New Literacy Program

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Gannon University Literacy Outreach Program.  In the Fall 2013 semester, eight students, under the direction of Outreach Coordinator Melinda Holliday, will provide extended schooling in a variety of Diocesan and public school settings.  We are pleased to provide the community with these services and congratulate the students who were selected to participate in this program. 

The School of Education, under the direction of Janice Whiteman, has consistently sought creative solutions to improve literacy in our region and this new program is a welcome addition to the many opportunities available to teacher candidates.  The GU Literacy Outreach Program joins our field experiences, volunteer involvement, professional development school, and academic partnership programs as supplements to ensure high quality education for all students as well as teacher preparation programs that continue to produce highly qualified graduates. 

Submitted by:  Leighann Forbes, Ed. D.

School of Education, Gannon University

Teach in France

Exciting position!

TEACHING ASSISTANT in France 2014-2015. 

The Teaching Assistant Program in France is a youth mobility grant sponsored by the French Ministry of National Education, and offers you the opportunity to work in France for 7 months, teaching English to French students of all ages.  Each year, over 1,100 American citizens and permanent residents teach in public schools across all regions of metropolitan France and in the overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. Assistants are assigned a 12-hour per week teaching schedule that may be divided among up to three schools.  Classes are conducted in English.  The teaching assistant may conduct all or part of a class, typically leading conversations in English. 

Duties may include serving as a resource person in conversation groups, providing small group tutorials, and giving talks related to American studies in English classes.  Assignments vary depending on the school’s needs, the assistant’s abilities, and the educational level to which he or she is assigned (elementary or secondary).  Teachers must be proficient in French.  French majors and minors are encouraged to apply. 

Applicants who do not have a major or minor in French may apply if they have at least a basic proficiency (~3 semesters) in French and/or have lived abroad in a Francophone country.  The application for the 2014-2015 program is available at: https://www.tapif.org. 

Application Deadline: January 15, 2014. 

E-mail questions to: assistant.washington-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr.  Carolyn Collins, Educational Affairs Program Officer, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road, NW Washington, DC 20007; Phone: (202) 944-6011; Fax: (202) 944-6268;

Website: http://highereducation.frenchculture.org/teach-in-france. 

Submitted by:  Janet Armbruster

Employment Coordinator

Career Development & Employment Services

Gannon University

ETS Webinars for Teacher Candidates

ETS Webinars for Teacher Candidates

ETS is offering free Praxis™ Webinars to help teacher candidates successfully prepare for licensure exams.

These free webinars deliver in-depth information about the Praxis tests and offer you the opportunity to ask questions. Prospective test takers are also presented with a plan to help guide their preparation for the Praxis tests.

Webinar topics include:

·         An overview of the Praxis tests

·         An overview of the Study Companions

·         Available resources for test preparation

The next Praxis Test Preparation Webinar will take place on Thursday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET.

Webinar dates include:

·         Thursday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET

·         Wednesday, November 20 at 1 p.m. ET

Registration opens approximately two weeks in advance of the listed date.

For more information, visit www.ets.org/praxis/webinars.

Fall Teacher Job Fair at Slippery Rock University

The 2013 Slippery Rock University Educator Professional Development Day and Job Fair will be held on Friday, October 18^th in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. Gannon University teacher candidates are welcome to attend, including candidates who will be student teaching this spring.  There is no fee to attend. 

Students should report between 8 and 8:30 am.  A panel of school professionals will discuss the educator job search from 8:30 until 10 am. At 10 am, the job fair will begin. A list of registered employers will be posted a few weeks before the event at www.sru.edu/career; click on the Job Fairs link in the left column.

All candidates should park in the East Lake Parking Lot. A shuttle van will be available providing a ride from the parking lot to the student center. A campus map is available at the SRU web site: www.sru.edu.

Please send your resume to Janet Armbruster in the Career Services department if you plan to attend.

Submitted by:  Janet Armbruster

All School Of Education Meeting

Welcome to the fall semester!

This is a reminder to all Education majors that the School of Education meeting is at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the atrium of Palumbo’s 3^rd floor.  This is the open area outside of the ITS offices on Palumbo’s 3rd floor. 

ALL EDUCATION MAJORS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.

All Education majors should be there by 11 a.m. to sign in and receive all hand-outs that will be used during the meeting.

Submitted by: 

Angela M. Sullivan

Secretary, School of Education

Gannon University

109 University Square, Erie, PA  16541

Job Posting: Immediate need for Secondary Science (Erie, PA)

Collegiate Academy, located in Erie, PA, is in need of a long-term substitute teacher for a faculty member who will be out on maternity leave.  The successful candidate will be responsible for biology, chemistry, and environmental science, although the candidate would not necessarily have to be certified in all three.  The school year begins Monday, August 26 for students and the position starts immediately.  Contact Dr. Tammie Smith, Collegiate Dean or Rick Schneider, Associate Dean with inquiries.

News from the SOE

Welcome back to a new academic year!  Welcome to our new freshmen!!  Congratulations to all of our employed graduates from the class of 2013!  We are so proud of each of you!

The new year brings many changes!  Please congratulate Dr. Kathleen Kingston, former Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Education, on her promotion.  Dr. Kingston is now the Associate Provost for the University and we wish her well!

We also wish a wonderful retirement to our colleague Dr. Fran Grandinetti!  Dr. G. was the driving force for many years behind our MEd cohort programs.  Although we are saddened by his retirement, we wish him well in the sunny south with his family. 

Mr. Larry Kessler, formerly our Partnership liaison, will be stepping in to take over Dr. Grandinetti’s position.  Along with some restructuring and our new online graduate programs, Mr. Kessler has a more than full schedule!  We wish him well in his new position.

In the undergraduate programs we wish Mrs. Kathy Keys a wonderful retirement and are pleased to welcome Mrs. Sheri Kurczewski as our Early Childhood mathematics methods specialist.  Mrs. Kurczewski has classroom teaching and administrative experience in the Erie area and is already learning how to use our Smart Table to enhance learning.  Please extend a warm welcome to her when you have a chance.

New positions bring changes in office locations as well.  Be sure to visit the School of Education to see how we’ve rearranged our office spaces.

Mrs. Janice Whiteman will continue in the position of Interim Director for the School of Education.  We are happy to have her experience and leadership as we venture into new territory with our programs.  With increased responsibilities, Mrs. Whiteman will be assisted by Mr. George Sucha in the student teaching supervision and seminar.  We are happy to welcome Mr. Sucha back from his short-lived retirement!

In curriculum news, you can now pick up a Minor in Special Education and Diversity!  This will provide you with more Special Education coursework but will not result in a dual-major or certification.  It’s ideal for those students who seek extra preparation but don’t wish to have the Special Education certificate.  Ask your Education advisor for more information this fall! 

Also, our Secondary Education programs have been restructured and incoming freshmen will be placed in the new programs.  The changes will provide education coursework earlier in the four-year plan and emphasize secondary activities outside of class to a greater degree.  These changes were made in response to requests from students and faculty as well as in response to changes in Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines.  These are exciting changes!

Soon you’ll hear even more news, including an opportunity to study in Ireland!  To learn more, all current education majors should mark their calendars for September 10 at 11 am.  This will be our first all-education meeting for the year and you won’t want to miss it!

Finally, keep your eyes on your email.  There will be many opportunities announced over the next few weeks and you don’t want to miss any!

Remember to stop by and say hi if you’re in Palumbo!

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