The University of Georgia

News for Alumni and Friends of the College of Education Fall 1999

Andy Baumgartner TalksAbout What Makes AGreat Teacher

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

America’sBest TeacherAmerica’sBest TeacherAndy Baumgartner TalksAbout What Makes AGreat Teacher

From the dean ...

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University Calendar

Fall Semester 1999• Classes Begin: Aug. 23• Labor Day: Sept. 6• Semester Midpoint: Oct. 13• Thanksgiving: Nov. 24-26• Classes End: Dec. 9• Final Exams: Dec. 13-17

Spring Semester 2000• Classes Begin: Jan. 10• MLK Day: Jan. 17• Semester Midpoint: March 1• Spring Break: March 4-12• Classes End: May 1• Final Exams: May 3-5• Commencement: May 13

Summer Semester 2000May Session

• Classes Begin: May 17• Memorial Day: May 29• Classes End: June 6• Final Exams: June 7

Thru Term

• Classes Begin: June 12• Independence Day: July 4• Term Midpoint: July 7• Classes End: Aug. 3• Final Exams: Aug. 4, 7-8

Short Session I

• Classes Begin: June 12• Term Midpoint: June 23• Independence Day: July 4• Classes End: July 7• Final Exams: July 10

Short Session II

• Classes Begin: July 11• Term Midpoint: July 24• Classes End: Aug. 4• Final Exams: Aug. 7-8

It is a distinct honor and privilege for me to offer greetings as the new dean. Dean Russell Yeany’s imprint on the college is tremendous. I am happy to report he will continue

to play a meaningful role as emeritus dean. All of us are veryfortunate to have such a scholar and leader to call uponwhenever necessary.

As the newcomer, my first task will be to get to know you.Our college has outstanding programs, premier faculty,excellent students and a superb staff. It is only after I can fully

appreciate their work will I be able to articulate a more precise academic message.Nonetheless, I am pleased to share with you that the college has an exciting

and important strategic plan in draft status. Our work on outreach, diversity,technology, curriculum, teaching, and learning continues. Other initiatives areunder way (e.g., Millennium Commission and collaboration with other colleges)and status reports on their progress are forthcoming.

In closing, I wish to pledge to you my commitment to build on the leadership ofDean Yeany and his vision of excellence and recognition for the College ofEducation. With research as our common thread, I believe the college can achieveour ambitious goals with your continuing support. Together, we can build a Top 10college of education.

Sincerely,

Louis A. Castenell, Jr.

COE News Online

www.coe.uga.edu/coenews

About the cover photo...1999 NationalTeacher of the Year and COE grad AndyBaumgartner receives hugs and adorationfrom some of his pupils at A. Brian MerryElementary School in Augusta. (Photo byJeff Jankowski/Reprinted by permissionfrom The Augusta Chronicle)

Keeping up with College ofEducation news got a lot easier in1999, thanks to a new service

developed by the college’s Office ofOutreach. In fact, it’s as easy as turning onyour computer and getting on the Web.

Alumni can now visit COE News Online,the college’s new electronic newspaper, tofind features and news stories on every-thing from the latest innovative researchprojects to college-wide initiatives, tonational honors earned by COE faculty, toour calendar of upcoming events andactivities.

Here’s a quick look at what you’ll find on COE News Online:• News, feature stories about COE faculty and their research, teaching, and service.• Links on the Web to news stories in the local, regional, and national media in

which the COE is featured or our faculty are cited.• Links to the latest education news on the World Wide Web.• The COE Archives: a searchable online library of past print articles that feature

the COE or cite its faculty.• COE Calendar: upcoming lectures, conferences, activities, and special events.• Updates on honors, awards, and news about COE alumni.The electronic newspaper was created and designed by Charles Connor, coordinator

of distance education. Michael Childs, public information director, writes, edits, andconsults on design. -

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COE Grad ProgramsAmong Nation’s Best

For the fifth consecutive year,graduate programs of the College ofEducation are ranked among the

nation’s best, according to U.S. News andWorld Report magazine. The college tiedw ith Northwestern University for 18th --one up from last year -- out of 188programs.

Under Education Specialties, the magazine ranked fourof the college’s graduate programs in the Top 10 nationally:

Secondary Teacher1. Michigan State University2. University of Wisconsin–Madison3. Ohio State University–Columbus4. Teachers College, Columbia University (NY)5. University of Georgia6. Stanford University (CA)6. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign8. Indiana University–Bloomington9. University of Virginia (Curry)

10. University of Washington

Elementary Teacher1. Michigan State University2. Teachers College, Columbia University (NY)3. Ohio State University–Columbus4. University of Wisconsin–Madison5. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign6. University of Georgia7. Indiana University–Bloomington8. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor9. Vanderbilt University (Peabody) (TN)

10. University of Virginia (Curry)

Vocational/Technical1. Ohio State University–Columbus2. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign3. Penn State University–University Park3. University of Georgia3. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities6. Virginia Tech7. University of Wisconsin–Madison8. University of Missouri–Columbia9. Colorado State University9. Oklahoma State University9. Texas A&M University–College Station9. University of Tennessee–Knoxville

Counseling/Personnel Services1. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities2. Ohio State University–Columbus2. University of Maryland–College Park4. University of Wisconsin–Madison5. University of Florida6. University of Missouri–Columbia7. University of Georgia8. Indiana University–Bloomington9. University of Virginia (Curry)

10. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign

See a full report on the U.S. News rankings on COE NewsOnline at www.coe.uga.edu/coenews.

College Earns Recognitionfor Excellence!

University Faculty AwardsSally Hudson Ross, an associate professor of language

education, received the Walter Bernard Hill Award forDistinguished Achievement in Public Service and Outreach.

Steve Oliver, an associate professor of science educa-tion, was granted a Study-in-a-Second-Discipline fellowship.

National RecognitionJulie I. Tallman, an associate professor of instructional

technology, was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for the 1999-2000 academicyear to join faculty members at the University of Botswana in Gaborone intheir efforts to establish library information services and Internet-baseddistance education courses.

Peter Smagorinsky, an associate professor in language education,received the Raymond B. Cattell Early Career Award for ProgrammaticResearch at the AERA’s annual meeting in Montreal.

Bill Swan, professor of educational leadership, received the 1999 HarrieM. Selznick Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by thenational Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), in recognitionof his career-long leadership in the field. He is the first Georgian to win theaward in its 14-year history.

Karen Watkins , professor of adult education, was named the 1998Outstanding Scholar-of-the-Year by the Academy of Human ResourceDevelopment.

Ted Baumgartner, professor of exercise science, received an HonorAward, the highest award given, from the American Association for ActiveLifestyles and Fitness (AAALF) at its national convention.

Joe Riley, professor of science education, received the 1999 GustavOhaus/National Science Teachers Association Award for Innovations inElementary Science Teaching from the National Science Teachers Association.

Ronald Cervero, professor of adult education, was a co-recipient of the1998 Imogene Okes Award for Outstanding and Continuing Research in AdultEducation given by the American Association for Adult and ContinuingEducation.

Roger B. Winston, Jr. , professor of counseling and human developmentservices, and Theodore (Ted) Miller, professor emeritus of the samedepartment, were named Diamond Honorees by the American CollegePersonnel Association’s Education Leadership Foundation. Rod Dishman, a professor of exercise science, was named a “foundingmember” of the International Olympic Committee’s Academy of Science.

College Faculty AwardsJohn Dattilo, professor of recreation and leisure studies, was named

Aderhold Distinguished Professor. Deborah Tippins , associate professor ofscience and elementary education, and Denise Mewborn, assistant professorof mathematics education, received D. Keith Osborn Awards for TeachingExcellence. Mark Faust, an associate professor of language education, BrianGlaser, an associate professor of Counseling and Human DevelopmentServices, and David Jackson, an associate professor of science education,received the college’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Staff Awards for ExcellenceJoyce Brown, middle school program advisor in the department of

elementary education, received the college Staff Award for Excellence for 1999.Also recognized for outstanding service to their individual units and receivedcertificates and cash awards: Joyce Davis , senior administrative secretary inthe School of Professional Studies; Judy Mote , office manager in communica-tion sciences and disorders; Joan Taylor, office manager in occupationalstudies; Stephanie Bales, office manager in elementary education; MarthaWilliams , budget analyst in the School of Health and Human Performance;Shea Ray, administrative secretary in the Learning and Performance SupportLaboratory; and June Smith, budget analyst in the business office.

Ross

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Meet‘Mr. B’

College of Education graduate andAugusta kindergarten teacher Andy Baumgartnercringes at the notion that he’s the ‘best teacher inthe nation,’ but says the honor does give him theopportunity to represent all the wonderful thingshappening in education.

Cover Story: 1999 National Teacher of the Year

President Clinton congratulates Baumgartner

Augusta kindergarten teacherAndrew Baumgartner, may useslightly unconventional methods,

but his success in spreading the magic oflearning earned him the honor of beingnamed 1999 National Teacher of the Yearlast April.

“Sometimes they may seem a bit offthe wall,” Baumgartner said of his ideas,“but nothing tried isnothing gained.”

Baumgartner, 46,a graduate of theUniversity ofGeorgia’s College ofEducation, will try justabout anything tocoax his students tolearn. He once held awedding for SleepingBeauty, complete with limousine and cake,and a knighting ceremony for Jack, fromJack and the Beanstalk, after he killed theGiant.

The Alabama native has taught for thepast four years at A. Brian Merry Elemen-tary School in Augusta where 58 percentof the 530 students get free lunch, educa-tors’ most common measure of studentpoverty.

“Classes should be an adventureevery day,” said Baumgartner, one of fourfinalists selected by the National Teacherof the Year program. “They (classes)should be places where children discover...where failure is kept at bay.”

Baumgartner graduated from UGACollege of Education in 1976 with a BSEdin speech pathology and audiology. Hereceived a master’s degree in earlychildhood education from North GeorgiaCollege in 1979.

He is the first Georgia winner of thenational honor. But Baumgartner, fondlyreferred to by many of his students and

colleagues as ‘Mr. B,’remains modest aboutthe award. “Being NationalTeacher of the Yeardoes not mean thatI’m the best in thenation,” he said. “Itdoes mean that I ambeing given theopportunity to

represent all of the wonderful thingshappening in education and all of thewonderful teachers that teach within thepublic school system.”

Baumgartner had been serving thepast year as Georgia’s Teacher of the Year.During his year off from teaching, he haspresented and attended 248 workshopsand seminars throughout the state, tellingeducators to find ways to address theneeds of every child.

A teacher for 23 years, Baumgartnerhas battled his share of educationaldemons, even in his own family. He wentthrough the pain of watching his son,Brock, diagnosed with multiple learning

disabilities, fail in class, and eventuallydrop out of school in frustration.

“He is one of the students who fellbetween the cracks,” Baumgartner said inan interview earlier this year. “When aschool fails a child, it fails an entire family.”

His son, now 21, got his generalequivalency certificate and is now enrolledin an Augusta technical school. Theexperience forced Baumgartner to re-evaluate his own teaching style.

“It turned me into the teacher whobecame the Teacher of the Year. I had todig down deep and figure out who I was,”he said. “Brock’s difficulty in schooltaught me the importance of making sureevery child in my classroom has someelement of success. And that each childwho enters my class has a right to enterwith dignity and exit with dignity.”

Baumgartner, a former Marine, startedout as a K-12 speech pathologist butdecided to go into early childhoodeducation. He said he never thought thelittlest kids would be too tough to handle.

“They have a real thirst for learning,”he said. “They’re still very eager to try.”

He also has fought to overcomeskepticism toward male teachers, espe-cially ones in the early grades. More thanthree-fourths of the nation’s teachers arewomen.

“The stereotype was they had to bemotherly women, maternal,” he said. “I hadto show that I could be paternal, which isjust as good or better, since many of these

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Denty (L) works with students

Making Science MagicalGeorgia’s Teacher of the Year 2000

Amy Denty Credits COE Preparation for Success

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kids don’t have fathers at home. Littleboys in school need to see men succeed-ing.”

Baumgartner said he was inspired toteach by his minister father.

“We were taught that we’d been soblessed by God that it was our duty togive something back. I did that by havinga career in service,” he said.

Since an April 19 ceremony at theWhite House, Baumgartner has been onthe road doing promotional tours asNational Teacher of the Year.

Baumgartner wants to use his tenureto emphasize that teachers and principalsshould not be alone in setting highacademic standards for schoolchildren.

“Everyone must be accountable forthe public education system,” he said.“That’s why it’s called the public educa-tion system.”

And that’s exactly what he toldPresident Bill Clinton.

“I told him our country needs to beaware of how wonderful our public schoolsystem really is, but also how much inneed our public school system is of moresupport,” Baumgartner said. “I told himthat this emphasis on accountabilitycannot rest just with teachers, and in usingstandardized tests as a measurement foraccountability. We must realize that theyare not the best measurement or the onlymeasurement and we need to continuallylook for better ways to evaluate ourstudents’ progress and the success of ourteachers.”

Baumgartner’s message has certainlygotten through in his school. His pupilsrecently climbed all over him when theysaw him in a recent return visit. He satdown with them in the middle of the floorand listened as they updated him on whatthey’ve been up to since last they sawhim.

The veteran teacher said his greatest“kick” in teaching “comes when I look intothe face of a young child and watchconfusion turn to concentration, concen-tration to surprise, and, finally, surpriseinto the pride of accomplishment.”

(Excerpts from stories by AugustaChronicle Staff Writer Faith Johnson andthe Associated Press were used in thisarticle.)

Eleven COE graduates named Georgia Teacher of the Year, their teaching area

and school system:

Year Teacher of the Year

2000 Amy Denty, science, Wayne County1999 Andy Baumgartner, kindergarten, Richmond County1994 Vallye Blanton, first grade, Lowndes County1984 Kay Harvey, math, Gwinnett County1983 James McRaney, music, DeKalb County1982 Sandra Worsham, English, Baldwin County1980 Emma Stevens Murrah, kindergarten, Lowndes County1977 Patricia Hammond, learning disabilitiy, Lumpkin County1976 Edith Smoak, psychology, Glynn County1974 Norma Lattimore, first grade, Rome City1973 Kathleen Hobgood White, second grade, Barrow County

COE Grads Named Georgia Teacher of the Year Since 1973

Whether mummifying chickens,making slime, conductingscientific experiments or

examining the 100-foot long, life-size modelof a whale that their teacher created, AmyDenty’s sixth-grade students learnscientific concepts in fascinating ways.

“My classroom is very inquirybased,” Denty said. “I believe studentsmust have real experiences so that theycan integrate concepts into their lives andmake them meaningful.”

Because of her dedication to herstudents and the teaching profession,Denty, a science teacher at Arthur WilliamsMiddle School in Wayne County and aCOE alumna, was named 2000 GeorgiaTeacher of the Year this past spring.

Denty, 32, attributes much of hersuccess in the classroom today to hereducational background in middle schoolscience education at the college.

“The program really prepared itsundergraduates with the knowledge and

the skills to run an effective classroom,”she said. “Every college should use UGAas a model.”

The curriculum requires that scienceeducation majors take teaching methodsclasses within the College of Educationpaired with content courses taught byscience professors. “By taking themethods and content courses at the sametime, we were able to gain a deep knowl-edge of science while learning the bestways to teach it,” she said.

Denty also said her educationcurriculum provided real-world experiencethat helped her make a smooth transitioninto the classroom.

“Each Friday, educators who werecurrently teaching in public schools wouldcome into our classroom and work with usone-on-one,” she said. “We would alsohave practicum opportunities every quarterwhere we could go into real classroomsand work with children.”

Denty credits Michael Padilla,professor and interim director of thecollege’s School of Teacher Education, ashaving a profound impact on her decisionto become a science teacher.

“I had Dr. Padilla for two courses, buthe was also my advisor and my friend,”she said. “I never dreamed of teachingscience because it was the subject I hatedmost in school, but he encouraged me tostick with it, and now I couldn’t imaginemyself teaching anything else.” -

The College of Education Honor Roll of Donors 1998-99

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This Honor Roll of Donorsrecognizes gifts made to theCollege of Education throughthe University of GeorgiaFoundation from July 1, 1998through June 30, 1999.

Corporations, Foundations andOrganizations - recognizing giftsfrom these entities at all levels.Abbott Laboratories Hospital

Products DivisionAthens Sertoma ClubBook WarehouseDelta Air Lines FoundationEast Georgia Radiation

and Oncology CenterFluor FoundationGeorgia Association for Gifted

Children, Inc.Georgia-Pacific CorporationGP Therapy, LLCGwinnett Alliance for

Gifted Education, Inc.Holiday Inn of AthensHomeplaceLandAmerica FoundationMerrill Lynch and Company

Foundation, Inc.NovaCareR.E.M./Athens, LLCScholastic Testing Service, Inc.The UPS FoundationUSX Foundation, Inc.Wachovia Corporation

Deferred Giving - recognizingdonors who have included theCollege of Education in their estateplans through life insurance policies,bequests, or pooled-income gifts.Neal AlfordJoan BerrymanCharles BrownJulianne F. ChamblissThelma Bray DorseyCarl D. and Sara GlickmanSylvia HutchinsonVirginia MacagnoniLouise McBeeMorley G. McCartneyMary Ann MorgareidgeDavid and Cynthia Mullen, Jr.Joan Burkes NealBarbara J. RankinJulian C. Stanley, Jr.E. Paul TorranceCurtis and Irene UlmerAubrey Whelchel

Dean’s Club - recognizing donorswho have given a minimum of$1,000 during the year. Gifts at thislevel also qualify for the Universityof Georgia Annual President’s Club.

Dr. Ira E. AaronMartha Nell AllmanTerutsugu AndoDr. Orlow E. Ball and

Barbara Stevens BallJoAnn F. and Gene M. BarberBetty J. BensonNancy C. BrownBrian Christopher BruceBob and Maxine BurtonEthel T. ChaffinSara Lucas Cooney and

Dr. Thomas J. CooneyDr. Bernice Louise CooperDr. Carolyn Carson DahlDr. Jonathan David EdwardsElizabeth Garrard HallDr. Joseph P. HesterDr. Sylvia McCoy HutchinsonVirginia Stewart JarvisDr. Marcella Anne KerlinErick K. and Zarina G. McCarthyDavid John Mullen, Jr. and

Cynthia Shields MullenDr. Whitney Lee MyersDr. Marilyn NewhoffDr. Helen and Tom RichardsonDr. Harriet Tamara Safter and

Warren J. SafterCarol L. SchlichterHarold W. SeatonDr. William Walter SwanJudith Thomas-BlantonDr. E. Paul TorranceDr. Hsiao-Lin TuanDr. Harry M. Turner and

Faith L. Waldron TurnerDr. R. Curtis Ulmer, Sr. and

Irene S. UlmerSharon Green Webber and

M. Thomas Webber, Jr.Dr. L. David WellerDr. Patricia S. WilsonLois Cason Wooten and

Frank L. Wooten, Jr.Dr. Russell H. Yeany, Jr.

College Club - recognizing donorswho have given a minimum of $500during the year.Dr. James Crockett Acton and

Joyce Lifsey ActonDr. Linda McLaurin ArthurDr. Jeri BensonVirginia M. CarverLouie William Cleveland, Jr.Lindsey Lavon Cook and

Deanna Dooley CookDr. Bradley C. Courtenay and

Nancy Talton CourtenaySara O. Glickman and

Dr. Carl D. GlickmanSusan Joan GrahamDr. Michael J. HannafinSteve and Diane HortonRobin JacksonDr. Jeremy KilpatrickDr. Richard L. Lynch and

Genevieve A. LynchMr. and Mrs. Lloyd C. McNally, Jr.Dr. Denise Spangler MewbornDr. Helen C. Hall and

Billy E. MoppinDrs. Beverly Dean and

David A. PayneDr. Glenn Eldon PethelJanice Bateman PuderDr. Jack E. RazorDrs. Catherine Elkin and

Sidney RosenDrs. Barbara Boyt and

John W. SchellMargaret Lex Schneider and

Dr. Donald O. SchneiderAnne Howard and Robert H. StolzErla Gortatowsky Zuber

Century Club - recognizingdonors who have given a minimumof $100 during the year.Dr. Stephen Kwasi AgyekumNaomi Shearouse AldermanDrs. JoBeth E. and Lewis Ray AllenDr. Thomas Duane Allerton, Sr.Patricia Humphrey ArnoldThomas Jackson ArnoldRaymond H. BabineauFrank Stetson BachelderDr. Frances Faust BargerDr. Mitchell Kyle BarnesDr. Dorothy Ann BattleRebecca Seagraves and

Herman Crawford BaughDr. Ted A. BaumgartnerDr. Sidney E. BentonRichard L. BestwickDr. Laura Lee BieremaRuth Mitchell BilbroDr. Robert Alan BlackDr. John Metcalf Bowen and Jean Schmidt BowenJane Probert BowersDr. James S. BradshawRobert BranchDr. P. Stanley BrassieBecki V. and Michael P. BreslinO. Walter and Deanna R. BrittonDr. Elizabeth Yeomans BrownJeffrey Alan CainCarol Hendon and John Rance CainMrs. Joseph O. Carson, Jr.Dr. Martha Ann Solomon CarterSherry G. CentanniCarol Hatcher CochranMelissa Rand and

Walter Norman CohenDr. Dorothy Z. ColemanRuth Wagnon and

Lafiece D. Collins, Jr.Dr. Mary Jim Combs and

Curtis E. Tate, Jr.Vicki Ann Connell and

Hoyt Keith KayDr. Charles C. Connor, Jr. and

Beverly H. ConnorFornadia Winett CookDiane L. CooperDr. Mary Kay Corbitt

Profile in PhilanthropyJoan Burkes Neal

Residence: Fayetteville, Ga.

Degree: B.S. education, ‘51(extra course work in libraryscience)

Career: Teacher in kindergarten andthird grade, 1960-63; Librarian atFayetteville Elementary School, 1963-1990

What has the College of Education meant to you?It gave me real worth and changed my outlook on life after myfirst husband died.

What motivated you to make your gift to the College?I wanted to help a young one or ones through UGA. My grand-daughter, Wendy Adams, has the HOPE Scholarship. I love theuniversity and have always been proud that I graduated fromthere. I was the first one in my family to graduate from college.My parents were very proud.

The College of Education Honor Roll of Donors 1998-99 Thanks to Every Donor!Thanks to Every Donor!

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Dr. Gale Norman CostonDr. Marie Elaine CressDr. Harlon Doyle CrimmJeanne and Waller W. DaltonAnne Dickens DavenportBrenda S. and Daniel L. DavisVirginia Howard Davis-Beck and

Elwood M. BeckDrs. David M. and Judith K. DeJoyDrs. Carolyn Blount and

Paul F. DeLargyAnthony DePalmaAlice DePass-MillerIrene Mary Diamond and

George M. A. StanicMr. and Mrs. George R. DieterleRosemary EakinsCharlotte Hitchcock EfurdJoy Thomas ElderShirley May EllisDr. Mary Arnold Erlanger and

Michael C. ErlangerDr. Lorelle Chalmus Evans, Jr.Dr. Marc Eugene Fey and

Sandra Hamilton FeyBrenda Bowen FloydDr. Mary Kathryn FloydKay Shearer and Stuart W. ForsBruce Howard FraserDr. Mary M. FrasierDr. LaRetta Matthews GarlandMary Ann GarrardDr. George M. GazdaDrs. Shawn and Denise GlynnDr. June Wehrt GraySteven H. GreshamM. Smitty GriffithMrs. Leon R. GrossDrs. Elaine Olbrych and

Kent L. Gustafson

Knut A. HagtvetRobert Charles Hart and

Dr. Nancy Coleman HartDr. Richard L. HayesThomas P. HebertDr. Howard Herbert HendleySusan Highsmith-GravelineDolly Bentley HoganDr. Charles Thomas HolmesHildegard K. HolmesDrs. Sharon G. and

Arthur M. HorneMark Allan and

Joanie Kenny HoytDr. Carl J. HubertyDr. Sally Ann Hudson RossDr. George W. HyndJoseph Gledhill ImpinkMr. and Mrs. Stephen Durell JessupDr. Ann E. JewettCeleste Coley and

Willard Calhoun Johns, Jr.Dr. Edwin Anthony JohnsonA. Belle JonesJohn D. and Susan Head JonesDr. and Mrs. Daniel J. KingDr. James Milton KingAnn H. KingstonDrs. Pamela Bradley and

Douglas A. KleiberSteven Leroy LangstonDr. Jamie Reese LawrenceDr. Gene Rolf LayserDr. Chester William LeathersDr. Carolyn LehrMarion Jones and

A. Allan LeonardDr. Thomas Jackson Lewis, Sr.Dr. Virginia M. MacagnoniDr. Paul H. Madden

Dr. Roy P. MartinKenneth M. MatthewsMargaret M. McQuilkinGlen and Sandra MillerDr. Editha Barnes MillsMary K. MillsAlicia Mae MitchellSharon S. MooreDr. Genelle G. MorainJohn Albert Moreland, IIIDr. David E. Mullins and

Jane C. MullinsDr. Gwendolyn Brown MundyDonald G. and Susan F. MyersDr. Anne Lindsay NallsAnn Gower NelsonMr. and Mrs. James C. NortonDr. Stephen F. Olejnik and

Sherrie Nist OlejnikDrs. Jenny and Steven OliverJuliana Ruth OsterhoutDr. Michael J. PadillaPatricia Rocker and

Charles E. Parker, Sr.Georgia ParthemosDr. Sandra Keever PerryDr. Gary Kent PersonCharles PoolosDr. Judith PreisslePatricia Padgett PriceDr. William F. Prokasy and

Pamela P. ProkasyDr. Amy Meltzer RadyDrs. Patricia Mullins and

Thomas C. ReevesDr. Cecil Randy ReynoldsDr. Mikel Freeman RichardsonJ. William and Clarice M. RiouxJanet G. RobertsonDr. Randall Harvey Rogers

Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. SadlerDr. Jacqueline J. Saindon and

Dr. Stephen A. KowalewskiDr. Neil Boydston SatterfieldDr. G. Franklin and

Hildred Hardigree ShumakeSara Lee SimonsDrs. Phyllis H. and

Phillip Belton SparlingDr. Steven A. StahlRobin P. and G. Danny StevensDr. Howard Lamar StevensCatherine Meadows and

Thomas G. StokesDr. Julie I. TallmanConnie Sue TibbittsNatalie TuckerDr. Craig Ellsworth UllomDr. Anne van KleeckKaren E. WatkinsDr. James Brian Welsh and

Iris Kilgore WelshDr. Mark F. Wheeler and

Jan Bates WheelerNancy Gunter and

George Hamilton WilliamsGreen Berry Williams, Jr.Mrs. Leroy M. WillsonDr. Roger Bradley Winston, Jr.Barbara Johnson and Rod WrightDr. Tzuhui WuVickie S. Young

A complete list of donors can beseen at our COE News Online(www.coe.uga.edu/coenews). If youwould like your name to appeardifferently than listed, or if yourname was omitted, please let usknow.

New Beginnings...New Beginnings...-

This year brings new beginnings tothe College of Education and Universityof Georgia alike. The most prominentone for the college is the arrival of LouisCastenell as our new dean.

Dr. Castenell brings a wealth ofexperience as an educational leader,having served as dean at the Universityof Cincinnati College of Education foralmost 10 years. He is especiallyinterested in external relations and iseager to get to know our alumni andsupporters. Under his leadership, wewill provide more opportunities toengage our alumni in the goals andmission of our college ... so stay tuned.

Another change this year is thatCOE alumni will have two opportunitiesto support the college. Next spring, forthe first time, our alumni will be askedfor specific support for the college.Alumni can also designate their gifts tothe college in the traditional fall cam-paign.

But why give to the college in thefirst place? Because your dollars help usenrich the academic experience of ourstudents. It is an investment in theeducation of our students and in themany professions that the collegerepresents, from teaching to recreationaltherapy.

This year alone, private dollarssupported student scholarships, facultyteaching awards, instructional laborato-ries, programming for K-12 schoolimprovement, professorships and alumniactivities.

If you would like to know more aboutgiving to the College of Education,please contact me at (706) 542-2267 or

contact me by email atrstevens@coe.uga.edu.

Your support doesindeed make a difference.

Robin StevensDirector of Development

8Please see Castenell on page 9

Louis Castenell hit the groundrunning when he arrived oncampus last month to become the13th dean to lead the University of

Georgia’s College of Education. In fact,his first few weeks here have consisted of anon-stop series of meetings with adminis-trators, faculty, and staff to learn all aboutone of the nation’s largest educationcolleges.

Seen as a rising star in highereducation, Castenell brought manychanges to the University of Cincinnatiwhere he had been dean of educationsince 1990. His tenure there was markedby several major advances including thecreation of a doctoral program in crimi-nal justice and urban educationalleadership, a 76 percent rise in researchfunding to $8.3 million in 1998, increasedscholarships for graduate programs,creation of a child development researchcenter and $12 million in capital renova-tions.

Castenell sorted through some of thechallenges, issues, and opportunitiesfacing the college, as well as the field ofeducation in this interview in his firstweek on the job.

Since you were already a dean at Cincin-nati, you must have scrutinized the collegepretty closely before accepting this job.What won you over?

Well, the college is, of course, nation-ally ranked. It has academic excellence. Ithas many well-known faculty whosereputations are well-known throughout the

A conversation with the COE’s new dean...

LouisCastenell

‘Some people don’t see the strides beingmade in education because they are looking for thebig bang. And I’m saying the big bang may neverhappen... for a variety of reasons. But many smallerbangs add up.’

country. I’ve also had a chance, inrecent years, to work with differentfaculty here in joint projects. Doing thingscollaboratively gave me a chance to heartheir views of the college. Withoutexception, they all had nothing but terrificthings to say about the place. That’s reallyimportant because it gives you a sense ofpeople’s identity, their well-being andwhether it’s a fit place to work. It was myimpression that this would be such aplace.

If those are the strengths, what did youperceive as weaknesses?

There are a couple of areas we canimprove on. One is in alumni affairs. Noinstitution has done all that it can do tobring the alumni into the planningoperation of a college. That is somethingon which we should focus. Secondly, fundraising. I think that, despite our academicstature, we have to become more progres-sive in how we think about attractingexternal funds. We should take advantageof our academic excellence. We shouldleverage it to get substantial funds tocontinue work that we’re doing and topioneer into new areas that are going to bereally important to the region and to thecountry, and perhaps the world.

What will be among your first prioritieshere?

I think the first year is a critical one inwhich I have to pay attention to howthings are done. You can’t introducechange unless you understand the current

status – you have no way of knowingwhat works well and what doesn’t.

But the first year will be a very activeprocess where I will meet with all kinds ofpeople and listen to them. It’s an audit yearfor me where I’m taking into account themultiple issues in the college. Then, ifthere’s a need to change anything, I cando so in an informed way, probably in thespring sometime.You really have to studythe formal institution and the informalinstitution before you really know how toget things done.

You’ve said you want to improve thecollege’s external relations. In what areaswill you focus?

I’m going to focus on several things.First, I have to get to know the people Iserve. Second, I have to assess and beginto make appropriate contacts with indi-viduals, organizations, and companies thathave interest in education. I have to workclosely with the UGA Foundation. I haveto study and see where opportunities maylie with existing partnerships. The collegehas partnerships with different institutionsand I want to see how I can be a helpthere. I need to investigate the interna-tional connections we have. Third, I wantto study opportunities that might beavailable in the region and not just inAthens. Most important, however, I mustmake sure our work is a correct fit withUGA’s strategic plan.

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The college has more than 40,000 livingalumni. How important are alumni to thecollege and in what way?

They are the most important productof our work. Our alumni are professionalsin the field; and so what they do, in fact,changes the world in a profound way. Youcannot be decoupled from that. Alllearning is and should be lifelong learning.People don’t stop being students whenthey leave college. They are your signa-ture. They represent who you are and theyrepresent the quality you possess.

How does Georgia’s education reformeffort compare to what’s been happeningin Ohio?

The two states are very much alike.They’re grappling with the same issues. Ofcourse, they differ a little bit, but I under-stand the purpose of the Georgia Educa-tion Reform commission and, in fact, Ohiodid something similar. The P-16 Initiative isalso something that Ohio is deeplyinvolved in. But there’s a unique stateflavor to these similar initiatives. That’s thepart I’m picking up now.

What makes Georgia’s initiativesomewhat different than what we did inOhio? You might say, 90 percent of it Iknow, because the issues are the same.Probably, the recommendations are goingto be very similar, too. But that 10 percent Ijust don’t know is the part I’m trying tofocus on.

Are there any areas that stick out to youas important areas for reform?

Yes. The available evidence makes itreal clear – the single, strongest predictorof learning is the quality of teaching in theclassroom. That involves knowing thesubject you’re teaching, as well as thepreparation and the methodology. But I’mpretty sure that the commission will alsorestate the significance of quality teaching.

A later issue might be class size.That’s important also. However, you canhave a smaller class with an inept teacher--then you have nothing. But qualityteaching to me is the most importantvariable.

The other thing is the P-16 partner-ship. How we successfully partner withschools, colleges, organizations, andcommunity can address our concern forhigh-quality performance of teachers.

Another key is diversity. A simplestudy of the emerging demographics

makes it clear: African Americans andHispanics are going to be essential toGeorgia’s economic growth. We need moreminority teachers in the classroom.

Finally, I believe elected officials andspecial interest groups will continue topush for educational experimentation.

Are school vouchers and charter schoolsexamples of such experimentation?

The public’s impatience with out-comes tends to outstrip the time it takesfor good data collection and analysis. Soyou might actually do something terrific inone year, but need more time to study it.Meanwhile, people become impatient.They go on to a new trend and that trendbumps what you were studying. So it’shard to catch up with--and certainly hardto surpass--the public’s fancy for tinkeringwith educational models.

If only we treated education likemedicine. We certainly are careful aboutmedication before releasing it to the public.But when it comes to education andchildren, we’re very much the Vegasgambler.

We must be careful. People are toocomplicated. I believe we are seeing someinformed incremental improvements. Butsome people don’t see that because theyare looking for the big bang. And I’msaying the big bang may never happen...for a variety of reasons. But many smallerbangs add up. If you take the time to lookback from where you are now to where youwere 10 or 12 years ago, depending on themeasure, we are way ahead of the game.

For instance, the achievement gapbetween whites and African Americansand other groups, has shrunk significantly.And that’s good! It’s still not where wewant it to be, but no one talks about theprogress we have made. People areactually staying in school longer now thanbefore. That’s good! But we don’t talkabout the improvement. We don’t talkabout the technological skills studentshave today compared to 10 or 12 yearsago. Those are all achievements, but youknow, it’s not a big bang.

That’s a long-winded way of saying,that in Georgia it is critical for the collegeto lead by research, teaching, and publicservice to inform the public about scien-tific pedagogy.

See complete interview on COE NewsOnline at www.coe.uga.edu/coenews.

QUICK-TAKES

Oglethorpe FolkloreMuseum Project Wins

Smithsonian Award The Oglethorpe VirtualFolklore Museum, a Website developed in acollaboration between theCOE and a 6 th gradeEnglish class atOglethorpe County

Middle School, was a Laureate winner inthe Computer World--SmithsonianInnovation in Education competition. Thesite features stories and recipes gatheredfrom older Oglethorpe residents, old-timesongs sung by senior citizens, and videoclips and photographs of county peopleand landmarks. You can visit the site at:www.coe.uga.edu/areaschools/ocms.

Millennium CommissionUnveils Vision of Next

Great COEThe College of Education’s Millen-

nium Commission has released a documentthat it hopes will serve as a blueprint to thecollege’s future as a national and worldleader in education. The report foreseesthe college offering new forms of curricula,programs, assessments, and uses oftechnology in the 21st century. It urgesfurther attention to issues of diversity;multicultural education; service learning;international education; and the integra-tion of teaching, research, and service.

Columbine Students GetCopy of COE Prof’s Book

In response to anoverwhelming need forteen-centered healing,the Castle Rock Founda-tion in Denver bought2,100 copies of MarilynGootman’s book titled,When A Friend Dies: A

Book for Teens About Grieving andHealing. Copies of the book have beendistributed to every student in ColumbineHigh School in hopes that its gentle butknowing advice will help them recoverfrom the horrifying school shooting lastApril.

10

College of Education5th Annual Homecoming Tailgate

October 23, 1999Join us on the north side of Aderhold Hall for a “dawg-gone good time” as we get fired up for the Georgia vs. Kentucky game.Festivities start 2 ½ hours prior to game time, currently set for 1 p.m., but check local media for possible changes.

Meet our New Dean!Take advantage of this firstopportunity to welcome andmeet our new dean, LouisCastenell. Described as a giftededucator and dynamic leader,Castenell comes to UGA fromthe University of Cincinnati wherehe was education dean for nearly10 years. He will talk brieflyabout his vision for the college,but will spend most of his timegetting to know our alumni one-on-one.

Great Food!Mouth-watering Sonny’s Pit Barbeque will be served featuringchicken and pork with all the trimmings.

Great Fun!Special recognition will be given to COE alumni in thesecategories:

Most Dawg-Decked Out - spirited dressMost Dawg-Gone - earliest graduation yearBull-Pup of the Day - youngest childMost Dawged-Tired - longest distance traveledDawg-Gone Grad to be Here - most recent graduate

Homecoming Tailgate Registration

Name: _________________________________________ Class of:_____________ Major: ___________________________

Phone Number: ( ) _____-_________ Guest(s) Names: ___________________________________________________

Indicate how many meals you want to reserve:

Barbeque Plates ______ at $10.00 each = $__________

TOTAL REMITTED = $__________

Make checks payable to The University of Georgia Foundation

To register, fill out and return this registrationform by October 18, 1999 to:

College of Education Alumni Office G-10Aderhold Hall

The University of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia 30602-7101

Meet UGA’s New Basketball Coach Jim HarrickMeet UGA’s new men’s basketball coach Jim Harrick and hear his preview of the upcomingseason. Harrick, who won a national championship as head coach at UCLA in 1995, led RhodeIsland to NCAA Tournament appearances the past two seasons, including a berth in the EliteEight in 1998. He has been a head coach for 19 seasons, including nine at Pepperdine (1979-88),eight at UCLA (1986-96) and two at Rhode Island (1996-98). During those 19 years, his teamshave earned invitations to 14 NCAA Tournaments and two NIT berths. Harrick’s overall headcoaching record is 403-182.

Be sure to enter the drawing for free UGA men’s basketball tickets.

Still need football game tickets? Contact the UGA Athletics Ticket Office at (706) 542-1231.For questions about Homecoming Tailgate ‘99, call (706) 542-1717.

You can find more info on Homecoming weekend events at: http://www.uga.edu/alumni/FallEvents.html.

CLASS NOTESCLASS NOTES

11

1960’sDavid C. Mosely (BSEd ‘65, Health & PE, MED ‘72 SchoolCounseling) has served 34 years in public education, the last fiveas Glynn County School Superintendent. He is retiring in June,1999.

1970’sDenise Jennings (BSEd ‘74 Art Education) is an art teacher andVisual Art Department Chair at Milton High School in FultonCounty.Andrew C. Baumgartner (BSEd ‘76 Speech Pathology andAudiology) was named 1999 National Teacher of the Year by theCouncil of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc., theeducational publishers. Baumgartner will spend a year onpromotional tours as teacher of the year, kicked off with aceremony at the White House on April 19.Deborah A. Healy (BSEd ‘79, Dance Education) is a stockbrokerwith J.C. Bradford in Chamblee.

1980’sClaire Hubbard Mann (BSEd ‘87 English Education) is a 4 th gradeteacher in Gwinnett County School System. She and her hus-band, Jack, are proud parents of a son, born October, 1998.Nandra L. Miller (BSEd ‘88 Early Childhood Education) is apreschool teacher at Andover Country Day School in Alpharetta.Penni Paradise (BSEd ‘88, Middle School Education) is teachingat Greene-Taliaferro Middle School and Head Cheerleading Coachfor Greene-Taliaferro High School. She is currently working onher master’s degree at UGA.

1990’sMeghan Keally Gaskill (BSEd ‘92 Educational Psychology) isAssistant Director of Alumnae Affairs for Agnes Scott College.J. Randy McGinnis (PhD ‘92 Science Education), assistantprofessor, University of Maryland, was the recipient of a nationalresearch award presented by the National Association forResearch in Science Teaching that recognizes outstandingperformance and continuing potential in science educationresearch performed by a researcher during the five-year periodsince earning a doctoral degree.Margaret A. Trevathan (BSEd ‘92 Health Education) has recentlymoved to Hawaii after finishing work in Alaska as communitycoordinator for PATCH, Planned Approach to Community Health.James T. McRaney (Music Education ‘93) is Director of ConcertChoir, Reinhardt College.Christina Sheperd Rochan (BSEd ‘93 Early Childhood Education)is Music Department Manager at Chick Piano in Athens, GA.Lynda R. Flage (PhD ‘95 Science Education) is assistant professorat Piedmont College.Patricia W. William (EdD ‘96 Curriculum and Instruction)teaches at the Phoenix Alternative School in Atlanta PublicSchools. She recently completed “Teaching Humanities in aMedia Age,” an innovative program that teaches high schoolteachers how to improve their classes by incorporating mediaanalysis and media production into their classroom instruction.The program was part of the Summer Institute at Clark Universityin Maryland.Jennifer Renee Wallpe Lewis (BSEd ‘97) is a 5 th grade teacher atLittle River Elementary in Cherokee County.Wendy Naylor (BSEd ‘97) is teaching and coaching at AthensAcademy.

What’s New With You?

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Your promotions, professional activities, honors, and community service are an important part of theEducation news. Complete this form and return it to the College of Education Alumni Office, G-10Aderhold Hall, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.

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EDUCATION

DeanLouis A. Castenell, Jr.

Outreach AdministratorDonna Q. Butler

EditorMichael Childseditor@coe.uga.edu

Layout DesignCharles Connorcconnor@coe.uga.eduTroy Bassetttbassett@coe.uga.edu

Educationis published by the:

Office of OutreachCollege of EducationG-2 Aderhold HallThe University of GeorgiaAthens, GA 30602-7101

Phone: (706) 542-3002FAX: (706) 542-0360

FALL SEMESTER 1999

SEPTEMBER22 Fall Faculty Meeting

23 Noon -1pm. MulticulturalEducation Seminar. “Themesand Tensions in MulticulturalResearch and Practice”

OCTOBER14 3:30-4:30pm. MulticulturalEducation Seminar. “GraduateExperiences of African Ameri-can Students on PredominatelyWhite Campuses”

22 4pm. Torrance Lecture

23 COE Homecoming Tailgate.

NOVEMBER7-9 The League of Profes-sional School Annual FallConference. Savannah Marriott

18-20 8pm. YoungChoreographer’s SeriesSenior Concert. New DanceTheatre

DECEMBER7-8 Summit on SchoolViolence. Speaker: Gov. RoyBarnes

11-12 Saturday 8pm; Sunday2pm. UGA Ballet Ensembleand Athens SymphonyOrchestra’s ChristmasConcert. Classic Center

17 1 and 4pm. Fall Convoca-tions. Performing Arts Center

SPRING SEMESTER 2000

JANUARY6-8 Annual Conference onQualitative Research inEducation. Georgia Center

27-29 8pm. Concert DanceCompany. Fine Arts Theatre

FEBRUARY24-26 8pm. UGA BallroomPerformance Group. NewDance Theatre

MARCH23-25 8pm. CORE ConcertDance Company’s SpringCollection. New Dance Theatre

24-25 The Annual Conferenceon Children’s Literature. Dept ofLanguage Ed. Georgia Center

APRIL13-16 “La Bayadere,” UGABallet Ensemble. New DanceTheatre

MAY12 1 & 4pm. Spring Convo-cations. Performing Arts Center

COE News Onlinewww.coe.uga.edu/coenews

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College of Education 1999 - 2000 Calendar

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