#ExceptionalityPrograms

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BU names new Dean of the College of Education

Bloomsburg University’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Diana Rogers-Adkinson, has officially named Daryl Fridley as the university’s Dean of the College of Education. 

Fridley comes to Bloomsburg with nearly 30 years of experience in public education, including the last 13 years at Southeast Missouri State University. He started at Southeast Missouri State as a faculty member in the Department of History and coordinator of the Social Studies Education program. During that stage of his career, he oversaw a significant revision of the program and also helped the program gain national recognition from the National Council for the Social Studies. Fridley also assisted students in creating a student group for social studies majors.

In 2013 he was named associate dean in what was then the College of Education and is now known as the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with the dedicated, creative, and passionate staff and faculty in the BU College of Education,” said Fridley. “It’s an honor to become a part of the university’s long tradition of preparing excellent educators for the region.”

As associate dean at Southeast Missouri, Fridley coordinated and oversaw all aspects of the Educator Preparation Program, including certification, curriculum alignment, field experiences, assessment, and accreditation. Under his leadership, the program developed an annual program review process, revised nearly all programs to align with new state guidelines, achieved CAEP accreditation in the spring of 2018, and, most recently, earned a renewal of its status as an Apple Distinguished School.

“Dr. Fridley brings a wealth of diverse experiences to the dean’s position,” said Rogers-Adkinson. “He is wholly committed to student success, and his innovative ideas and collaborative spirit will make him an effective leader in the college.”

While he has focused much of his attention on the internal workings of university educator preparation programs, Fridley’s career is defined by a commitment to the power of collaboration. Working with colleagues across Missouri and in the Missouri state department, he co-led an effort that resulted in the creation of an innovative assessment system for educator preparation programs. He was also instrumental in the construction of a state-wide student teaching assessment and worked to develop meaningful partnerships with P-12 schools. That partnership led to the creation of a year-long internship program that began in the fall of 2019.

Fridley also served as the acting chair for the Department of Leadership, Middle, and Secondary Education and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

He spent the first half of his career teaching in P-12 schools in Georgia, New Mexico, and Missouri. Inspired by challenges he encountered in schools, Fridley applied for and was awarded a Morris Doctoral Fellowship to study at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He earned his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in 2006. He earned a B.A. in secondary education and social studies from Anderson University in 1989 and an M.A. in history from Southeast Missouri State University in 1999.

Fridley is also the proud parent to adult children, Olivia and Rowan,  who live in St. Louis, Mo. Prior to Fridley’s arrival at BU, Darlene Perner, professor of exceptionality programs, had been serving as the College of Education’s interim dean.

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Exceptionalities faculty member presents workshops in India

Bloomsburg University assistant professor Carolyn Reid-Brown from the Department of Exceptionality Programs developed and presented two workshops for special education teachers in Mumbai, India in June.

Reid-Brown was in India as part of the Pennsylvania Global Education and Business Hub (Penn Hub) international partnership agreement, an initiative between the state of Pennsylvania and the government of India that serves as a recruitment tool for Pennsylvania institutions. The program also creates opportunities for faculty from participating universities to conduct workshops, summer schools as well as virtual sessions for students and teachers in Mumbai and Bangalore, India.

Last month, BU partnered with the Aditya Birla Education Academy to conduct two professional development workshops for special educators in Mumbai, India. The workshops were developed and delivered by Reid-Brown. Due to the success of the Mumbai workshops, requests have been made to conduct other workshops in states across India.

The workshops focused on ethical principles of practice in special education and early intervention strategies and implementation, and the fundamentals of assessment and instruction.

Pictured (L-R): Sara Tours, assistant professor, Slippery Rock University; Lata Punetha, business development and marketing manager, Aditya Birla Education Academy; Prodipta Hore, program director, Aditya Birla Education Academy; Carolyn Reid-Brown, assistant professor, Bloomsburg University; Carol Sanil, admissions and communication manager, Aditya Birla Education Academy; and Surabhi Goel, CEO, Aditya Birla Education Academy.

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Women’s History Month Young Alumna Profile

Becky Pierce ’14, Early Childhood Education/Special Education 

Becky Pierce works for the Milton Area School District as a special education teacher at Montandon Elementary School. She serves as their Learning and Emotional Support teacher in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.

Pierce is a 2014 Bloomsburg University graduate with a bachelor of science degree in education where she studied early childhood education (Pk-4)/special education (Pk-8) with a certification in English as a second language (ESL). She was very involved on campus and was in multiple organizations. Shewas a member of the Husky Ambassadors, Board of Governors, Student-Pennsylvania State Education Association (S-PSEA), Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Luminaria Chair for Colleges Against Cancer (CAC), Program Director for Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC), a volunteer at the Bloomsburg Children's Museum, and a student worker for the financial aid office.

After graduation, she joined the AmeriCorps with Teach For America and taught in Williamsburg County, S.C., as a special education teacher for two years. There, she earned her master's degree from Francis Marion University in instructional accommodations in education. In 2018, she also completed BU’s special education supervisory program.

What motivated you to get into teaching?

I was motivated to get into teachingbecause I wanted to make a difference in the lives of future generations. I especially got into special education, because I wanted to work with students with disabilities and help motivate, encourage, and inspire others to see these students' unique ability in the classroom.

What do you love about your job?

I love when I am teaching a group of students that are struggling on a particulartopic or skill and suddenly the "light bulb" goes off and you see their eyes brighten that show "they got it!" There is nothing more special in the classroom when this moment happens.

Who have been your female role models?

My female role model is my mom. She has been the biggest supporter and has helped guide me through this journey called life. She is always the first person I call when I'm having a bad day. She alwayshas the right things to say or is always encouraging me to keep going. Now that I am a mom, I can only hope that I am half the mom she is.

Advice for young females going out looking for that first job?

My advice for young females going out looking for that first job is to be passionate about what you do. If your passion and personality come through in an interview, sometimes that can make all the difference!

If you could go back, what advice would you give to undergrad Becky?

If I could go back in time, the advice I would give myself would be,"Life is unpredictable in so many ways and things won't always go your way, but never give up!" Perseverance is keyin the world of life. When things don't go your way andyou get knocked down, get back up and keep going.  

What do you enjoy most about your current position?

The school I teach in right now has about 130 students andI have 10students on my caseload. The students I teachhave a wide range of abilities and strengths they bring to the classroom. In my current position, I love having a small group of students that I can work with on specificskills that they need extra support on. Like I said before, "I love when you start working on something with a student they may struggle on and they eventually just get it." In my opinion, It's the best thing about being an educator!

Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?

In five years, I see myself continuing to become a better special education teacher for my students. I am always trying to find ways to improve my teaching skills to be the best teacher possible. In ten years, I see myself being an administrator or a special education director for an intermediate unit or school district.

What prompted you to want to come back for the CATCH Conference?

I came back for the CATCH Conference to offer my advice, knowledge, and experience as an educator. I got so much out of attending conferences and workshops like these during my time at BU and I feel like coming back and doing the same for future educators would be a great opportunity.

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College of Education receives national recognition

Several of Bloomsburg University’s College of Education academic programs have been Nationally Recognized or Nationally Recognized with Conditions by each program’s specialized professional association.

The reviews are rigorous evaluations based on each program’s alignment to the specific standards of their association and six to eight assessments demonstrating this alignment. To receive national recognition, teacher candidates in the program must successfully meet or exceed expectations through the evaluation and analysis of performance rubrics. Establishing assessments, creating rubrics, analyzing data, and writing the final report were done by a lead faculty members for each program.

Receiving National Recognition are:

Reading and Reading Specialist (graduate program) by the International Reading Association—Lead: Cherie Roberts

Secondary Education Citizenship (7-12) (undergraduate program) by the National Council for the Social Studies—Lead: Michael Ruffini

Special Education (undergraduate program) by the Council for Exceptional Children—Lead: Brooke Lylo

Secondary Mathematics Education (7-12) (undergraduate program) by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics—Lead: Frank D’Angelo

Receiving National Recognition with Conditions are:

Middle-Level Education (4-8) (undergraduate) by the Association for Middle-Level Education—Lead: Frank D’Angelo

Secondary English Education (7-12) (undergraduate) National Council of Teachers of English—Lead: Beth Rogowsky and Craig Young

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CATCH draws nearly 50 hiring school districts 

Bloomsburg University’s College of Education in collaboration with Professional U hosted its annual Collaborating to Assist Teacher Candidate Hiring (CATCH) Conference for nearly 130 current student teachers. More than 100 education professionals representing 45 school districts — some as far away as Alaska — were on hand recruiting the soon-to-be graduates.  

In addition, the conference offered a morning panel with administrators followed by three tracks of alumni teacher panels that focused on early childhood/elementary, middle level and the secondary level. 

“The seminar leading up to the recruitment utilized respectable and knowledgeable personnel with helpful insight to what possible placements are looking for,” said Russell Watkins, an early childhood education major.

Students then prepared for the Education Expo through round table discussions, covering "How to 'sell' your experience to recruiters." Education majors represented the following certification areas: secondary education, early childhood/elementary education, middle school level, special education, deaf education, business education, and music education.  

“All school districts are different, and you as an educator need to find what will best suit you,” said Alyssa Lopatka, a secondary education major.

The CATCH Conference and the Education Expo are held during spring break since it’s the midpoint for most student teachers as they transition from their first placement to their second placement. The transition day provides an opportunity to offer a professional development day for all student teachers.

“I enjoyed being able to speak with the different panelists and hear from the superintendents and principals from nearby districts,” said Ryan Soley, a secondary education major. “I thought the entire day went smoothly and the job fair was very helpful.”

  — Katie Behie, marketing major 

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Since 2011 the Trinity House has been the epicenter of a unique relationship between Bloomsburg University students and adults with disabilities, where as neighbors the two groups regularly socialize in a living and learning environment that’s possibly the first project of its type in the nation.

As a collaborative endeavor developed by parents, BU and Columbia County Corporation the Trinity Project addressed a critical need for housing and creative support for adults with disabilities. The plan involved the conversion of the former Trinity Church into housing units for adults with disabilities along with student housing in two adjacent homes.

Department of Exceptionality Programs

Bloomsburg University's Department of Exceptionality Programs offers several options for undergraduate and graduate study, including ample opportunities for classroom and field-based study and experiences through partnerships with area schools, intermediate units, organizations, and community events.

Through the College of Education's Conceptual Framework vision, the Department of Exceptionality Programs develops students into transforming educators and interpreters who not only effectively manage constant change but also meet the individualized needs of their future students and adults.

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Bridget Klein, instructor of exceptionality programs, ASL and deaf culture, was recently chosen to display a piece of her artwork, "Free Spirit," at the Dyer Arts Center at National Technical Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology.

De ‘VIA is short for Deaf View / Image Arts. Viva DeVIA was an exhibition celebrating 25 years since the birth of DeVIA. In 1989 eight Deaf artists gathered for a four day workshop. There they collaborated on the De’VIA manifesto, defining Deaf culture art that represents Deaf artists along with their perceptions based on their Deaf experiences. 

"Speech therapy is all about control and precision. Growing up in speech therapy I felt my spirit was constricted and I lacked freedom. This photo represents my personal revolution against the constraints of speech therapy, the controlled, gentle breathing is exchanged for the wild and carefree beauty of using every ounce of air in my lungs to scatter milkweed seeds and sow my freedom in the earth," - Bridget Klein.

[bloomsburgu]

Since 2011 the Trinity House has been the epicenter of a unique relationship between Bloomsburg University students and adults with disabilities, where as neighbors the two groups regularly socialize in a living and learning environment that’s possibly the first project of its type in the nation. As a collaborative endeavor developed by parents, BU and Columbia County Corporation the Trinity Project addressed a critical need for housing and creative support for adults with disabilities. The plan involved the conversion of the former Trinity Church into housing units for adults with disabilities along with student housing in two adjacent homes.

Department of Exceptionality Programs

Bloomsburg University's Department of Exceptionality Programs offers several options for undergraduate and graduate study, including ample opportunities for classroom and field-based study and experiences through partnerships with area schools, intermediate units, organizations, and community events.

Through the College of Education's Conceptual Framework vision, the Department of Exceptionality Programs develops students into transforming educators and interpreters who not only effectively manage constant change but also meet the individualized needs of their future students and adults.