Cathy Smeltzer Erb Archives - EMU News

EMU Teacher Education Program awarded CAEP Frank Murray Award

EMU Communications — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:16:15 +0000

��ݮ��’s Teacher Education Program was one of 26 education providers from 17 states and the United Arab Emirates to win recognition for its continuous improvement in preparing teachers and other educators.

The honor, titled the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement, is given by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Earlier this year, CAEP awarded ��ѱ�’s program full accreditation with no stipulations or areas of improvement. That status qualified the program for the award.

“We are delighted to receive this recognition,” said Professor Cathy Smeltzer Erb, director of the undergraduate teacher education program. “Our faculty and staff are extraordinarily dedicated to high standards of preparedness in our graduates. This recognition is a reflection of our commitment to excellence through data-driven results and an attitude of continuous improvement that prepares our candidates to positively impact their P-12 learners.”

Frank Murray was the founding president of Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), served as chair of the board for TEAC, and was an initial member of the CAEP Board of Directors. CAEP was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and TEAC.

The Murray recognition began in 2019, and this year includes programs at small, large, public, private, faith-based, and historically minority serving universities.

Providers selected for recognition advance equity and excellence in educator preparation through purposeful use of self-study procedures and evidence-based reporting that assure quality and support continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 learning, according to a news release from CAEP. The program’s conduct continuous improvement inquiry, use assessments that are relevant to the topic being informed and consequential, show the reliability and validity of the evidence provided for accreditation, have quality assurance capacities that inform their knowledge and address questions about relationships in the data.

“Frank Murray was passionate about education preparation, a prominent leader in our profession, and an advocate for evidence to improve education. The providers that CAEP is recognizing are committed to continuous improvement and preparing their students to succeed in a diverse range of classrooms after they graduate,” said Karen Symms Gallagher, chair of the CAEP Board of Directors. “CAEP Accreditation is a sign of commitment to quality through purposeful use of evidence. The Murray Leadership Recognition recipients should be proud of their accomplishments.”

CAEP accreditation serves the dual purposes of accountability and continuous improvement. 423 educator preparation providers in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have been accredited under the CAEP Standards. The CAEP accreditation process evaluates the performance of providers and focuses particularly on whether candidates will be prepared, by completion, for the challenging responsibilities that educators face in America’s classrooms. Approximately, 700 educator preparation providers participate in the CAEP Accreditation system, including many previously accredited through former standards. CAEP is the only educator preparation provider recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

EMU names five as Teachers of Promise

EMU Communications — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 16:30:00 +0000

Five education students from ��ݮ�� (EMU) were chosen to attend the 2021 Teachers of Promise Institute, which was held virtually on March 20. The annual event provides professional development, mentor discussions, and networking opportunities for 100 of the best and brightest pre-service teachers in Virginia.

EMU’s Teachers of Promise this year are:

Sarah Ressler, elementary and special education, from Apple Creek, Ohio;
Ruth Reimer-Berg, elementary education, from Salem, Ore.;
Hannah Nichols, elementary education, from Rockingham, Va.;
Megan Breidigan, secondary English education, from Douglassville, Pa.;
Rachel Sauder, secondary mathematics education, Lyndhurst, Va.

The honorees “exemplify strong potential for impacting students in the classroom, high academic standing, commitment to the teaching profession, and embody ��ѱ�’s teacher education mission to ‘teach boldly in a changing world through an ethic of care and critical reflection,’” said program director and professor of education Cathy Smeltzer Erb. “This is a delightful group of honorees. I am confident that these future teachers will positively influence the lives of each student in their classrooms as they create and advocate for just and equitable learning environments.”

Professor Barbara Wheatley is the students’ teacher education faculty advisor.

��ѱ�’s education program values experiential learning, offering early practicum experiences that help candidates determine their professional path. Teacher candidates choose from 15 different licensure programs.

The teacher education program is National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredited through the (CAEP).

Nine alumni among area teachers of the year

Christopher Clymer Kurtz — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 16:44:40 +0000

Nine ��ݮ�� alumni teaching in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County Public Schools have been named their schools’ teachers of the year.

“I’m thrilled to see EMU graduates named as teachers of the year,” said Professor Cathy Smeltzer Erb, education department chair and professor of undergraduate teacher education. “These teachers are excelling in their professional lives just as they did in college. It’s rewarding to see teachers at all stages of the career cycle honored for their impact on students, school communities, and the teaching profession.”

In Harrisonburg, they include:

Mary Jo Heckman MA ’05, Thomas Harrison Middle School, sixth-grade history
Rachel Henschel ’15, Spotswood Elementary School, third grade
Katrina Yoder ’07, Waterman Elementary School, fourth grade

In the surrounding Rockingham County, the following were recognized:

Jerry Arbogast ’90, Massanutten Technical Center, building management instructor
Tom Baker ’81, Lacey Spring Elementary School, physical education
Seth Crissman ’09, Elkton Elementary School, special education K-5
Tara Cupp ’00, Plains Elementary School, kindergarten
Cary Schulte ’77, Fulks Run Elementary School, special education K-5
Angela Strite ’02, Linville-Edom Elementary School, school counselor

Other alumni educators, too, have received recent accolades:

Lisa Zendt Shelly ’89, Collinsville, Mississippi, who serves as the principal at Northeast Elementary School, was named Lauderdale County School District’s 2018-19 administrator of the year.

Katie Horst ’12, an educational technologist at Stuart Hall School, an Episcopal day and boarding school with campuses in Staunton and Verona, was nominated for the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council’s Innovation in Education K-12 Award.

Also nominated was Harrisonburg High School teacher and computer science department chair Perry Shank ’99, who holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction from the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver.

The award will be presented at the TechNite19 celebration later this month.

��ѱ�’s education program has been NCATE-accredited for more than 45 years. In the program, students begin spending time in a K-12 classroom in the fifth week of class, gaining real-world perspectives and experiences in local school divisions that are richly diverse in culture, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Eight alumni educators, including Rockingham County’s Teacher of the Year, recognized for professional excellence

Lauren Jefferson — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 14:12:06 +0000

Christine “Chris” Grim ’90, a first-grade teacher at Fulks Run Elementary School for the last 28 years, has been named Lucy F. Simms Educator of the Year by the Rockingham County Public Schools.

She will represent the district in the Virginia Department of Education’s state and regional Teacher of the Year award.

Grim was selected from among 24 candidates representing each of the elementary, middle and high schools in the district.

Five of these honorees – Heather Crawford ’97, Sheryl McDowell MA ’09,�� Sheri Loomis ’01,�� Stephanie Slater MA ’07 and Heidi Swartz ’98��– are also graduates of ��ݮ��.

Additionally, two of the six honorees in Harrisonburg City Public Schools – Abby Stover ’11 and Emily Imgram – ��are�� an EMU graduate and current graduate student, respectively.

“Congratulations to all of our local Teachers of the Year, including those alumni who came through our undergraduate and graduate programs at EMU,” said Cathy Smeltzer Erb, department chair and professor of education at EMU. “We honor their hard work and celebrate this well-earned recognition.”

Lucy F. Simms Educator of the Year

Grim was honored at a May 17 ceremony at the Lucy Francis Simms Community Center in Harrisonburg. Simms, born a slave in 1855, began teaching at age 17 and taught for 56 years in Rockingham County and Harrisonburg City.��The award, given annually by the district and the non-profit affiliate Rockingham County Educational Foundation, Inc., acknowledges both her legacy and excellence in education. Grim also received a check for $1,000 from donors BotkinRose Law Firm and Douglas Guynn.

Grim says she loves to see her students realize both large and small successes. “The look on their faces when they accomplish something is priceless! I love watching those ‘lightbulb’ moments when things start to click.”

Grim says she’s thankful for the support and mentorship of many people. “I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my co-workers and the community.”

Asked to remember a special teacher, she remembers her own fifth-grade teacher Louise Basile, who developed a relationship with Grim that extended beyond just that one year she spent in her classroom.

“It wasn’t just about the academics,” Grim said. “I knew that she cared about me and as a 5th grade student that meant a lot.”

��More from the RCPS and HCPS Teachers of the Year

Here’s the other area Teachers of the Year and a bit of information about each of them (it’s a busy time for schoolteachers, so some were not able to respond.)

If you hear of an EMU alumnus who has been honored in your area for teaching excellence, let us know in the comments box below.

Heather Crawford ’97
First grade, River Bend Elementary School
Rockingham County Public Schools

A 20-year veteran, Heather says she loves when her students are “so actively engaged in a lesson that that they don’t even realize they are learning,” and when she sees students talking to each other about a lesson and collaborating with one another.”

Her colleagues are her inspiration: “I have been very fortunate to work with many amazing teachers over the years.”

Emily Imgram, working on a graduate certificate in restorative justice in education
English Language Learners, Thomas Harrison Middle School
Harrisonburg City Schools

Sheri Loomis ’01
Special Education, Elkton Elementary School
Rockingham County Public Schools

Sheri has been teaching for 17 years. She says a great day in her classroom is when she makes an impact on “a child’s ability to learn, grow, reflect, and achieve, all while building grit and resiliency and the abilities to overcome adversity.”

She appreciates “working with the terrific staff and administration at Elkton Elementary School, who each help to make teaching a joy.” And she just happened to mention “the wonderful education professors at EMU.”

Sheryl McDowell MA ’09
English Learners, grades 9-12, Spotswood High School
Rockingham County Public Schools

Shery has been teaching for 32 years.

Stephanie Slater MA ’07
Math, grades 9-12, Broadway High School
Rockingham County Public Schools

Stephanie has taught for 19 years, all at Broadway High. She currently teaches Algebra 1 and Analysis.

She says that “light bulb” moments for students are always exciting, and I always enjoy days when students are so engaged in an activity and/or helping teach each other that they don’t realize how much time has passed and how much they have learned.”

“The most important part of teaching is building relationships,” she says, which makes every day important “because I learn something new about my students

Asked to share any outstanding mentors or models, Stephanie singled out two teachers who “greatly influenced my decision to be a teacher and how I teach:”

My high school math teacher, David Rudy, made math fun and exciting and inspired me to be a math teacher.�� Carolyn Cook, my cooperating teacher-mentor at Broadway, was an exceptional classroom teacher.�� I had the privilege of learning instructional delivery, classroom management and so much more from her.�� Both Mr. Rudy and Mrs. Cook exemplified passion and enthusiasm in the classroom.�� Above all, they cared about each individual student who entered their classrooms.�� They set a high standard that I strive for each day.��

��Abby Stover ’11
Fourth grade, Bluestone Elementary School
Harrisonburg City Schools

Abby has been teaching for seven years. At Bluestone, she teaches all subjects and says a great day in the classroom is “when the students are kind to each other, work together, have fun, and of course learn new things!”

Abby sends special thanks to Deb Roth, who was both her fifth-grade teacher and her professor of education at Hesston College. “She instilled for me a love of children, teaching, and learning,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for her, I may not have stayed in education.”

Heidi Swartz ’98
Reading and Language Arts, Elkton Middle School
Rockingham County Public Schools

��Heidi has worked 19 years in the county, with the last 17 at Elkton with some “hilarious and creative” middle-schoolers. “I love when my students are actively engaged, communicating through writing and speaking, and having fun.

One of her favorite teachers was her eighth- and ninth-grade choir teacher Nova Cunningham. “She was loud, daring, and not afraid to tackle any challenges in my small, rural high school. Her enthusiasm and ability to nudge me out of my comfort zone helped me to grow as a musician and as a person. Her confidence in me helped me have self-confidence.”

EMU names five as Teachers of Promise

Lauren Jefferson — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:20:53 +0000

Five senior education students from ��ݮ�� (EMU) were selected to attend the March 2-3 Institute in Richmond, Virginia. The annual event brings together 100 outstanding pre-service teachers from Virginia for recognition, mentorship and professional development.

EMU’s Teachers of Promise are

Emily Clatterbuck, an English education major from Grottoes, Va.;
Jessica Longenecker, a special education major from Fredericksburg, Va.;
Keyri Lopez-Godoy, an elementary education major from Charlottesville, Va.;
Hannah Shultz, a music education major from Harrisonburg, Va.;
Alexa Weeks, an elementary education major from King William, Va.

The honorees “exemplify strong potential for impacting students in the classroom, high academic standing, commitment to the teaching profession, and embody EMU’s teacher education mission to ‘teach boldly in a changing world through an ethic of care and critical reflection,’” says department chair and professor of education . “I am confident that these future teachers will positively influence the lives of each student in their classrooms as they create and advocate for just and equitable learning environments.”

The education program is one among five private colleges in Virginia accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Recently, two of ��ѱ�’s former Teachers of Promise teaching in Harrisonburg City Schools were recognized by their students for their professional excellence.

A meditation on vocation: academic departments host chapel services

Lauren Jefferson — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 16:46:26 +0000

Professor Ryan Thompson is a former Christian Church youth pastor who began a master’s degree in counseling at Richmont Graduate University, affiliated with the evangelical church, and then finished his master’s degree and a doctorate in psychology at George Fox University, an institution with Quaker roots.

Now at ��ݮ��, he recognizes a rooted affinity to Anabaptist teachings, “which I’ve come to realize I’ve followed for longer than I knew it existed.”

Ben Bailey, administrative assistant for the Department of Applied Social Sciences, talks with junior peace and development major Noah Haglund during chapel in Common Grounds coffeehouse.

Thompson shared how his work and faith are deeply intertwined during a special chapel service last week jointly hosted by ��ѱ�’s STEM academic departments. Around campus, at the same time, other departments hosted special, unique chapel gatherings.

Just as his immersion in various “denominational streams has shaped my relationship with Christ and made it more full,” Thompson told the gathered, “likewise, the science and art of psychology has contributed to my understanding of what it means to be made in the image of God. My faith informs my work. My work informs my faith. I don’t know any other way to do it.”

Thompson’s words were encouraging to psychology major Lydia Musselman. “Hearing a professor’s personal story and reflection opens doors to conversation and deeper relationship, and gives hope to those struggling with our faith journey,” she said. “Connections and growth make sense in reflection. It was good to be reminded of that truth.”

��ѱ�’s professors tend to be “down to earth and open people, but there’s a clear difference between a classroom and a chapel,” said junior English and writing major Josh Holsapple, who attended the Language and Literature Department gathering. “Having that extra layer of chapel is important.”

��ѱ�’s annual departmental chapels offer students, faculty and staff the opportunity to talk about understanding, finding and living the work to which one is divinely called. While exploration and recognition of the Christian faith is part of the university’s core curriculum, these chapels are another time and place where faculty and students relate in deeply meaningful ways, said Undergraduate Dean Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer.

“The connection of faculty, staff and students around the idea of vocation is a piece of the faith mentoring and personal relationship-building that makes the EMU experience special,” she said. “The fact that we care about students as whole people is a value that students cite over and over again as something they really appreciate.”

Junior biology major Caroline Lehman agreed. “The professors at EMU, are, in my opinion, the school’s best asset. Being surrounded by people who not only do their jobs exceptionally well but also seem to love their work and grow in faith along the way has had a huge impact on what I hope to find in my future career. What that career will be, however, and how I will get there is still clouded with uncertainty, which can be really stressful at times. Hearing EMU’s professors, people who excel in their work and love their jobs, speak about their own experiences in finding their career paths and using faith as a guide through the uncertainty has been both comforting and inspiring.”

Poetry and stories for enlightenment and new energy

Rebekah York ’15 catches up with Undergraduate Pastor Lana Miller. A graduate student at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, York was on campus representing the school at Career and Service Days.

In the Roselawn gathering space on the second floor, Professor Vi Dutcher opened the Language and Literature Department chapel with the introduction of alumna and novelist Patricia Grace King, on campus for her Writers Read event later that week. Those present were invited to offer a single-word descriptor of their early childhood religious experience — and all but one person needed more words, with “nearly everyone offering a phrase or brief story,” said Professor Marti Eads, adding that everyone’s contributions were gladly heard and appreciated. The group then joined in a reading of Seamus Heaney’s “Station Island XI,” a translation of a 16th century poem by Spanish mystic San Juan de la Cruz.

The Student Education Association titled their time “Walking your faith…Teach like no other,” hosting a discussion around relationships and religion, and how to integrate faith and calling in a constantly changing world.

“What I find meaningful in the department chapel is the opportunity for faculty and students to collectively examine how faith and teaching intersect in the classroom,” said department chair Cathy Smeltzer Erb. “Each participant brings his/her own story to the conversation, and leaves with a reservoir of new stories to shape one’s faith journey.”

In other chapels…

Students, staff and faculty of the Department of Applied Social Sciences gathered in Common Grounds coffeehouse for readings, prayer and conversation.

The Business and Economics department hosted four students who attended the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) convention in November 2017. MEDA works at the intersection of faith and business as an international economic development organization with the mission of creating business solutions to poverty. The students shared about how they were personally and professionally inspired by their participation in the conference. Speaking were Lucas Miller, junior economics major; Isaac Brenneman, a junior double major in business administration and recreation leadership and sports promotion; Ryan Faraci, senior double major in accounting and business administration; and Kyungho Yu, a junior economics major.

The Department of Applied Social Sciences based their time around an entry in “Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals,” focusing on the anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X and Hebrew 10:26-39.

The History and Bible and Religion departments joined for a time of reflective scripture reading, prayer and singing around the theme of Living Water, while the Nursing Department also spent the time in worship and reflection.

Alumni teaching in Harrisonburg City Schools are honored by grateful students

Lauren Jefferson — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 16:56:07 +0000

Teachers Allison Eanes and Austin Mumaw were recently honored by two Harrisonburg City Schools students. Both are alumni of ��ݮ��.

Second-grader Roxy Hernandez’s winning essay.

The 22nd Annual Robert B. and Gladys Hopkins Strickler Honored Teacher Essay Contest is hosted by the Massanutten Regional Library’s Central Library in Harrisonburg. The Stricklers were educators, and the contest was started by the couple’s son and daughter-in-law Robert Hopkins Strickler and his wife, Lorraine Warren Strickler, in their honor.

This year, more than 190 essays from students in Harrisonburg and Rockingham and Page counties were received. Michael Evans, the library’s director of advancement, and members of the Kiwanis Club chose the age-group and overall winners in four age brackets.

The eight winning students, their teachers and parents were invited to an evening ceremony where the essays were read and cash prizes awarded.

First place: Roxy Hernandez writing about Mr. Mumaw

Roxy’s art accompanied her essay.

Mumaw, a second-grade teacher at Spotswood Elementary School, was honored by Roxy Hernandez. She won the K-2 division with an essay and accompanying artwork that praised Mumaw for his kindness, for giving extra recess time, and being “awesome.”

Mumaw, a 2016 graduate who taught last year at Smithland Elementary, said that he was “humbled” by the award and for the recognition among “so many great teachers who were written about.”

“It is always so meaningful to know that your students look up to you and value the work that you do for them,” Mumaw said, “and also to see one of my own students being recognized for her essay and the voice that she shares. Roxy is a great student who works hard every day. She was a very deserving recipient as a result of her hard work and positive attitude.”

Runner-up: Maren McGehee writing about Ms. Eanes

Maren McGehee, runner-up in the sixth- through eighth-grade category, honored her former English teacher at Thomas Harrison Middle School. Eanes has taught there for five years.

“Besides her skill in teaching English,” Maren wrote, “she is also very kind.” Maren shared that when students joked about white supremacy in the classroom, Eanes involved all of the students in talking about the situation and extending forgiveness. “Not only did I learn lots about English, but I learned about how to treat others, and that there’s nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it and believe in yourself.”

Eanes was grateful for the recognition from a former student, especially at this time of the year, she said.

“I deeply love my work, as it fills me with an incredible sense of purpose, but it is also really challenging, especially in the winter months,” Eanes wrote in email. “Because of that, it was such an honor to hear that my former student had written an essay about me and my class. That sort of affirmation goes a long way and it gave me the fuel I needed to keep doing this work!”

For grades kindergarten through eighth grade, the first place essayist took home $125 and second earned $75.

Both Mumaw and Eanes were honored by EMU with the Teachers of Promise award during their senior year of pre-service teacher education.

EMU celebrates 2017 Teachers of Promise

Lauren Jefferson — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 15:42:46 +0000

Four senior education students and one recent graduate from ��ݮ�� (EMU) were selected to attend the March 24-25 Teachers of Promise Foundation Institute in Richmond, Virginia. The annual event brings together 100 outstanding pre-service teachers from Virginia for recognition, mentorship and professional development.

EMU Teachers of Promise are

Erick Luna: Elementary Education major from Harrisonburg, Va.;
Amy Nussbaum: Special Education graduate (Dec. 2016) from Union, Michigan;
Dorothy Hershey: Elementary Education major from Waynesboro, Va.;
Rebekah Hertzler: English Education major from Harrisonburg, Va.;
Miranda Lyle: Elementary Education major from Blue Ridge, Va.

Professor r enjoyed hearing EMU students share about their student teaching experiences and plans for the future. While at the conference, Yoder was delighted and surprised to see his former fourth-grade teacher who had taught at Waterman Elementary School. “Mrs. Amy Jackson has lived in Tennessee for almost 20 years so it was very unexpected,” Yoder said. “I loved telling her that my wife, Katrina Martin ’07 Yoder now teaches fourth grade at Waterman.”

Miranda Lyle was inspired to see so many people willing to “support us on our journey as teachers. I was reminded of all of the strong relationships I have built with my professors and friends in the education department. I look forward to joining the education profession during a period of unification and determination in creating equity for ALL students.”

A highlight for Dorothy Hershey was seeing so many committed professionals. “I will look back on this conference as a token of encouragement and a reminder that I am never alone. Even when the hardships momentarily outweigh the joys of teaching, I can count on my fellow educators to support me through the journey.”

Erick Luna said, “Hearing about the experiences of so many world-class educators, I was energized by their passion and commitment to education and to, most importantly, the children. I left knowing more than ever that this is my calling.” The event also made him thankful for educators at EMU as well as Harrisonburg High School teacher Phil Yutzy, who “believed in me when others did not.”

The education program is one among five private colleges in Virginia accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

English language learners benefit from EMU educators influenced by Anabaptist values in Harrisonburg, Virginia, reports researcher in Sojourners magazine

Lauren Jefferson — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 16:28:54 +0000

In a time of rapid change and new demographics in the United States, some communities are better equipped to respond to integration of non-English-speaking immigrant and refugee populations. Because of Mennonites, and Mennonite-educated alumni of ��ݮ�� (EMU), Harrisonburg, Virginia, is one such community.

A recent Sojourners article, “,” by , program associate with New America’s Education Policy program, highlights this influence in the community, and particularly the school system, of Harrisonburg.

RaMona Stahl helps new residents to Harrisonburg meet their family’s educational needs at Harrisonburg City Public Schools Welcome Center. (Photo by Andrew Strack)

In a time of anti-immigrant fervor, religious distrust, and high political polarization, the peace-building Mennonites in Harrisonburg provide one robust model of how to transcend nationalism and bridge divides. Though relatively modest in size, they are showing how even a small group can affect major, positive change, shaping the hearts and minds of the local ecosystem.

“Mennonites have a unique global outlook on the inclusion and celebration of folks from other cultures,” RaMona Stahl, the Welcome Center coordinator for HCPS [Harrisonburg City Public Schools], said. Stahl, who earned a degree in social work from ��ݮ�� in Harrisonburg, says she did not say the Pledge of Allegiance in school as a young girl, believing her loyalty was to all peoples. “‘God and country’ — those things really shouldn’t be wed,” she said. “‘God and countries,’ yes. But not ‘country,’ singular.”

Significantly, Carnock sought through the Sojourners article to elaborate on specific findings from a report, published in October with co-researcher Amaya Garcia, titled .

“Several characteristics … imbue the community with an uncommon energy and ethos around immigrants, refugees, and dual language learners,” writes Carnock in the report. One of those “catalysts” for “progressive energy” is a large population of Mennonites, as well as the proximity of EMU, which has been educating teachers since its founding in 1917.

The Mennonite faith – ably summarized in the article by Stahl ’85, and home-school liaison Rick Castaneda ’98 – embraces diversity. This value is at the heart of teacher preparation programs offered by EMU.

“Pre-service teachers at EMU learn how to embrace diversity through equitable pedagogical practices that enhance student learning regardless of one’s racial, social, or other status in society,” says , education department chair. “Our Anabaptist faith urges us to welcome the student as a valued member of the learning community.”

Rick Castaneda ’91, home-school liaison with Harrisonburg City Public Schools, speaks during a 2016 leadership conference at ��ݮ��. (EMU Archive)

In the article, Carnock says that one of the best expressions of Mennonite influence, and of ��ѱ�’s global perspective, is the “diffusion” of these values into the work of local schools, which serve one of the highest populations of Limited English Proficient students in the state.

Approximately 112 teachers and administrators employed by Harrisonburg City Public Schools have an undergraduate or graduate degree from EMU, according to recent statistics collected from the district.

This small population of EMU-prepared educators has an outsized impact, HCPS Foreign Language Coordinator Jeremy Aldrich tells Carnock, comparing them to “yeast that makes the whole dough rise.”

The article and report highlight several initiatives for English Language Learners, among others in the district that involve EMU-educated staff and teachers:

an expanded Welcome Center to comfortably process non-native-speaking students, led by Stahl;
more home-school liaisons, such as Castaneda;
and a growing Spanish-English dual immersion program in four of the district’s five elementary schools, with more than half of the teachers, including Camila Pandolfi ’12, and administrators holding an undergraduate or graduate degree from EMU.
Camila Pandolfi ’12 teaches in the Harrisonburg City Public Schools dual immersion program.

“More than ever, EMU and the broader Mennonite community are unique assets for Harrisonburg and the region,” Carnock writes. “Strongly-held beliefs about inclusion — religious or otherwise — are powerful when they translate into tangible action. In many ways, the town’s Mennonites offer a compelling example of conscious choices to humanize, rather than demonize, the other.”

Read More

The Spring 2016 Crossroads alumni magazine focuses on education, with a feature article that traces and affirms the influence of EMU-prepared teachers on the Shenandoah Valley since 1917. Read the or access the entire issue .

The Fall/Winter 2016 Crossroads features alumni living and working in multicultural communities of the United States. Meet people who have chosen to bridge cultures by building relationships, empowering citizens and making our country stronger and more united. Read individual articles or page through the digital issue .

EMU faculty on sabbaticals for the 2016-17 academic year plan a variety of scholarly pursuits

EMU communications staff — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 17:47:08 +0000

��ݮ�� announces the awarding of sabbaticals for the 2016-17 academic year. Six sabbaticals are granted per year.

Proposals from tenured faculty are selected by the Faculty Status Committee, comprised of chair Fred Kniss, provost; Deirdre Smeltzer, undergraduate dean; Michael King, dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and of Eastern Mennonite Seminary; and five elected faculty members who have professor status.

, professor of philosophy, during fall 2016. Early will use his sabbatical to begin working on a book that will build upon claims originating with Dr. Nancey Murphy about the tension between “conceptions of biology that highlight competition and a vision of human life guided by love and peace.” Early cites deep interest and relevant reading in this subject over the past couple of years as the starting place for his writing.

, professor of teacher education, during spring 2017. Smeltzer Erb will focus on scholarship and professional development activities. She plans to engage in activities aimed at supporting the development of beginning teachers and subsequent production of a scholarly article, engagement with an innovative public middle school program, and extension of her personal knowledge of instructional technology.

, associate professor of economics, during spring 2017. Leaman will work on a book project, co-authored with two local business leaders. His book subject will be identifying and analyzing the process of designing and building a climate-neutral residential home. The process and book connects with Leaman’s deep personal convictions around sustainability, links to his classroom teaching, and will become a hands-on learning opportunity for students.

, professor of theology at Eastern Mennoite Seminary, during spring 2017. Thiessen Nation will do extensive research and write several essays as preparation for a future book. Essay topics may include Bonhoeffer’s pacifist/conscientious objection beliefs in the context of Nazi Germany/World War II; the way in which virtue formation was the project of the seminary in Finkenwalde; and engagement with Bohoeffer’s book, Ethics, which will likely include a discussion of his notion of “two kingdoms.” He plans to visit several Bonhoeffer-related sites in Germany.

, professor of history, during spring 2017. Sawin will work on researching, editing and reissuing books by 19th century authors through a self-run publishing company, Emu Editions.�� Sawin will develop Emu Editions more fully: constructing its web page, developing a marketing program, and setting up a formal editorial board of other 19th-century literary scholars. The project will enable Sawin to provide EMU students the opportunity to work on real publishing projects.

, associate professor of English, during both fall and spring semesters. White plans to outline and write at least three chapters of a book on the experience of Quakers in the Seven Years’ War and their subsequent embrace of pacifism. Out of this initial work, he anticipates giving at least one conference presentation, incorporating his learnings into the courses he teaches at EMU, and contemplating connections between the Anabaptist and Quaker peace traditions. White believes this area of research aligns well with the EMU mission.

Five pre-service ‘Teachers of Promise’ recognized from ��ݮ��

Lauren Jefferson — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 14:07:44 +0000

Five senior students from ��ݮ�� (EMU) were selected by education faculty to attend the March 18-19 in Richmond, Virginia. The annual event brings together 100 outstanding pre-service teachers from Virginia for recognition, mentorship and professional development.

The 2016 Teachers of Promise are

Austin Mumaw, elementary education, from Goshen, Indiana;
Erin Nafziger, mathematics, 6-12, from Archbold, Ohio;
Isaac Driver, elementary education, from Harrisonburg, Virginia;
Malea Gascho, art, PreK-12, from Pigeon, Michigan;
Ruthie Beck, history and social science, 6-12, from Archbold, Ohio.

Among 2014-15 graduates, 100 percent of those seeking a teaching job were employed in education after graduation. The education program is one among five private colleges in Virginia accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (now known as the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation).

From touring rock musician to Teacher of the Year in Valley school system

Alexander Sharp VIII — Fri, 23 May 2014 04:25:28 +0000

After earning a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2006, Harrisonburg native John Hostetter ’11 moved to Tucson, Arizona. He spent two years playing guitar in a bluegrass band, then joined a rock band called Harlem, moved to Austin, Texas, and started to get recognized nationally.

“I lived [in Austin] for a summer, and a bunch of things happened all at once,” Hostetter said. “Harlem got signed to a record label. And right as soon as that happened I decided that the rock-and-roll lifestyle was not for me…. We went all over the United States playing shows, and I said, ‘This is not the kind of lifestyle that I can live.’”

So Hostetter returned to his hometown and approached , chair of the undergraduate teacher program at ��ݮ��, about gaining a degree in education.

“When he first explored the option of pursuing the program, he didn’t have either English or education as his major. So he was kind of starting over, after already having the undergrad degree,” Smeltzer Erb said.

“And what so inspired me from the very beginning, which I think speaks highly of his character,” she continued, “was the way in which he interacted with peers who were several years younger, in age, and several years younger in development as teachers. He just navigated that classroom with such integrity, such interest, such grace.”

This spring, Hostetter was honored as one of five . His peers selected him to represent Shelburne Middle School, where he is a 6th-grade language arts teacher.

“I’ve been playing music since middle school,” said Hostetter, whose mother, Louise ’79, was recently in 2017-18. “When I graduated high school, I think I knew in the back of my mind that I would be a teacher eventually, but Berklee was kind of my way to prevent that from happening right away, because music was my first love.”

Raised in a Mennonite family and educated at , Hostetter developed early on a sense of social responsibility that influenced his decision to become a teacher.

“I think that probably a lot of my calling has to do with my Anabaptist heritage, the whole idea of serving the community, serving others,” Hostetter said.

“I want [my students] to develop a love for reading and a love for learning and discovery,” said Hostetter, who occasionally uses his vintage ‘73 Epiphone electric guitar to incorporate music into a lesson. “When I meet a student at the beginning of the year who doesn’t necessarily like reading, or isn’t very excited about language arts, if I can foster some kind of change in that disposition, I think that’s incredibly rewarding – because the habits that they make in 6th grade are usually the ones that they take with them for the rest of their academic careers.”

Last summer, Hostetter married Staunton 4th grade teacher, Nicole Barbano Hostetter. who was also one of the five teachers recognized as Teacher of the Year for Staunton City Schools. She was chosen from the faculty of Bessie Weller Elementary School.

The two met at a Staunton bakery three years ago, shortly before teacher orientation began.

“We were both first-year teachers and it was definitely luck that we were in the same place at the same time,” Nicole said. “We were both coming from different experiences, and I think that making the transition to teaching together was such a good experience for us to have. We really supported each other that first year and we continue to do that now.”

Smeltzer Erb attributes John Hostetter’s success in the classroom to his deep passion for learning to teach over time, and his respect for middle-schoolers and colleagues alike.

“For many students, the classroom is perhaps the only safe place in their day,” Smeltzer Erb said. “It’s the place where somebody like John can truly care about them as individuals.”

As one of just two 6th grade English teachers in Staunton, Hostetter’s job connects him to the community.

“Shelburne is wonderful because I get to know half the children who are in Staunton City schools,” Hostetter said. “When my wife and I are walking through the park, I mean, everybody knows us …. And because you’re teaching, and you’re spending seven hours a day with these kids, you get to know the parents pretty well, and I think it does provide a service. I think that public education is an extension of the community.”

Hostetter hasn’t abandoned music. He has “too many” guitars, a home recording studio and plays guitar in a local band named “Elephant Child.”

“I’ve got my guitar in the classroom, and they think that’s the coolest thing in the world,” he said. “And I try to goof around on occasion, and sometimes I’ll play my guitar, and they love that. But it’s not every day that I get to actually sit and sing to them.

“I’m going to dress up like Johnny Cash here in the next couple weeks, for a history lesson.”

A third individual selected as Staunton Teacher of the Year, Dixon Educational Center art teacher Gina Gaines, is also an EMU alum, having taken classes in the late 1970s.

EMU-trained teachers earn high marks in local school systems

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:48:13 +0000

More than 500��alumni living in the City of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County work in education, though only two-thirds of these seem to be employed in their home districts, according to ��ѱ�’s alumni database.

“The teachers we hire from the EMU teacher education program rank as being some of the best,” says Scott R. Kizner, superintendent of Harrisonburg City public schools. “I’m remarkably impressed with their ability to build relationships with our students and value the rich diversity of our school system. As superintendent, I take great comfort in knowing that EMU graduates are serving our students.”

Within six months of graduation, nearly 100% of students who pursue teaching positions are employed in their field, according to Cathy Smeltzer Erb, chair of ��ѱ�’s undergraduate education department.

��ѱ�’s education students enter local classrooms five weeks into their college careers, years before their peers at other universities.

Professor Sandy Brownscombe says her first-year “Exploring Teaching” students come back from their stints in classrooms with eyes opened to what the career could entail. In her 36 years at EMU, she has seen many decide that teaching is not for them after this early experience as education students.

“The [EMU] program is set up so that students who do not acquire beginning-level teaching skills or professional attributes do not make it through the program and are counseled toward another avenue of life’s calling,” observes Bill Sprinkel, who spent 40 years in the Rockingham County School system before retiring from his supervisor of instruction role a few years ago.

By the time they are seniors in their college careers, ��ѱ�’s student-teachers are serious and self-assured in their callings, not wavering in their chosen paths. “They come prepared and academically strong,” says Lacey Spring Elementary principal Donna Robinson, who has observed student-teachers and graduates for 16 years as an administrator. “They’re always ready to do over and beyond, to help with extracurricular activities – beyond the school day.”

Charlette McQuilkin, Rockingham director of student assessment, calls teaching a “people business,” and believes EMU graduates get that. They employ a uniquely “loving and caring attitude toward students,” says Robinson, plus they are also exceptional at self-assessment.

“You can tell someone held them accountable in their education,” says Anne Lintner, principal at Keister Elementary in Harrisonburg.

��ѱ�’s reflective teaching model centers on constantly assessing how teaching strategies are impacting students, and how these can be improved. “Our students, and therefore our teachers, are seen as people who are committed to the work of teaching… they’re not ones who just punch the clock,” says Smeltzer Erb of ��ѱ�’s undergraduate education program. “As a result, they truly learn to care about their students academically and socially; how is this student thriving with peers or in the home setting?

“Becoming a teacher is a lifelong process of continuous reflection,” she adds. “Our grads are doing that in schools, and that makes them stand out.”

— Samantha Cole ’11

Bilingual Grad Enlivens Elementary Spanish Classes

Chris Edwards — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:18:02 +0000

Fifteen kindergarteners file into Camila Pandolfi’s classroom at , and take seats in the illustrated rows they recognize by such names as triángulo, corazón, estrella (triangle, heart, star).

They enthusiastically repeat descriptions of storybook creatures Pandolfi displays: caballo azul (blue horse), rana verde (green frog), gato morado (purple cat).

English is the second language for 48 percent of Waterman’s students, says Principal Jeremy Weaver. Most of the non-native English speakers here use Spanish as their first language, but some speak Kurdish, Russian and Arabic, plus a smattering of other languages. Yet after five weeks, Pandolfi – teaching almost entirely in her native Spanish — has this entire group responding confidently.

“Levántate“ (stand up), she requests, turning on a recording. Children sway to the catchy drum beat, singing with the song about colors. Later, waving as the class ends, the energetic group sings “Adiós, hasta la próxima vez” (Good-bye until next time.)

Pandolfi is the school’s resource teacher for its one-year-old Foreign Language in Elementary Schools program, meaning she sees every student in kindergarten through grade 3 for one hour every six days. “Parents know this is a great age to begin building language skills in their children,” says Jeremy Aldrich, Harrisonburg schools’ foreign language coordinator and Pandolfi’s supervisor.

Pandolfi named “best and brightest of Virginia’s beginning teachers” in 2012

EMU teacher education graduate Camila Pandolfi

As a student teacher prior to graduating in the spring of 2012, Pandolfi was cited as a Teacher of Promise, “an award given to the best and brightest of Virginia’s beginning teachers,” according to , chair at Pandolfi’s alma mater, ��ݮ�� (EMU).

Pandolfi discovered early in her college career that she had a gift for teaching, under ��ѱ�’s policy of sending its education majors into local schools as early as their fourth week of classwork. Having completed practicums (involving mostly observation with some teaching) with secondary-level students beginning her freshman year, Pandolfi first worked with elementary children the summer after her junior year. Following a fall semester’s study in her native Uruguay, she did her student teaching this spring at , with its dual-immersion program, while serving as an English as a Second Language resource person.

Pandolfi calls student teaching – in which the student, supervised, undertakes full teaching duties – her most formative EMU education experience.

After finishing her education degree, she was hired to work in a different Spanish-language program at another elementary school, Waterman.

EMU graduate Camila Pandolfi leads Spanish class at Waterman Elementary in Harrisonburg, Va.

Reflecting on her own move from Uruguay to the United States at age 12, Pandolfi says, “My English was limited to simple words and phrases. Through my experience of learning English as a foreign language, I was exposed to good and not-so-good methods of language teaching.”

Aldrich recalls teaching Pandolfi English in middle school. “Camila is a great example of home-grown talent for ,” he says. “I have been so pleased to see her become the poised, enthusiastic teacher she is. She is a natural with students.”

Though Pandolfi’s teaching may look “natural,” she explains she is constantly refining her work, reflecting ��ѱ�’s emphasis on developing “reflective practitioners.”

Erb explains that being such a practitioner entails reflecting on the teaching experience “to collect data, analyze the evidence, and plan for and implement change in teaching that will enhance student learning.”

Pandolfi agrees. “EMU instilled that value in me. I revise my lessons constantly. It has made me want to never be ‘at rest’ and mediocre with the lessons I teach.”

Principal Weaver – a 1995 EMU education graduate – calls Pandolfi “a phenomenal addition” to his school, adding that another recent EMU grad, Maria J. Yoder (2011) teaches second grade.

EMU is one of only five private colleges in Virginia to be certified by the .

EMU Boasts Teachers of Promise

Mike Zucconi — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:36:09 +0000

Six students were selected to represent ��ݮ�� (EMU) at the Teachers of Promise Institute, Mar. 24-25, in Richmond, Va. The Teachers of Promise Foundation, which sponsored the event, seeks to recognize and support the best prospective public school teachers in the United States, .

Students that participated included: Laura Hershey, major from Waynesboro, Va.; Stacy Lehman, major from Stryker, Ohio; Sarah Leland, major from Chambersburg, Pa.; Camila Pandolfi, major from Harrisonburg, Va.; Rebecca Peachey, major from Petersburg, Pa.; and Julie Young, major from Fishersville, Va.

“It was a complete affirmation of my call to teaching,” said Peachey. “It was refreshing to spend the weekend with those who have the same passion you do and can model what it takes to be a great teacher.”

The two-day workshop featured sessions on “Creating Cultural Connections” and “Engaging Learners in Active Lessons.”

“The Teachers of Promise Institute is a meaningful event to celebrate tomorrow’s teachers,” said , chair of at EMU and faculty representative at the conference. “I am proud of EMU’s teachers of promise for the hope, competence and commitment to excellence they bring to the teaching profession and the lives of many children in the future.”

Cathy Smeltzer Erb Archives - EMU News

EMU Teacher Education Program awarded CAEP Frank Murray Award

EMU names five as Teachers of Promise

Nine alumni among area teachers of the year

Eight alumni educators, including Rockingham County’s Teacher of the Year, recognized for professional excellence

Lucy F. Simms Educator of the Year

��More from the RCPS and HCPS Teachers of the Year

EMU names five as Teachers of Promise

A meditation on vocation: academic departments host chapel services

Poetry and stories for enlightenment and new energy

Alumni teaching in Harrisonburg City Schools are honored by grateful students

First place: Roxy Hernandez writing about Mr. Mumaw

Runner-up: Maren McGehee writing about Ms. Eanes

EMU celebrates 2017 Teachers of Promise

English language learners benefit from EMU educators influenced by Anabaptist values in Harrisonburg, Virginia, reports researcher in Sojourners magazine

EMU faculty on sabbaticals for the 2016-17 academic year plan a variety of scholarly pursuits

Five pre-service ‘Teachers of Promise’ recognized from ��ݮ����

From touring rock musician to Teacher of the Year in Valley school system

EMU-trained teachers earn high marks in local school systems

Bilingual Grad Enlivens Elementary Spanish Classes

Pandolfi named “best and brightest of Virginia’s beginning teachers” in 2012

EMU Boasts Teachers of Promise

Five pre-service ‘Teachers of Promise’ recognized from ��ݮ��