediately following Dean Hovda’s retirement, and will continue until the arrival of a permanent dean.

Read the story at SDSU NewsCenter.

Farewell from Dean Ric Hovda

SDSU College of Education Faculty, Staff, Students, Partners, and Stakeholders,

It has been my honor to serve as Dean of the College of Education over the past six years. The College has a proud history and continues to be a leader locally and beyond. Recently the US News and World Report rankings placed the College within the top 100 nationally (65th), and among the top 50 public institutions nationally. SDSU’s College of Education was the only CSU ranked in those categories. In addition, the rehabilitation counseling program continues to be ranked in the top 10 nationally.

While rankings are important, more critical is the role the College plays in the “lives of the people it serves”. The College plays a critical role in numerous school districts in developing innovative practices, the use of mobile technology for teaching and learning, community-based counseling, highly effective school counselors and educational psychologists, preparing the next generation of k-12 school leadership and community college leadership, the study of autism spectrum disorders and the use of best practices with individuals and families, the preparation of early childhood educators and community leaders in early childhood mental health, bi-literacy and dual language teacher preparation, preparing math, science, and reading teachers, leadership development internationally in the Pacific Islands, addressing the “achievement gap” by studying schools that outperform expectations, and much more. These programs and initiatives directly impact thousands of people each year. In addition, the research done by our faculty and students is impressive in the number of publications in refereed publications as well as several national research awards for faculty members. Further, through the efforts of talented staff members, our capacity to collect, share, and use data for a variety of important functions increases our efficiency and effectiveness.

While the past several years have presented unprecedented fiscal challenges and changes in the demand for programs, the College has maintained a very high level of productivity and level of impact due to the diligence and commitment of faculty, staff, and students. For this, the College should be commended.

I appreciate the work we have done together to make a difference in our college, community, state, and beyond. The College will continue to prosper and increasingly extend the depth and span of its impact as economic conditions improve and new opportunities and new leadership emerge. I wish the College, and Dr. Joe Johnson, the new interim dean, the best in the coming year and beyond as the College of Education continues its mission “to make a difference in the lives of those it serves”.

Respectfully,
Ric Hovda

Ed.D. Graduate Wins 2013 Dissertation of the Year Award

Dr. Lynn Neault, San Diego Community College District Vice Chancellor of Student Services has won the prestigious Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC) 2013 Dissertation of the Year Award for her dissertation entitled “Implications of State and Local Policy on Community College Transfer in California: A Regional Case Study”. CSCC is an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

Mathematics Teacher Noticing: Seeing through Teachers' Eyes selected for Exemplary Research in Teaching Award

Mathematics Teacher Noticing: Seeing through Teachers' Eyes edited by Miriam Sherin, Victoria Jacobs, and Randolph Philipp selected for the Division K Exemplary Research in Teaching and Teacher Education Award.

The committee unanimously agrees that this collection of essays provides a timely, powerful and detailed examination of the work of teachers. Every day teachers confront complex challenges, which require them to respond in novel ways. How we prepare teachers to notice and make sense of these challenges, and the tools we have to do so is front and central to the fields of teaching and teacher education.

San Diego State University's College of Education is again among the top-ranked schools in U.S. News & World Report's latest edition of "Best Graduate Schools."

The College shares No. 65 out of the 278 graduate schools surveyed – an increase of six places over last year. Among public universities we are proud to be within the top 50 ranking at a shared 49th ranking with Old Dominion, Cincinnati, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The College of Education is the only CSU in the top 100 and the eigth-ranked college of education in California. The rehabilitation counseling program in the College's Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Post-Secondary Education is ranked 9th nationally.

Our continued rise in the U.S. News survey is a testament to the impact our students, faculty, staff and alumni have on San Diego, the state and the national education community. This recognition is the result of our excellent preparation programs, innovative research and collaborative partnerships.

Congratulations to the continued commitment to excellence by faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders. Once again, we are recognized for truly "making a difference in the lives of those we serve". Well done!!

Proud Dean,
Ric Hovda

Read the story at SDSU NewsCenter.

PLC (now DLE) and SPED Departments Win New $2 Million Collaborative Grant

Dr. Alberto Ochoa, Professor Ernesto Sanz, Dr. Angela McIntosh, Dr. Regina Brandon, and Dr. Anne Graves have been awarded a National Professional Development Grant of approximately $2 million from the federal Department of Education. The new grant will be known as ADELANTE and will support a bilingual and special education dual credential program to enhance language acquisition and literacy in local schools. ADELANTE is a robust collaboration between the Department of Special Education (SPED) and the Department of Policy Studies in Language and Cross-Cultural Education (PLC).