To Serve: Community Engagement & Service.
Below listed are creative works and activities I engaged in to serve my discipline, community, MidAmerica Nazarene University, and the students within my department. While each various committees yielded a myriad of good works, collaborating across diverse communities was itself exhilarating and served to increase knowledge and refine my leadership skills.
Scholarly Service: Service to the Discipline of Teacher Preparation
Reflection: The following is a list of discipline-specific organizations I have served over the last five years. Serving on editorial boards, national educator preparation provider (EPP) accreditation teams, statewide school district reviews, and two Kansas Department of Education committees deepened my understanding of children's education's complexities. However, the most rewarding are opportunities to inspire future teachers. Initially established by Dr. Nancy Damron during her service as Dean of the School of Education, our department has continued to partner with two area high schools to host a yearly regional Educators Rising Conference. In addition, the Educators Rising Executive Team recently expanded regional conference efforts, resulting in three regional conferences inspiring a career in teaching across the state.
- Kansas CAEP Training Table Lead, Topeka, KS Fall, 2022
- Kansas Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education (KACCTE),Teaching & Learning CTE Commercial Development, Spring, 2022.
- Kansas State Department of Education Restricted Innovative Program Review Team, Summer, 2022
- Kansas State Department of Education Recruitmentt & Retention Round Table, Summer, 2022
- Kansas Association of Teacher Educators, Presentation Host for Virtual Conference, Spring, 2022
- Kansas State Department of Education Restricted New Program Review Team, Fall, 2021.
- Kansas State Department of Education Restricted Innovative Program Review Team, Fall, 2021
- National CAEP Accreditation Program Review Committee Member, Fall, 2021, Danville, Virginia Site Visit
- Kansas CAEP Program Review Committee Member, Spring, 2021, Atchinson, Kansas Site Visit
- National CAEP Accreditation Program Review Committee Member, Spring, 2021, Texas Site Visit
- Kansas CAEP Program Review Committee Member, Fall, 2020 Lindsborg, Kansas Site Visit
- Kansas Department of Education Horizon Award program Selection Committee Member, Fall, 2020, Topeka, KS.
- Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) Outside Visitation Team (OVT) Spring, 2020 Kansas School for the Blind
- National AAQEP Accreditation Program Review Committee Member, Spring, 2020 Hawaii
- National CAEP Accreditation Program Review Committee Member, Fall, 2020, Kentucky Site Visit
- Educators Rising of Kansas Executive Team, Fall 2019-Present
- Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) Outside Visitation Team (OVT) Spring, 2019-Present Kansas School for the Blind
- The Teacher Educator, National Journal Manuscript Reviewer, 2017-present
- ATE-K Advocate Journal, Editorial Board and Manuscript Reviewer, 2017-present
Scholarly Service: Service to the Educational Community
Reflection: Engagement in community organizations provided opportunities to serve in various leadership positions. Previously mentioned were my state efforts with the Kansas Department of Education, Educators Rising, and as President of the Kansas Association of Teacher Educators. Below is a list of conferences I directed due to my leadership positions over the last five years. Additionally, I supported local school districts as a teaching and leading career pathway advisory board member. I partnered with the Center for Teaching at Johnson County Community College. Each semester, I present in all Introduction to Teaching Courses (Presentations listed in the portfolio's 'TO LEARN' section). Finally, I serve on the board Olathe Boys and Girls Club. This service has increased MNU visibility across the state and supported unit recruitment efforts.
- Educators Rising Regional Conference, EdVenture Awaits, Fall, 2022
- Kansas Teacher of the Year Finalist Selection Committee Member, 2019-2020, 2020-2021
- Kansas Horizon Award Selection Committee Member, 2019-2020, 2020-2021
- KSDE Evaluation Review Committee (ERC) Appointment, Vice-Chair, 2020-Present
- Educators Rising Regional Conference, Cracking the Code to Education’s Future, Fall, 2021
- Educators Rising Regional Virtual Conference Director, ReImagine Education 2020, Fall 2020
- Kansas Association of Teacher Educators, President, 2019-2021
- Kansas Association of Teacher Educators Virtual Conference Director, Fall, 2020
- Kansas Association of Teacher Educators Conference Director, Spring, 2020
- Educators Rising Regional Conference, Edlympics’ Where Champions are Made, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Fall 2019
- Olathe Boys and Girls Club Board Member, 2019-Present
- Blue Valley CAPS Teacher Preparation Program Panel Evaluator, Blue Valley, KS. 2017-Present
- Bonner Springs Teacher Career Pathway Advisory Board, 2019-Present
- KAPCOTE Kansas Association of Private Colleges of Teacher Education, 2019-Present
- Olathe Public Future Educators Advisory Board, 2019-present
- TEACHKC, Collaborative Partnership, 2018-Present
Scholarly Service to MNU: Committees
Reflection: Listed below are the MNU committees upon which I have served. In addition to committee work, I have supported various on-campus events, Scholarship Challenge, New Student Orientation, and presented at various Faculty Development Events (List of presentations located in 'TO LEARN' section of portfolio).
- MNU Advanced KSDE Accreditation Program Report & Virtual Site Visit, Spring 2021
- MNU School of Education Redesign, Commitments, & Strategic Planning, Fall, 2019
- MNU School of Education Recruitment and Retention Plan, Fall, 2019
- MNU Accreditation Case Study Process, Protocol, and Enactment, Fall, 2019
- MNU Assessment Development Processes and Protocol, Spring, 2019
- MNU SOE Continuous Improvement Plan Handbook, Fall, 2020
- MNU Quality Council, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023
- MNU General Education Committee, 2020-Present
- MNU 2020 Celebration of Scholarship Planning Committee, 2019-2020
- MNU Graduate Council Subcommittee Investigating Graduate Load Release, Fall, 2019
- MNU Graduate Council, 2019-2020
- MNU Academic Affairs Cabinet, 2019-2020
- MNU School of Education Chair, 2018-Present
- MNU Teacher Education Department Chair, 2018-Present
- MNU Teacher Education Committee Chair, 2018-Present
- MNU Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees, (Academic Affairs), 2018-2019
- MNU Intercultural Engagement Council, 2018-present
Service to MNU Students: Advising & Mentoring
Reflection: After transitioning to the department chair, I have initiated programs, protocols, and processes to support our department in ensuring a student-centered culture. I collaborated with colleagues to develop our Induction to Matriculation Advising Protocol. This document maps the student experience from when they come to MNU as a freshman to graduation. However, more recently, we expanded the processes to support our graduates/novice teachers and meet accreditation expectations. EPPs must provide evidence of alum maintenance of professional dispositions and their positive impact on P-12 student learning for the first three years of teaching. The Continuance of Care Program Proposal was developed to meet this mandate and support candidates during their most vulnerable time in the profession. This innovative model provides an efficient and cost-effective strategy to meet national and Kansas standard 4.1 expectations and supports the department's commitment to ensuring a powerful and effective teacher in each classroom from day one.Furthermore, it proposes a solution to the current national crisis related to the over 50% attrition rate for educators during the first three years in the classroom. We hope it will increase program marketability, increase the likelihood of future enrollment in professional and graduate programs, and increase MNU's visibility in the community. Teacher education and content faculty supported the proposal unanimously. So we are moving forward with the development the continuing education courses.
- MNU Initial Programs Continuance of Care Program Proposal, Spring, 2022
- MNU Initial Traditional Programs Induction to Matriculation Advising Protocol, Fall, 2021
- MNU Initial Programs Multiple Measures for Measuring Completer Effectiveness Manual, Spring, 2020
- MNU Initial Programs INTASC Aligned Course Design to Ensure Acquisition of Knowledge, Skills & Dispositions, Spring, 2020
- MNU Initial Programs Pioneer Teachers Who Inspire, contest to elevate the profession, Fall, 2019
- MNU Initial Programs Student Advising and Support Process, Protocol & Documentation, Fall, 2019