September 27, 2016

Volume 33, Issue 1

September 27, 2016

Volume 32, Issue 1

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD

Department of Educational Leadership

Dr. Kerry Cox is currently a dedicated superintendent, wife to her husband Steve, and mother of two

twin sons, Carter and Caleb. Dr. Cox is in her 30th year in the educational field at Carrollton CUSD #1

in Carrollton, Illinois. For many years, she has had a true passion for learning and teaching. Dr. Cox

is an alum of Illinois College in Jacksonville and Western Illinois University in Macomb. She is also an

alum of the University of Illinois at Springfield where she received her principal and superintendent

endorsements, and Illinois State University where she completed her doctoral studies.

The world depends on people like Dr. Cox to assist in enhancing our educational needs, and it is with

great thanks to education that we are more knowledgeable about how the world works. We’d like to

hope all education professionals are in the business for the right reason, but I have no doubt that

Dr. Cox is a great example of a true leader in the field. After speaking with her, I found that her title goes a long way and her

desire to help better the education of others is more than genuine.

Dr. Cox says she has always loved school and learning, and has had great role models in the past. As a classroom teacher,

Dr. Cox was lucky enough to have had many experiences in leadership roles, especially in district leadership. While remaining

teachable herself, Dr. Cox absolutely loves seeing children and adults learn. She was a teacher for two school districts; a

principal in two school districts; overseeing five buildings. These experiences are what have kept her on this career path.

Dr. Cox explained that the value of hard work and always doing her best was instilled in her at a very young age by family. For

this reason, she feels well prepared in her role as superintendent. Dr. Cox is sociable and enjoys interacting with people which

is great being that she’s in a people business. In terms of her everyday decision making processes, she says “… if you’re always

doing what’s best for the kids, you can’t go wrong.” Dr. Cox prioritizes making the best decisions possible that will benefit

children most.

Recently, Dr. Cox has been faced with the challenge of having to deal with financial matters within the district – those of which

she doesn’t have any control over. She believes it is important to be open and honest with people at all times. Dr. Cox states “It

was gut-wrenching knowing that kids lack education due to financial situations.” She also feels that it is her duty to protect kids

from the politics of such situations as much as possible.

Dr. Cox spoke on another major challenge she’s had to deal with. She expresses that many of the students have had such

traumatic experiences at young ages. Dr. Cox feels the best way to deal with these situations is to provide a safe and

welcoming learning environment for all individuals. She also feels faculty should try having the empathy to “walk a mile in the

shoes of these children,” and seeing things from their perspective.

Dr. Cox’s advice for students going into leadership roles is “… hard work and perseverance are as important as ever. No one’s

issue is too small or unimportant.” She strongly believes that teamwork is the aspect to success. She states that no one role is

more important than the other. Dr. Cox believes it is essential that others try “walking a mile in everyone’s shoes,” and

understanding everyone’s role within the organization. She then says “Be yourself and remember that we are in a people

business.” Dr. Cox states that it is important to build positive relationships within the workplace to provide good opportunities

for the kids.

Dr. Cox strongly suggests that teaching is one of the most challenging roles an individual can have. “I am blessed to have such

great individuals working with our students every day.” says Dr. Cox. Though Dr. Cox is a superintendent, she still considers

herself to be a teacher at heart because she’s always teaching at some level. Dr. Cox mentions the most important work faculty

does is inside the walls of every classroom, and it is important to reflect on that each and every day.

By AMBER HARITOS

Page 2

A Message from the Chair

Dear Students:

We hope your fall semester is going well and that you are “gearing up” to register for the spring 2017

semester! Whether you are a new or continuing candidate in the program, we want to emphasize our

commitment in offering a quality academic and professional experience in your degree or certification

program. Our faculty have an extensive background in the area of leadership to offer you the best

teaching in our field.

We ask you to meet with your academic advisor this semester to be sure your degree or certification plan

is on-track. If you do not know your advisor, please go to the department office in Brookens 377 and

speak to Jennifer May or send her an email at jmay2@uis.edu. In addition, we would like for each of you to

serve as an EDL ambassador. Please talk to your colleagues and encourage them to call us about the

graduate programs and endorsements we offer.

Please do not hesitate to email or call your advisor for a meeting this semester.

Sincerely,

Scott L. Day, Ed. D.

Professor and Chair

Department of Educational Leadership

Fall 2016 Graduating

Students

Submit the online graduation

application via student self-service

(apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice — “Graduation”

tab) by October 3, 2016.

Fill out the Graduation Signature Form, have

your advisor sign it and drop the completed

form off at the EDL office.

For additional information, please visit

uis.edu/registration/graduation or contact

the Office of Records and Registration

(registrar@uis.edu) or (217) 206—7730.

Approval Request Reminder

Have your EDL 526 Internship Experience I,

and EDL 531 Masters Capstone I Approval

Request Forms turned into Jennifer May, BRK

377, by the end of October if you wish to have

these classes for the Spring semester.

Seats fill up fast so please complete this as

soon as possible so you will be able to register

in November.

Forms can be found on the EDL website at

(www.uis.edu/edl/) under the “Forms” tab or

in the box by the office door (BRK 377).

Registration begins on November 1, 2016.

Students may register via student self-service

(apps.uillinois.edu/selfservice — “Registration”

tab).

Please meet with your advisors before this

date to keep track of your course plan.

Registration is open until January, but do act

quickly before your ideal classes fill up or are

dropped because of low enrollment.

For additional questions, please contact the

Office of Records and Registration

(registrar@uis.edu) or (217) 206—7730.

CHECK IT OUT !!!

EDL Department Website: http://www.uis.edu/edl/

MAE Department Website:

MAE Blog: http://blogs.uis.edu/mae/

Page 3

New Teacher Requirement !!!

*Law went into effect July 1, 2014*

If you have any general administrative endorsement (supervisory endorsement, lead teacher endorsement, general administration en-

dorsement, and principal endorsement) on your license but do not use the endorsement during the five year cycle, you will be required to

complete one administrative academy course during your five year renewal cycle.

This goes into effect when you have renewed your license under the new law. This currently affects only those that have renewed as of

July 2014 or July 2015. If you are up to renew in 2016, 2017, or 2018, you will have five years from that date to complete this require-

ment.

The ROE is currently working on developing an administrative academy specifically for those teachers that would qualify. Since this will

affect many teachers, they hope to offer these academies in the summer or in the evening. At this time they ask that you do not register

for an academy until they have those specific academies in place sometime this summer. Remember, the earliest this should affect some-

one will be those renewing in July 2019.

Faculty Scholarship Highlights

Cook, V.S., Gribbins, M, Schroeder, R. (November, 2016). Emerging Technologies. Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate Confer-

ence, Orlando, FL.

Cook, V.S. (August 2016). Cultivating a “Nexter” Culture. Texas Wesleyan University. Dallas, TX. Invited Presentation.

Cook, V.S. (Ross, S. – translator). (July 2016). Invited Keynote and conference leader. Improving Learning and Motivation. 2016 IBAAN

School Professional Development Conference. Invited presentation. Mexico City, Mexico.

Cook, V.S. (June 2016). Post Conference Leader. Institutional Use of Hallmarks of Excellence in Online Leadership. UPCEA Online Leader-

ship Summit. Washington, D.C.

Cook, V. S., & Stoner, G. (2016). Continuing Education Divisions as Impact Agents in Online Initiatives. Evolution.

James, S., Swan, K., & Daston, C. (2016). Retention, progression, and the taking of online courses. Online Learning Journal 20(2).

Swan, K. (2016). The Community of Inquiry framework, blended learning, and the i2Flex Classroom model. In Avgerinou, M. D., & Gialamas,

S. Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i2Flex Classroom Model. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Moore, M. G., Reeves, T. & Swan, K. (August, 2016). Conversation with scholars about international distance education. Madison, WI: Wis-

consin Distance Education Conference.

Anderson, R., James, S., Little, R., & Swan, K. (June, 2016). Learning versus learner analytics: Can we combine the two (plenary panel). At-

lanta, GA: Southeast Educational Data Symposium.

Swan, K. (2016). The Community of Inquiry framework, blended learning, and the i2Flex Classroom model. In Avgerinou, M. D., & Gialamas,

S. Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i2Flex Classroom Model. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Swan, K. (August, 2016). Publishing in Online Learning. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Distance Education Conference.

Volume 32, Issue 1

Illinois Principal Association Conference

Monday, October 17— Wednesday, October 18

Prairie Capital Convention Center

1 Convention Center Plaza

Springfield, IL 62701

Illinois Education and Technical Conference

Wednesday, November 16—Friday, November 18

Crowne Plaza Hotel

3000 S Dirksen Parkway

Springfield, IL 62703

October 14, 2016, Friday – Fall Break

October 15, 2016, Saturday – Mid-Point

October 17, 2016, Monday – Last-Half Classes Begin

October 19, 2016, Wednesday (Noon) – Mid-Term Grading Deadline

November 24-25, 2016, Thursday-Friday – Thanksgiving Recess

December 3, 2016, Saturday – Last Day of Classes

December 5-10, 2016, Monday-Saturday – Finals Week

December 10, 2016, Saturday – Semester Ends

December 14, 2016, Wednesday (Noon) – Final Grading Deadline

January 16, 2017, Monday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Campus Closed

January 17, 2017, Tuesday – Full-Term and First-Half Classes Begin

March 11, 2017, Saturday – Mid-Point

March 13-17, 2017, Monday-Friday – Spring Recess

March 15, 2017, Wednesday (Noon) – Mid-Term Grading Deadline

March 20, 2017, Monday – Last-Half Classes Begin

May 6, 2017, Saturday – Last Day of Classes

May 8-13, 2017, Monday-Saturday – Finals Week

May 13, 2017, Saturday – Semester Ends/Commencement

May 17, 2017, Wednesday (Noon) – Final Grading Deadline

June 5, 2017, Monday – Full-Term and First-Half Classes Begin

July 1, 2017, Saturday – Mid-Point

July 3, 2017, Monday – Last-Half Classes Begin

July 4, 2017, Tuesday – Independence Day, Campus Closed

July 29, 2017, Saturday – Semester Ends

One University Plaza, MS BRK 377

Springfield, IL 62703-5407

Phone: (217) 206-7516

Fax: (217) 206-6494

Email: masterinedu@uis.edu

One University Plaza, MS BRK 377

Springfield, Illinois 62703-5407

Phone: (217) 206-6306

Fax: (217) 206-6494

E-mail: edl@uis.edu

Enrollment increases at the University of Illinois

Springfield for Fall Semester 2016.

University of Illinois Springfield campus during the fall

season.