Department of Education news

Professor Paul Thomas presents multiple sessions at the annual NCTE meeting
Education Professor Paul Thomas presented eight seminars during the 2019 National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention Nov. 21-24 in Baltimore, Maryland. Session topics included “Teaching Beyond Fair: Inquiry Around Gun Violence in the English Language Classroom,” “Misreading the Science of Reading,” “Ethical Dimensions of Teaching Digital Literacy” and “Critical Media Literacy in English Education.”

Katie Kelly and Alyssa Cameron ’14, M’16 collaborate on book chapter.

Professor Katie Kelly and Alyssa Cameron ’14 co-author book chapter
A chapter co-authored by Education Professor Katie Kelly and Alyssa Cameron ’14 (M.A. ’16) is included in the newly-published “Handbook of Research on Formative Assessment in Pre-K through Elementary Classrooms” (IGI Global). The chapter examines the role of self-assessment to center elementary learners’ participation and ownership in the learning process.

Temi Bidjerano, Department of Education

Professor Temi Bidjerano’s research is published
Temi Bidjerano’s research about mixing online courses with traditional courses and the impact the practice has on community college students was published in  Online Learning Journal, the official journal of the Online Learning Consortium. A news story about the paper was published in Campus Technology.

Jessica Patterson ’07 M.Ed

Jessica Patterson ’07 M.Ed named Elementary Principal of the Year
Jessica Patterson, a 2007 Furman University graduate (M.Ed) and principal at Chastain Road Elementary School, has been named South Carolina’s Elementary Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. Her six years’ service as principal at the Pickens County school includes her leadership in bringing the school from a “Below Average” rating on its state report card in 2018 to an “Excellent” rating in 2019. She also introduced the Montessori education model to the school. The story was covered in The Greenville News, WSPA 7News and FOX Carolina.