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 Grants
Received!
CO-STEP GRANT
Fitchburg State
College (FSC), in collaboration with the Lowell Public Schools (LPS), and
Middlesex Community College (MCC), received a
grant from the US Department of
Education for Creating Certification Opportunities for Strengthening
Transitional Bilingual Education Paraprofessionals (CO-STEP)
project. CO-STEP, while a separate program,
focuses on extending MCC's certificate and associate
degree career ladder program for paraprofessionals through to a four year,
baccalaureate degree and teacher certification in elementary and special
education program, thus completing the career ladder. CO-STEP helps to meet the
critical needs of LEP students in the Lowell system by increasing the
number of paraprofessionals who move up the career ladder to full
certification. the program builds upon the existing working partnership
between the public schools, a two year (MCC) and four year institution
(FSC) of higher education and addresses both competitive priorities. This
is a five year grant, with a $225,000 annual award.
A celebration of this grant
was held recently at the beautiful Nesmith House in Lowell.
Representatives from Lowell Public School, Middlesex Community College,
Fitchburg State College came together to reaffirm the collaboration, enjoy
successes to date and consider possibilities for the future.
Check
out pictures from the Nesmith House celebration !
Grant
professionals meet at National Conference.
Team members from Fitchburg State,
Middlesex Community College and Lowell public Schools recently attended
the National Association of Bilingual Educators Conference in Phoenix in
March of 2001. The conference offered the latest information on
research based strategies for working with second language learners,
including technology and assessment. The team was also able to learn from
professionals engaged in similar Title VII program models across the
country. This was a great opportunity for colleagues from all three
institutions to begin their work on curriculum development and the design
of effective pre-service and in-service teacher preparation
experiences.
Representatives from
Fitchburg State College (FSC), Middlesex Community College (MCC), Lowell
Public School (LPS) meet at the National Association for Bilingual
Education Conference in Phoenix.
CO-STEP team members from left to
right: Keyvan Karbasioun(FSC), Ingrid Urponen(LPS), Mary Ann
Simensen(LPS), Shirley Wagner(FSC), Elaine Francis(FSC), Ann Hogan(MCC),
Michael Fiorentino(FSC), and Rosemarie Giovino(FSC).
Recent
Events: DR.
ANN MAY RETIREMENT/MRS.
KATHERINE FLYNN RETIREMENT
After 45 years as a faculty member in the Special Education
Department, Dr. Anne May decided it was time to step away from her
distinguished career to enjoy her other loves---spending time with her
grand nieces and traveling. Her presence in the department will be
greatly missed. Dr. May, along with Dr. William Goldman, created a
Special Education Teacher Preparation Program that has won many
accolades over the years.
She served as Chair of the Department for twelve years and
Coordinator of Teacher Preparation for nine years. In both of these
roles she earned the reputation as a visionary and a great �Teacher of
Teachers.� She was instrumental in establishing the first graduate
program in Special Education at Fitchburg State, and her creativity led
to the innovative curriculum model that links theory and practice---a
model that serves as the structure for both our graduate and
undergraduate programs. Dr. May is well known and respected by
professionals in teacher preparation across the region. The Special
Education Department was faced with a challenge in marking the career of
this outstanding woman---a woman who absolutely insisted that she be
allowed to retire without any fanfare. Rather than holding the party she
deserved, but that she would unlikely attend, graduates of the program
and friends of Dr. May were notified of a �Card Shower� to mark this
auspicious occasion. Dr. May was flooded with cards from all over the
country wishing her the best in her retirement, and sharing favorite
reminiscences of her work as a teacher. If you did not get a chance to
send her a note or card & wish, address it to Dr. Anne May c/o
Special Education Department 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA
01420.
On Saturday, October 13, Dr. May received the coveted
�Distinguished Alum� award from Fitchburg State. Although she is greatly
missed in the halls of McKay, we wish Dr. May the
best!
Colleagues, family, friends, alumni and students recently
celebrated Kay Flynn�s 42 years of teaching at FSC.
On September 16, 2001, special tribute was given to Kay beginning
with Mass at the Newman Center, followed by a Luncheon and an Open
House. President Michael Riccards, Dr. Vincent J Mara, Dr. Anne May, Ms.
Paula Giaquinto, Mr. Ronald Cormier, and Special Education Faculty spoke
on her behalf. Deacon Ben Nogueira presented citations from Senator
Robert Antonioni, Governor Jane Swift, and Mayor Mary
Whitney.
Students shared their experiences with Kay and many alumni made a
special effort to stop by to wish her well. The Kay Flynn Special
Education Scholarship Fund has been established to support the Education
of students majoring in Special education at FSC. Kay has had a positive
impact on the personal and professional lives of many and she will
continue to influence potential teachers by sharing her wisdom, skills
and humor assisting the Special Education Department with supervision
and other projects. We will continue to learn from her.
If you wish to contribute to her book, send your card or letter
to Mrs. Kay Flynn, c/o Francine Pera, Special Education
Department, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420. (When sending a
letter for Kay Flynn, please type your letter with a font size of 28-36
).
Past
Events:
-
TASH : An international association of
people with disabilities, their family members, other advocates and
professionals,
Miami, FL
Dec 6th - 8th ' 2000
Anne Howard and
Elaine Francis made a presentation at the national TASH conference in
Miami on December 7. The title of their session was "Aligning
State Curriculum Standards with Individualized Needs: Answering the
Question, 'Why do I have to know this?' " Anne and Elaine
presented with two graduate students, Carol Lyman and Brad Brooks (class
of 2000),. Anne and Elaine have been working with these students on
determining the essence of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, and
the sub skills appropriate for students with cognitive
disabilities.
PHOTOGRAPHS
: CLICK
HERE
Upcoming
Professional Conferences
Dr Shari Stokes was appointed to the Host Committee for
the National Staff Development Council�s 2002 Annual Conference in
Boston, Massachusetts. The Council is an international professional
organization whose focus is the ongoing professional development of all
individuals who work in schools. In December, Dr. Stokes will give a
half-day training session at the National Staff Development Annual
Conference in Denver, Colorado. Her topic will be �Mentor Training: A
Sample of Effective Strategies�.
-
PAPER PRESENTATION AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
OF COLLEGES FOR TEACHER EDUCATION
Dr. Elaine
Francis and Dr. Sandy Miller-Jacobs will be presenting
a paper at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
in New York in February. Their presentation �Show Me the Data:
Lessons Learned from Reviews of Two elementary Teacher Preparation
Programs� Pilot Performance Assessments,� will present work they
completed with colleagues in the Special Education Department for the
NCATE Elementary Accreditation. They will be joined in their
presentation by Catheryn Weitman of Barry University, who chaired the
program reviews of the NCATE Elementary Projects and Mary Kay Finan of
Frostburg State University, another school involved in the pilot
project.
-
IMPROVING AMERICA�S SCHOOLS,
CONFERENCE
In December, Elaine Francis will attend the Improving
America�s Schools conference in San Antonio. This conference is
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and is of particular
importance for grant projects such as Fitchburg State�s work with the
Lowell Public Schools.
Denise O�Connell will be presenting
at two conferences this fall. The first conference is the National
Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth on October
14 in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. O�Connell will be discussing strategies
for building Homeless Families Resiliency. On November 14, she will be
part of a panel discussing Homelessness. The School�s Response will be
sponsored by the Fitchburg/Gardner Area Community Health Network in
Westminster at the Wachusett Village Inn and Conference
Center.
Dr. Rosemarie Giovino will also be
presenting at the AACTE conference. She has been leading a team
of curriculum specialists to examine the ways in which our curriculum
meets the needs of students who are second language learners. Dr.
Giovino will present with Dr. Elaine Francis, Dr. Keyvan Karbasloun of
the Humanities Department, and Lowell Public Schools
faculty.
Dr. Michael Fiorentino, Jr. conducted a one-day workshop
at the Annual Conference of the Association of America Schools of
Central America, Columbia, Caribbean & Mexico in Manaqua, Nicaragua,
October 10th-12th, 2001. The workshop �Can�t Do It or Won�t Do It�
developed the basic premise that by focusing on sound academic planning
and instruction, teachers can often prevent disruptive and inappropriate
behaviors. The conference is co-sponsored by U.S. Department of State,
Office of Overseas Schools.
Past
Professional Conferences
Dr.Elaine Francis, Dr. Rosemarie Giovino and Dr. Sandy
Miller-Jacobs have been invited to present at the American Association
for College Teacher Education Conference in Dallas on March 3. Their
recent work as a pilot group for the new elementary standards for program
approval will be presented as part of a session on Performance Based
Assessment. The honor was extended to only two of the pilot schools who
participated in this project.
-
CEC is
Going to Kansas City
April 18-21, 2001
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Annual Convention and Expo
This year's convention hallmarked another year of educational
advancements for students with exceptional learning needs. Dr. Michael
Fiorentino attend the conference in Kansas City exclusively for those
who work in the field of special education.
For the latest in Convention Information, access CEC's Home
Page. http://www.cec.sped.org/
or call
1-888-CEC-SPED
Faculty Forum
At the
first Special Education Department Graduate Curriculum Committee this
year, Dr. Elaine Francis announced that it was time for a change in
Graduate chairs. She had decided that, after fifteen years as Chair of
the Graduate program for Teachers of Students with Moderate
Disabilities, she would like to step down to pursue other interests and
to allow for more time to teach. The Graduate Committee elected Dr.
Denise O�Connell as Chair of the Curriculum Committee and recommended to
Dr. Stokes that she replace Dr. Francis at the helm of the Moderate
program, effective in January. Dr. Howard will continue to serve as
Chair of the Teacher of Students with Intensive Disabilities program.
This semester Drs. Francis, Howard and O�Connell will work to ensure
that the transition of leadership is smooth, and Dr. Francis will
continue to assist with advising in the spring.
Dr. Sandy Miller-Jacobs has taken a one-year
leave of absence to work with the Bureau of Jewish Education to
establish programs and support services for students with special needs.
Dr. Miller-Jacobs has been very active in Jewish education for years,
and this will give her a great opportunity to blend her special
education, skills with her background in religious education. Good for
you, Dr. Miller-Jacobs, and how fortunate for the Bureau of Jewish
Education.
Three new faculty are trying to fill the shoes of our colleagues
who have left for retirement. What a challenge!
Dr. Denise O�Connell comes to the Special
Education Department from the Worcester Public Schools. During her 22
year career with Worcester, Dr. O�Connell served in a variety of
positions in the fields of Special Education and Pupil Personnel
Services.
She is a graduate of both the undergraduate and graduate Special
Education programs at Fitchburg State. She received her Doctor of
Education Degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Dr.
O�Connell�s research centered around the efficacy of the IEP document.
She brings skills in the area of assessment, curriculum, administration,
and homeless education issues to the department.
Ms. Jill Pellegrini and Ms. Fran Pera, adjunct graduate
faculty and consultants in the field of Special Education have joined
the Undergraduate faculty for this school year.
Ms. Pellegrini has expertise in
the area of reading disabilities with a focus on curricula modification.
She is a graduate of the undergraduate program at Anna Maria College and
received her Master�s Degree from Worcester State College.
Ms. Pera comes to the faculty from the Gardner Public
Schools. She has expertise in the area of secondary Special Education.
She is a graduate of the Undergraduate program in Special Education at
Fitchburg State and received her Master�s Degree from Cambridge
College.
The faculty and students wish to extend a warm welcome to
our new faculty.
A TEACHER OF
TEACHERS
TOP
|
A TEACHER OF
TEACHERS
There once was a
woman named Anne,
Who had an admirable plan
The children she�d
reach---
Her method�to teach
And she�d be the best in the
land.
And so she went on her way
At Fitchburg and BC she�d
stay
With rose colored glasses
She attended her
classes
�Til her own class she had one day.
Her
lessons were always the best
Her planning gave her no rest
She
planned with her might
Her objectives were tight
Her students�
learning her ultimate quest
A problem she found one day----
On
which side of the desk should she play?
The accolades she
earned
Made her want more to learn
�I�m a teacher and a
student.� She�d say. |
As a student, Anne really hurried
She scooped up
degrees in a flurry
The teacher became master
But that wouldn�t last
her
Dr. was the
title she�d curry.
And so
Dr. May became prof
Velvet hat and red robe she would
doff
All students would greet her
This teacher of teachers
Their
views of her they held aloft.
In
teaching reading, or how to assess
She taught teachers to be the very
best
She had lots of fun
She made Fitchburg number one
But now
she�s decided to rest.
But---her nieces will be at her door
Toys and books will
clutter her floor
And she calls this a rest?
Well, there will be no
more tests,
And no one enjoys these girls more.
So we
send Anne off�to play?
We know she�ll enjoy every day
We want her to
know
That where �ere she goes
Only �the best� things of her all will
say.
She
leaves her students a gift
Her message, if you get my drift
Is, if
you hear the call
You must teach to them all
And each day your
career will uplift.
|
KAY THE
GREAT TOP
|
KAY THE GREAT
Her name Is
Kay.
What more can I say?
Kay is her name.
Teaching's her
game.
She had her special methods and-ways.
The students always
voiced their praise.
Learning was exciting with Mrs.
Flynn.
She'd up the ante, but you'd always win.
If you came in
late you sang.
She taught math when the doorbell
rang.
Science was learned through pellets of an owl.
Students
learned a lot about that fowl.
The refrigerator kept her worms
cold.
She also was a fan of mold.
Grapes dried on the
windowsill.
Making raisins was such a
thrill. |
Mnemonic devices like the fifty nifty United States
was
just one of her wonderful teaching traits.
Sayings you say, she had
a few you'll like
such as �She's not the swiftest to come down the
pike.�
Another one that was quite rich
was son of a pitch! (me
out of a 10 story window)
I�ll fall on my ...ask me no questions
I�ll tell you no lies
always seemed to widen a few eyes.
If your
wisdom you did Impart.
she'd counter with, How great thou
art!
If you're looking for patience to get you through it.
Don't
ask Kay, she�ll say, �Just do it�.
Chocolate is her favorite treat.
Is that what really makes
her so sweet?
In the schools, she'd supervise,
mentoring and
molding many young lives.
And in the end, when she was
through,
a fine teacher she'd made of you.
In all her years at
Fitchburg State,
she's earned the title of -Kay the great.
|
KAY FLYNN AND ANNE MAY
PHOTOGRAPHS
TOP
PAST EVENTS
PHOTOGRAPHS TOP
Members of the
presentation team, from left to
right:
"Brad tells the audience how his work on aligning his
"Elaine Francis,
Carol Lyman, Anne Howard
and
curriculum to state frameworks has enhanced his classroom".
Brad
Brooks".
NESMITH HOUSE
CELEBRATION!
TOP
Three Paraprofessionals
enjoy the celebration
and
Team members responsible for writing the grant include staff
offer
their reflections on the experience left to
right:
from Lowell Public Schools
(LPS), Middlesex Community College
Omayra Marcano, Cynthia Flynn,
Midge
Landry
(MCC) and Fitchburg State College (FSC). Left to right : Ann
O'Donnell
(LPS), Heidi Delisle (MCC), Ann Hogan (MCC), Mary Ann
Simensen
(LPS), Shirley Wagner (FSC), Pam Edington (MCC), Elaine Francis
(FSC)
The Middlesex Community
College creators of the original
STEP-UP grant enjoy a relaxing
moment
Left to right: Ann Hogan, Pam Edington, Heidi Delisle
|
