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Jessica Amend (BA ‘00) teaches third grade at McKenzie Elementary School in Wilmette, Ill. She recently received National Board Certification in Teaching as a Middle Child Generalist.

Shannon Mulder (BA ‘00), who teaches English at St. Charles (Ill.) North High School, got hooked on dance-athon fundraisers while attending The University of Iowa. She participated in the Hawkeyes’ 30-hour dance-athon for the Children’s Miracle Network, and brought the enthusiasm and the idea with her to St. Charles East six years ago.

Mulder co-founded the annual Project Dance!, a 12-hour-long dance-athon to raise money for the Illinois Special Olympics. This year, 135 participants committed to staying on their feet the entire time and through T-shirt sales, visitor donations, and pledges raised approximately $30,000 for the cause.

But it’s not just about the money. It’s about high school students dancing alongside Special Olympians. It’s about listening to the athletes speak out on stage about how much the games mean to them. It’s about teaching teens how to give back and how to appreciate all they have.

“Special Olympians deal with disabilities every day of their lives,” says Mulder. “Hours eight, nine, and 10 (of the dance-athon) are going to hurt, but it gives these students an idea of what they deal with every day.”

Students like Bethany Figura, a senior at St. Charles East who herself will be attending The University of Iowa this fall, danced her sophomore year, joined the executive board the following two years, and plans to participate in Iowa’s next year.

It’s for a great cause,” says Figura of Project Dance! “And to hear the Special Olympians speak first-hand makes it so much more meaningful, rather than just raising money and sending it off.”

Still the money it generates is instrumental in keeping the local chapter of the Illinois Special Olympics afloat. All of the chapter’s $330,000 annual budget is generated through donations, says Sandy Hutchins, area director of the Illinois Special Olympics. “And this is a huge event for us,” says Hutchins. “We’re just lucky enough to be the charity that benefits from it.” – Beacon News © 2007

Nick J. Sauers (BA ’00) is a K-4 principal at Wall Lake View Auburn’s elementary school.

Lisa Martin-Hansen (PhD ‘01) was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Teaching Award by Georgia State University College of Education.

Martin-Hansen has made substantial changes in the Ph.D. of Teaching and Learning in Science Education focusing student coursework and experiences in educational research and scholarship. She also revised Ed.S., M.Ed., and the MAT programs in science education with greater emphasis in embedding research in practice. She created templates for measuring student growth in these programs with data that are analyzed and reported regularly.

Her most recent publications have been published in Science & Education, The Science Teacher, and Science and Children, and she serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching and Science & Education. Her research line investigates active learning and cognitive change in K-16 science classrooms with emphasis in inquiry as part of the nature of science.

Sara D. Nash (BA ’03) is an art education specialist for UNO Charter Schools in Chicago.

Meagan H. Gordon (BA ’06) teaches first grade at the Robert Crown Elementary School in Wauconda, Iowa.

Julieane Rosing (BA ’06) teaches third grade at Sycamore Community Schools in Sycamore, Ill.

Rosing's Third graders have Hawkeye pride!.

Atta Gebril (PhD ‘06) received a University of Michigan English Language Institute’s prestigious Spaan Fellowship to study source use in reading-to-write test tasks. The $10,000 fellowship allows him to continue the research he began in his dissertation.

Gebril’s first appointment was at William and Mary, but he returned to the Middle East to become an assistant professor of linguistics at the University of the United Arab Emirates.

Lia Plakans (BA ‘91/PhD ‘07) received a University of Michigan English Language Institute’s prestigious Spaan Fellowship to study source use in reading-to-write test tasks. The $10,000 fellowship allows her to continue the research she began in her dissertation.

Plakans is an assistant professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Texas at Austin.

Karen Wohlwend (PhD ’07) received the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the International Reading Association. Wohlwend is an assistant professor at Indiana University at Bloomington.

Jacqueline Klein (PhD ’07) is an undergraduate program administrator at New York University, New York, New York.

Sprague Creates Company to Personalize Children's Music Suzanne Sprague Suzanne Sprague (MA ‘03) is using skills she developed as a College of Education student and classroom teacher in a new, unexpected way. Sprague, along with her sister and mother, started a business called Melodies About Me, which creates personalized children’s music. The new company’s first CD released March 1 and features 10 songs. Nine of the songs are personalized, meaning the child’s name is worked into the lyrics. Sprague said her singers have recorded the lyrics with 1,400 names already—everything from Aaliyah to Zoe—and Melodies About Me will accommodate special orders if a child’s name is not yet available. Sprague said the concept for the business was born after she bought a personalized CD from another company for her daughter, Hannah. “I really liked it the first couple of times listening to it, but thought it’d be fun to create personalized children’s music that would be enjoyable for both children and parents to listen to over and over again,” she said. So Sprague and her sister, Kelly, challenged their mother, Terry, a piano teacher, to compose better songs. “She writes beautiful, wonderful children’s music, so we thought why not see what she can do with this?” Sprague said. “She just wowed us.” Songs on the CD include “Purple Sock Blues,” “Shake-A-Doo Rock” and “Thank You Prayer.” Sprague, who left her job as a high school science teacher after Hannah was born, said she loves keeping active with the business and using her teaching skills in a new way. “The things I’ve learned from teaching, especially how to be organized, how to come up with a plan, all of those things required to run a classroom efficiently, have helped me become a better business woman,” she said. To learn more about Melodies About Me, visit www.melodiesaboutme.com.

Jean Sunde Peterson (MA ‘91/PhD ’95) is an associate professor at Purdue University and the coordinator of School Counselor Preparation. In addition to publishing seven books, and earning a number of research, service, and teaching awards, the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision recently recognized the program she coordinates with their Outstanding Counselor Education Innovative Program award.

Jacqueline S. Lewis (PhD ’96) is on the faculty at Minnesota State University at Mankato . The North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision recently recognized Lewis with its Deanna Hawes Outstanding Mentor Award.

Rachel (Harnagel) Meyer (BA ’98) is in her ninth year teaching at Washington ( Iowa ) Junior High School.

Ann (Nibbelink) Vogel (BS ‘88/MA ’90), a licensed mental health counselor and a certified rehabilitation counselor, is part of the UI Spine Center interdisciplinary team at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The Spine Center recently initiated a two-week comprehensive spine rehabilitation program for Army National Guard soldiers, and works with TRICARE, the military’s health care plan, as a referral center for veterans with chronic spine pain.

“The groundbreaking program is one of only two in the country,” Vogel said.

What makes the Spine Center’s program different from other rehabilitation programs is that it incorporates mental health treatment with physical therapy so that patients learn to psychologically cope with their condition. Patients work with an interdisciplinary team of doctors, physical trainers, counselors, psychologists and social workers.

Sgt. 1 st Class Phil Bell, who still has shrapnel in his back and neck from an improvised explosive device in Iraq, said he simply wants to resume his career as an electrician.

“Since coming here a month ago, I’ve seen a vast improvement,” said Bell, 31, a member of the Army National Guard from Orland Park, Ill.

“We hope to increase awareness so that National Guard soldiers with chronic spine pain know of their treatment options,” Vogel said.

For more information, visit www.uihealthcare.com/depts/spinecenter/program.html. © 2007 The Gazette

Jyoti Datta (BA ’89), second grade teacher at the Flagg Street School with nearly two decades of teaching experience, has been named the new head of the Lower School at the independent Bancroft School in Worcester, Mass. Datta, who was born in Dehradun, India, has taught at Flagg since 1999. She holds a master’s degree in School Leadership and will assume her new job on July 1.

Datta participated in two National Science Foundation-funded projects to improve science instruction in elementary school classrooms. Prior to becoming a teacher at Flagg, she served as an elementary school teacher for 10 years in Iowa. She was also elected to serve on the Worcester Public Library’s Board of Directors.

Weld Recognized as Nation's Best Biology Teacher Weld, recognized as the nation's best college biology teacher, uses an engaging teaching style with his students. Jeff Weld (BS ’85/MS ‘89/PhD ‘98) was recently recognized as an outstanding biology instructor and is now endeavoring to improve science education and teaching all across Iowa. Weld, an associate professor of Biology at the University of Northern Iowa , earned the 2007 Four-Year College Biology Teaching Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers. Donald French, a professor of Zoology at Oklahoma State University , nominated Weld, a former colleague, for the award. He described him as a “masterful teacher.” “Jeff provides students with knowledge, tools, and skills they need, not by lecturing them, but by combining problems, scholarly readings, discussions, challenges, and demonstrations,” French said. “He teaches topics in a contextually relevant fashion and is successful in engaging his students in class and in thinking about science in new ways.” Weld said the award serves as evidence of the strong education he received at The University of Iowa under professors Robert Yager and John Penick. Weld is a concerned about the “growing crisis” in math and science education in Iowa . “There’s no shortage of expertise in Iowa when it comes to high-quality math and science education—from K-12 schools to AEAs to colleges and universities, to the private sector and state government,” he said. “What’s needed is to marshal these many forces and get everyone pulling in the same direction.”

Iowa's Longest Serving Superintendent Bishop makes history serving Iowa's schools. Dennis M. Bishop (PhD ’84) is the longest serving active K-12 superintendent in Iowa . He was also the youngest in the state when he accepted his first superintendent position 34 years ago at 28 years of age. Now in his 40 th year in education, Bishop’s career includes working as a teacher in LaCrosse, Wisc.; as a principal in Minnesota ; and serving as superintendent in the Iowa districts of Morning Sun, Highland of Riverside-Ainsworth, Dallas Center-Grimes, as well as Kingman , Kansas . He is currently in his ninth year at the Murray ( Iowa ) Community School District . “Dennis sincerely wants to help children, especially those who might otherwise fall through the cracks,” said Dennis Jeter, Murray School Board president. “He is a generous person, anonymously giving to students and families out of his own pocket. He is a positive, enthusiastic person who truly supports public education for rural schools.” Area Education Agency 14 in Creston , Iowa , selected him Superintendent of the Year in 2004. He also received the Iowa Community Betterment Leadership Award. “Dennis is a collaborative leader who focuses on the needs of students,” said Connie Maxson, an administrator at AEA 14. “He has worked with his board and staff to build an infrastructure that promotes the success of all students. His work on behalf of school improvement, including evaluation, professional growth, networks, and opportunities for collaboration make him an outstanding superintendent.” Bishop explains the key to his success as simply having a love for children. “I try to get involved with the students, go into the classrooms and read to them, play with them, learn their likes and dislikes, and attend lots and lots of ball games. I enjoy what I am doing year after year.”

Stastny Makes Lasting Impression with Students and Faculty High school senior Jackie Frankel remembers Kimm Stastny’s (BA ‘71/EdS ‘86) parting words to his AP Art History class. “When you feel lost…think about this class. Think about art.” Frankel, a Columbia University graduate student and jazz vocalist, says to this day she reflects upon the two large collages of all the paintings she was tested on in that AP class that still hang in her room. “They provide me with perspective and spirit,” she said. “Kimm Stastny is a true light in this world, just like those masterful paintings. When you need help or strength, his wisdom and guidance is there to ground you. He is one of the most supportive, talented teachers and mentors I have ever had.” Stastny recently retired after working as a teacher, art director, and school administrator for three decades. He began as an educational consultant with the Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; worked as the art coordinator for the Davenport (Iowa) Community School District; served as the arts administrator for the West Hartford (Conn.) Public Schools; taught at Lake Park High School in Roselle, Ill.; and for the last 14 years served as fine arts director for the Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill. As the first administrative director of the newly formed Fine Arts Department, Stastny developed many courses, assembled a talented faculty, and drove the initiative to include a new Performing Arts Center in the school’s building plans. During his tenure at Stevenson, the Fine Arts Department was recognized as a contributing factor in the school earning its fourth Blue Ribbon Award from the Department of Education, and the Music Department was recognized as one of 12 model music programs in the nation. As the school embraced the practices of what has come to be known as a Professional Learning Community, Stastny encouraged collaboration among faculty teams and aligned curricula with state and national standards. Jeff Slepak, Lake Park band director, says Stastny encouraged his faculty to expect great things from their students, and to work together to help each other be more effective teachers. “His leadership in the years of Stevenson’s dramatic growth set the Fine Arts Department on a path that ensures a high-quality, lasting program,” Slepak said. Currently Stastny works in his art studio as often as possible, enjoys time together with his six grandchildren, and is a member of the Chicago Artists’ Coalition, where his art gallery can be viewed online at www.caconline.org.

Christine Grant

Christine Grant (BA ‘70/PhD ’74) , associate professor emerita of health and sports studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was named one of the 100 most influential sports educators in America by the Institute of International Sport.

Taking Child-Centered Approach to Heart Three former colleagues at The University of Iowa’s former Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) gathered recently to reminisce about that special place. Joan Tephly (MA ‘74/PhD ’81), Doris Hughes (BA ‘47/MA ’50), and Chris Kolarik (BA ‘76/MA ’84) all served as head teachers at the ECEC and have fond memories of the center, which was housed in North Hall and served children from infants to kindergarteners from 1973 to 1981. In addition to providing childcare to the UI community, the center provided learning opportunities for College of Education students through hands-on experience, observation, and research. “It was such a super group of people, all truly exemplifying the essence of child centered,” said Kolarik, who is now principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Iowa City . Kolarik said one of the best things about the center was that it trained so many College of Education students to apply the child-centered example they saw in their future careers. “While it was utopia, it was attainable,” she said. Hughes experienced that transferring of ideas first hand. In her role as an academic advisor after the ECEC closed due to budget constraints, she found similarities between her undergraduate charges and the ECEC children. “In some ways they had the same problems as the little ones—they were lost,” she said with a laugh. Tephly, who is now retired from a 35-year career in education, including faculty positions at the University of Northern Iowa and Marycrest International University , said she remembers important innovations at the center. One of those innovations was called the “Loft,” a two-level wooden platform in the three- to five-year-old classroom. The “Loft” increased the room’s square footage, provided privacy nooks for children who wanted to find a quiet space, served as an area for active play, and promoted dramatic and imaginative play. Tephly said she’s sure the center touched a lot of lives. “This was a place of great energy, vitality and love,” Tephly said.

Ardis K. (Vermazen) Harnagel (BA ‘66/MA ’67) worked as a guidance counselor for 38 years, retiring in 2004 as director of guidance at Round Lake (Illinois) High School. During her career, she also served as director of the Illinois Vocational Association and lobbied in Washington, D.C., for the American Vocational Association.

John Harnagel

John A Harnagel (BA ’66) received a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University in 1970. He worked at a residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed children and teens and quickly moved up the ladder to administration, unfortunately, he says, far away from his training and areas of interest. So he became a school social worker at Lake Villa’s Palombi Middle School in Illinois, where he later received the “Award for Excellence in Education” from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Harnagel played an integral part in developing an experiential learning curriculum at Palombi, when, he said, “middle schools were starting to come into their own and grade levels would experiment with different approaches to educate students.” He spent many years as a team member taking 8 th graders on outdoor adventure experiences and 7 th graders on extended field trips for experiential learning in the areas of colonial history and civil war.

“We decided to try to use a ‘core’ approach based on interest: history, fine arts, natural science, and pure science, reading, math, and language arts,” Harnagel said. “For example, the fine arts students put on plays. The natural science students developed and maintained a prairie. The pure science students made rocket ships. The history students had a colonial culture fair and a 10-mile civil war hike. The history students made their own colonial clothing by hand (as part of home economics), built colonial furniture (as part of industrial arts), studied American History followed by a two-week road trip visiting the places discussed and experiencing their culture. Beside basic history lessons, the students learned architecture, archaeology, surveying, mapping, cooking, as each related to each time period. When visiting Gettysburg Battlefield, students would retrace troop movements based on studies made the summers before the trips.

“It was nice to be a founding father of an excellent educational curriculum in a school district that provided flexibility and creativity,” he said.

Orville Townsend (BS ‘67/MA ’72) received the Gerry Byers Award from the Iowa Rehabilitation Association as a tribute to his career-long leadership role in the group.

Richard Ploeger (MA ’58) retired after 52 years in Iowa public education. In 1967, he received his Ph.D. from the University of South Dakota. In his last position, he served as chief administrator at Iowa’s Area Education Agency 6.

He writes, “We are Hawkeyes all the way.” Family education graduates include his wife, Carol (Wiltse) Ploeger (BA ’66) and granddaughter Emily Cameron, who is currently an elementary teacher education student. Other family UI graduates include his son, Jeffery Ploeger (BBA ’77), daughter-in-law, Susan S. Ploeger (BA ’78), and granddaughter, Meredith Strasburg Ploeger (BBA ’07).

Berneil Maxey Drake (MA ’47) is recipient of the 2007 International Achievement Award, presented by the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. An honorary society of 140,000 key women educators from 15 countries, DKG recognizes one member annually for this prestigious award.

Berneil Maxey Drake

After graduating from the UI, she moved to Arizona where she taught physical education at Phoenix Union High School for 20 years before becoming a guidance counselor and coordinator of the gifted and talented program at Maryvale High School in Phoenix .

Berneil served as president of the Arizona state Delta Kappa Gamma chapter and served on several international committees, including chairman of World Fellowships, Communications, and Membership committees. She also served as a website evaluator, was elected southwest regional director, and international vice president.

At international conventions she served as platform speaker, workshop presenter, and conference musician. In addition, she traveled to 15 states and countries as international representative to their conventions, including, El Salvador , Great Britain , Canada , Mexico , and Costa Rica.

Miriam Louise (Shupp) Chynoweth ’s (BA ’38/MA ’49) love of learning became evident when she insisted on going to school with her older brother. She graduated from a small high school at 15, but had put a hold on her education to help the family during rough financial times. When she enrolled at The University of Iowa, she worked to pay her way and attended summer school so she could graduate on time. One of her jobs was working for a music professor where she further developed her love of music. After graduation,

Miriam Louise Chynoweth

she accepted a teaching job in Council Bluffs, Iowa. During WWII, she took a short sabbatical from teaching and worked as a stewardess for United Airlines and again in the 1950s to raise her children. She spent two years in Guatemala with her husband before moving to Phoenix, where she jumped back into teaching fourth grade in the Scottsdale School District until her retirement.

Chynoweth continues to be active through involvement in Delta Kappa Gamma and Clipped Wings.