Our Online Master in Education (MEd) Program and the undergraduate Special Education Program were ranked 14th and 24th in the nation, respectively, by GradReports. This selection was based upon GradReports methodology of matching a student’s debt upon graduation to the median salary of graduates.

Thank you to our very own Miranda Hein for working so tirelessly alongside your fellow artists to educate, support and pave the way for the next generation of dreamers and creators. Truly, their gifts and interests should be nurtured and you help empower young artists with opportunity. To learn more about Miranda and her colleagues’ work in the arts, please read this article from聽 the Inlander.

Every November the National Council of Teachers of English hosts a convention where thousands of educators, experts, authors, administrators, publishers, and more travel to Baltimore, Maryland to attend workshops, listen to keynote speakers, make presentations, etc.

For the past four years, professor Shelly Shaffer has had the honor of taking a few of her students as presenters for the convention’s round table event “The Future is Now: Exploring 21st-Century Teaching Ideas with the Next Generation of English Teachers”

Each table has different roundtable presentations that explore 21st-century teaching ideas and research-driven pedagogical practices. Students put together a 10-12 minute presentation across a broad spectrum of categories and this year Kilee Wilson and Alison LaFrance presented Picture Books Past the Primary Grades聽and Autumn “Zoe” Romero presented聽Going Bare Bones: Double the Language, Double the Fun.

Going to the NCTE conference was a truly amazing experience! …I was completely immersed in literacy for the entire week… I learned new strategies to teach reading and writing that I cannot wait to use in my future classroom.

-Alison LaFrance

Student Stories: A look back at their experience

Alison LaFrance:

I would have to say that going to the NCTE conference was a truly amazing experience! A once in a lifetime experience that I am extremely grateful for. At this conference, I was completely immersed in literacy for the entire week, which was absolutely amazing. At the various sessions I attended, I learned new strategies to teach reading and writing that I cannot wait to use in my future classroom with my future students.

Additionally, having the opportunity to meet so many different authors was truly the icing on the cake. Meeting them to me made their stories so much more real and

personable. For example, after meeting John Green and hearing he had similar struggles and mental issues as me in middle school, it changed how I view him and his novels. These authors that we idolize are normal people just like you and me but have the artistic ability to create beautiful literature.

I even had the opportunity to present on a topic I am passionate about (Picture Books Past the Primary Grades) with my fellow colleague and friend Kilee Wilson. We have even been asked to publish our research and present it to other college classes through Zoom. Being able to present reminded me that although I am still young and new to the education world, I still have valuable ideas that are important.

Overall, I am so thrilled to have gone to Baltimore and attend this conference. Being surrounded by other literacy lovers made the experience as a whole amazing. Being around people that have the same passion as you helps drive that passion. That is what happened to me. Coming home, I have an even larger love for literacy, I just want to read, and I cannot wait to teach my future students in ways I learned that will help grow their love of literacy too.

I am forever grateful for this opportunity, and because of it, I will be a better teacher in the future!

Kilee Wilson:

As a literacy elementary education major, I spend a lot of time reading books, working with kids and collaborating with other pre-service teachers. When I first heard of The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference a year and a half ago, I knew I had to be a part of it during my senior year. After all, what educator doesn’t like to mingle with other educators and make new friends all while learning?!

From the beginning my partner, Alison, and I made a plan to present; and we worked hard and made this small adventure happen! It was a lot of late, late nights, extra research and endless amounts of time; nevertheless, we made it! On November 20th we landed in Baltimore, Maryland and were more than ready to take on NCTE! It was six long days of tired feet and happy smiles, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way! I personally had so many takeaways there is not time nor space to write them all down! The biggest and most important takeaways of this conference for me were: the allotted time to work with other educators and participate in group discussions, time to listen to authors speak and the platform to build a network for my future career. In addition, I also received hundreds of new books, of all levels, for my future classroom…at zero cost!

I went into this conference knowing that it would change my outlook on education, but little did I know what a lasting impact it would really leave on me personally. I can not say enough great things about the people I met, the experiences I had and the new ideas I walked away with. I can only hope that at one point in all educators’ careers that they will be able to attend NCTE. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Shelly Shaffer presented me over a year ago. I am forever grateful for the support of my department, my school, and my family. Without their financial help and their dedication I would not have had the pleasure to speak at the Future is Now session or even attend NCTE at all. I am very thankful for the opportunity and I look forward to attending next year as a first-year teacher!

Frances B. Huston Award Winners

Every year seven students are chosen by each of CALE鈥檚 seven departments as the recipients of the Frances B. Huston Medallion. The Frances B. Huston Award is awarded to graduating seniors who have achieved academic excellence (3.75 or higher GPA) and have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities at Eastern and/or in the community.

These are the Huston Award recipients from CALE for 2017-18:

Art

Joel Gaytan with Faculty Escort Mr. Roger Ralston

Education

Kelsey McCune with Faculty Escort Assistant Professor Gus Nollmeyer

English

Tania Nunez-Guzman with Faculty Escort Professor Rachel Toor

Modern Languages and Literatures

Jeremiah Serrell with Faculty Escort Professor Chris Kirby

Music

Wyatt Wireman with Faculty Escort Professor John Marshall

Physical Education, Health and Recreation

Erin Locke with Faculty Escort Assistant Professor Carri Kreider

Theatre and Film

Mica Pointer with Faculty Escort Senior Lecture Jeff Sanders

Dean鈥檚 Excellence Award Winners and Faculty Mentors

Celebrating excellence in student contributions, achievements, faculty inspiration, and student mentorship, the Dean鈥檚 Student Excellence Award is awarded to outstanding graduating seniors who have demonstrated distinguished excellence and achievements within their department, the college, university and the community.

These are the 2017-2018 Dean鈥檚 Excellence Award Winners and their mentors:

Art

Student Olivia Evans with Faculty Mentor Associate Professor Jenny Hyde

Education

Student Sunshine Hunt with Faculty Mentor Assistant Professor Allison Wilson

Student Taylor McDevitt with Faculty Mentor Assistant Professor Allison Wilson

贰苍驳濒颈蝉丑听

Student Katelyn Domitrovich with Faculty Mentor Professor Johnathan Johnson

Student Aubrey Hamilton with Faculty Mentor Assistant Professor Sean Agriss

Modern Languages and Literatures

Student Annsley Buller with Faculty Mentor Assistant Professor Miguel Novella

Student Rachel Musser and Faculty Mentor Associate Professor Gina Petrie

Music

Student Brenden Bachaud with Faculty Mentor Julia Salerno

Physical Education, Health and Recreation

Student Emily Dunston with Faculty Mentor Assistant Professor Katie Taylor

Student Naomi Eastland with Faculty Mentor Associate Professor Garth Babcock

Theatre and Film

Student Austin Hobbs with Faculty Mentor Assistant Professor Elisha Miranda

CALE Excellence Award Winners

These individuals embody the college鈥檚 mission and values. The purpose of the six college awards is to recognize and commend outstanding faculty and staff who have put forth the extraordinary commitment to represent their department, the college, and the university.

Classified and Exempt Excellence Award

Ms. Kate Peterson from Get Lit!

Faculty Teaching Excellence Award

Professor Gus Nollmeyer from the Education Department

Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activities Excellence Award

Professor Kathryn Baldwin from the Education Department

Faculty Service Excellence Award

Professor Natalia Ruiz-Rubio from the Modern Languages and Literatures Department

Team Excellence Award

Education Department

Campus Partner Excellence Award

Office of Grants and Research Development

Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus is awarded to a professor upon retirement in recognition of their excellence in teaching, intellectual contributions, and service to the University, College, and Department throughout the professor’s career at the university.

Professor Sally Winkle

Modern Languages and Literatures Department & Women’s and Gender Studies

Professor Jane Liu

Education Department

Professor Philip Weller

English Department

The Early Childhood Education concentration prepares educators for leadership roles in grades P-3, public and private schools, as well as public agencies such as Head Start, or childcare centers.

The Literary concentration prepares graduates for a P-12 reading endorsement, as well as a number of roles, including classroom teacher with enhanced skills in literacy instruction and reading specialist.

The Curriculum and Instruction concentration provides preparation for lead teacher roles as well as building-level positions that involve curriculum planning or instructional design.

The Adult Education concentration readies graduates for post-secondary educational settings, including vocational or GED programs, corporate and nonprofit organizations, or military training programs. Some graduates teach in community colleges or serve as university adjuncts.

The Educational Leadership concentration has two pathways: one to prepare a graduate for certification as a principal and another to prepare for school leadership roles such as department head or curriculum coach.

The Principal Certificate Program prepares educators who already have a master’s degree to become effective school leaders, whether as principal, assistant principal or program administrator. Based on state and national standards, the program satisfies the requirements set by the Washington State Department of Public Instruction.

Working educators can earn a first-rate MEd or Principal Certificate while continuing to work and keep personal commitments.