V I R G I N I A C O M M O N W E A L T H U N I V E R S I T Y

�

V W V

� SOE Alumni Council members (left to right): Lyndsay Durham, M.Ed. ’11; Pam Toliver, M.Ed. ’09; Eleanor Sharp, M.Ed. ’12; Peter Glessman, Post Master’s Cert. ’01 and Mary Allen, B.S. ’80.

� From our SOE family to yours we say, “Thank you for all you do to represent and support the VCU School of Education.”

� The School of Education was well represented at the September 2013 Broad Street Mile event. Students, staff and volunteers including (left to right) Kelly Vasell, Donna Sharits, Michelle Schmitt, Kayla Watts, Stephanie Holt and Chris Crowley made sure the SOE tent was the most fun!

� Past President of the SOE Alumni Council, Dale Kalkofen, M.A.E. ’76 pictured at the July VCU Alumni “Talking on the Terrace” social with her son, Hans Kalkofen B.A. ’12 (left) and Howard Ostergren A.S. ’69 (right).

��VCU Alumni staff with 2011 Teacher of the Year, LaTonya Waller, M.T. ’01, Post Master’s Cert. ’06. Pictured with Ms. Waller are (left to right) Regina Phinizey, B.S. ’82; Larry Powell, B.S. ’85; LaTonya Waller and Clissa England.

Heads up! The VCU School of Education will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014 - 2015. In anticipation of anniversary events, we are asking our alumni to share historical photos, stories or

other items of interest that will help in planning our celebration. For more details on how you can help, please contact Donna Stewart

Sharits (B.G.S. ’96/H&S) at (804) 828-4770 or dssharits@vcu.edu.

VCU Alumni – that’s you!What’s your relationship to your alma mater? We hope you are as fully engaged as you care to be and supporting the VCU School of Education!

VCU Alumni is the umbrella organization over an alliance of alumni constituent organizations including the SOE Alumni Council. VCU Alumni allows graduates to become more closely engaged by choosing primary affiliations such as the SOE Alumni Council and/or additional affiliations.

Here’s how to customize your VCU Alumni membership if you are a current member*:

1. Visit https://www.vcualumni.org2. If you are not a registered user, select

“Register/Log in” to create a website username and password. If you are a registered user, log in.

3. Click the “Select your affiliations” button.4. Select the VCU School of Education’s Alumni

Council “Education Alumni Council” as your primary affiliation.

5. Select as many additional affiliations as you would like.

*If you are not a current, active dues-paying member, select “Join or renew” to activate your membership. If you are a VCU Alumni “Life Member” you should follow the steps listed above and select the VCU School of Education Alumni Council as your primary affiliation.

“When I visited the website, I just continued to select the VCU School of Education all the way through,” said Cheryl C. Magill (M.Ed. ‘81, Ph.D. ‘99), a member of the SOE Alumni Council, “because my VCU allegiance is entirely with the School of Education.”

Dr. Magill recognized that by designating the SOE Alumni Council as the primary affiliation, a portion of the VCU Alumni membership is designated to that organization. The SOE Alumni Council uses these funds to sponsor student events and activities designed to enrich the experience of students, faculty and staff.

“We are grateful to our Alumni Council for all they do to support our students, especially through their fundraising efforts. The Council’s scholarships are especially important because more than half of our students rely on financial assistance,” said Dean Chriss Walther-Thomas.

There are many ways in which our alumni may “reach back” in support of today’s students and faculty. You may:

Select the VCU School of Education’s Alumni Council “Education Alumni Council” as your primary affiliation if you are a dues paying member or life member of VCU Alumni.

Answer the telephone when you are called by one of our VCU Gold Line student workers and make a pledge during our phone-a-thon.

Join the SOE Alumni Council and participate in their many activities. X

Vint

age

phot

o co

urte

sy o

f VCU

Lib

rarie

s Sp

ecia

l Col

lect

ions

and

Arc

hive

s X

�197

2 VC

U Ye

arbo

ok “C

obbl

esto

ne”

From

the

SO

E C

hron

icle

s

�

�

O N T H E M O V E : V C U S c h o o l o f E d u c a t i o n i s a t o p 3 0 p r o g r a m a m o n g A m e r i c a ’s B e s t G r a d u a t e S c h o o l s

�

�Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Jea

n-Ph

ilipp

e Cy

près

.

We’re shaping the future of education, addressing clear gaps and helping the field reach its full potential. We’re creating

the classroom of tomorrow, and we’re making it real.

Edwin Achola (Ph.D. ’13), assistant

professor, California State University

College of Education, Long Beach,

California

Dana Bost (Ph.D. ’09), assistant

superintendent, Houston Independent

School District, Houston, Texas

Kevin Bruny (M.Ed. ’91), director and

chief learning officer, Chesterfield

County Center for Organizational

Excellence, Chesterfield, Virginia

Boo Corrigan (M.Ed. ‘11), director

of athletics, U.S. Military Academy

Athletics, West Point, New York

S. Dallas Dance (M.Ed.’02, Ph.D.’07),

superintendent, Baltimore County

Public Schools, Towson, Maryland

Allyson Drake (M.Ed. ‘02), named by

Style Weekly as a 2012 Top 40 Under

40 leader; founder and executive

director of Full Circle, a grief resource

center, Richmond, Virginia

Michael Gamel-McCormick (Ph.D.

’95), disability and education policy

analyst, U.S. Senate Health, Education,

Labor and Pensions Committee,

University of Delaware, Newark,

Delaware

John Hunter (B.S. ’77), named as

the first Martin Institute for Teaching

Excellence fellow for creating “The

World Peace Game,” gifted resource

teacher, Albemarle County Public

Schools, Charlottesville, Virginia

Laura Lay (M.Ed. ’99), vice president,

Virginia Council for the Social Studies,

Chesterfield County, Virginia

Richard Mohn (Ph.D. ’07), associate

professor, Department of Educational

Studies and Research, The University

of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg,

Mississippi

Kerry Robinson (Ph.D. ’13), assistant

professor, University of Tennessee

College of Education, Health, and Human

Sciences, Knoxville, Tennessee

Javaid Siddiqi (Ph.D. ’12), secretary of

education, Commonwealth of Virginia,

Richmond, Virginia

Benjamin Snyder (M.Ed/MBA ’13),

director of corporate development for

the World Police and Fire Games,

Fairfax, Virginia

LaTonya Waller (MT ’01), 2011 Virginia

Teacher of the Year; president, VCU

African American Alumni Council; earth

sciences teacher at Lucille Brown Middle

School, Richmond, Virginia

Patricia Wright (M.Ed. ’84), Virginia

superintendent of public instruction,

Richmond, Virginia

VCU School of Education Alumni

Making It Real - Right Now

We’re shaping the future of education, addressing clear gaps and helping the field reach its full potential. We’re creating

the classroom of tomorrow, and we’re making it real.

Ways to giveMail (check made payable to VCU Foundation)

VCU School of Education, Office of External Relations and Development, P.O. Box 842020, Richmond, VA 23284

Donate onlinewww.support.vcu.edu/give/education

SecuritiesA gift of stock generally entitles a donor to a charitable deduction for the full current market value and avoidance of capital gains tax.

PhoneCall (804) 828-4770 to speak with Donna Stewart Sharits, director of annual giving and alumni engagement.

VCU School of Education Values Statement

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education is dedicated to the preparation of professional educators and clinicians, the ideals of academic scholarship and the worthiness of service.

Through our work in these areas, we recognize our responsibilities to students, university

colleagues, the community at large and professional organizations. While all of us share common values, the statements below intentionally allow for a variety of interpretations that may be influenced by our assignments, our experiences and other philosophical principles within programs and across our school.

We demonstrate our belief in the value of high quality programs by:

Attracting high quality studentsBeing responsive to the external standards of accrediting and professional organizationsProviding meaningful clinical placementsContinually evaluating, assessing, and improving programs and services

We demonstrate our belief in the value of high quality teaching by:Creating an environment that supports student successDemonstrating a variety of effective teaching strategies including technology integration, universal design for learning and student-centered instructionFostering curriculum development that ensures familiarity with best practice across all disciplines

We demonstrate our belief in the value of diversity by:

Preparing students to work in culturally and linguistically diverse settingsAccommodating students with special learning needsPromoting a diverse student and faculty communitySupporting intellectual curiosityModeling and promoting social justice

We demonstrate our belief in the value of high quality scholarship and, in particular, the value of a research culture by:

Conducting relevant, high quality research that is responsive to the metropolitan community and contributes to the disciplinesEncouraging collaborative research with colleagues, practitioners and studentsSupporting the creation, interpretation and dissemination of knowledgeIntegrating current research into teaching

We demonstrate our belief in the value of collaboration and partnerships by:

Serving as a resource for the development of policy, curriculum, instructional practice and professional standardsProviding leadership and professional outreach to organizations, the university and the community at largeMaintaining partnerships and shared responsibility for professional preparation

We demonstrate our belief in the value of critical reflection by:

Observing ethical practices and professional honestyEncouraging students to exhibit dispositions consistent with accepted professional practiceFostering a trusting, safe community of scholarsEngaging in ongoing professional developmentExamining professional practices

www.soe.vcu.edu

Five years ago, S. Dallas Dance (Ph.D. ’07, M.Ed. ‘02) received his Doctor of Philosophy from the VCU School of Education. Five years prior, he earned his Master of Education from VCU. Today, this 31-year-old alumnus is the superintendent of the 26th largest school system in the country – Baltimore County Public Schools in Baltimore, Maryland. He is indeed a rising star and on that note, Dr. Dance was recently honored with a VCU Alumni Star Award.

Dr. Dance, along with the other 2013 VCU Alumni Star Award winners, was recognized by Dr. Michael Rao, president of VCU and the VCU Health System, at a reception held at the Richmond Marriott on Oct. 25. The goal of the event was to celebrate and recognize VCU’s high achieving alumni who have distinguished themselves in their careers before a broad university-wide audience.

As superintendent, Dr. Dance works closely with those around him to improve Baltimore County schools. In fact, it was his collaborative nature that landed him the job after only completing two of the required three years of teaching. Dr. Dance had to

obtain a waiver from the Maryland State Department of Education in order to be considered for the position.

“I did work my way up the educational ladder and each position was filled with lifelong learning experiences,” said Dr. Dance. “It was probably due to those experiences and the support I received from great mentors and support staff I’ve had around me. At every level, my supervisors and mentors gave me opportunities to learn more and to be creative. I’ve been extremely fortunate.”

This includes his time at VCU. Dr. Dance was very grateful to VCU for helping to provide him with the necessary skill set for educational leadership.

“VCU was a network of colleagues. We had our own professional learning community, which was phenomenal,” he said. “I’m still extremely close with many of the individuals I got to know at VCU.”

One of those individuals was William C. Bosher, Ed.D., distinguished professor in the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and a former dean of the School of Education. He has

known Dr. Dance since Dance’s teaching days and served as the co-chair on his transition team at Baltimore County Public Schools.

“He’s always had a positive impatience,” said Dr. Bosher. “My greatest concern was that he was moving too quickly, and yet I was not going to hold him back as long as the quality of his work was strong, and it always was.”

Before joining Baltimore County Public Schools, Dr. Dance was chief middle schools officer for Houston Independent School District in Texas; executive director of school improvement in the Department of Instructional Support in Virginia’s Chesterfield County Public Schools; an English teacher, administrative aide, assistant principal and principal in Virginia’s Henrico County Public Schools and assistant superintendent in Virginia’s Louisa County Public Schools.

Since assuming his position with Baltimore County Public Schools in July 2012, Dr. Dance has accelerated activities to prepare for the adoption of the Common Core curriculum in school year 2013-2014.

Open dialogue with the community – both in person and digitally – and professional development for all staff members are additional hallmarks of his administration. At the school system’s inaugural State of the Schools event held in March 2013, Dr. Dance announced plans to move the school system to a 1:1 digital learning environment and to expand world languages so that every student has equitable access to learning and developing proficiency in a second language.

Dean Chriss Walther-Thomas, speaking on behalf of the VCU School of Education faculty, staff and students, said, “Everyone at our school sends a hearty congratulations and thank you to Dr. Dance for all he’s done by taking his VCU School of Education experience into the real world of learning and achievement. We are especially proud of his leadership role with the Baltimore County School System.” X

VCU School of Education’s 2013 Alumni Star S. Dallas Dance, superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools

Follow us online. www.facebook.com/vcusoe www.twitter.com/vcusoe www.youtube.com/user/vcusoe

Non-profit

OrganizationUS Postage

PAIDRichmond, VA Permit #869

- - - - - MOMENTUM FALL 2013 - - - - - Editor: Donna Stewart Sharits, B.G.S. ’96, (804) 828-4770, dssharits@vcu.edu

Contributor: Michael D. Frontiero

Art Director: Holly Delano, B.F.A. ’88, DELANO CreativePhotography: Courtesy of VCU Creative Services unless otherwise noted- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SOE ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS

2013-2015 OfficersPeter R. Glessman, Post Master’s Cert. ’01, PresidentCheryl C. Magill, M.Ed. ’81, Ph.D. ’99, Vice PresidentSusan F. Younce, M.S. ’91, TreasurerLyndsay S. Durham, M.Ed. ’11, Co-SecretaryEleanor S. Sharp, M.Ed. ’12, Co-SecretaryShannon D. Jones, M.Ed. ’12, Officer at Large

Members: Mary H. Allen, B.S. ’80; Carol A. Dato, B.S. ’81; Ausha Espiet, M.T. ’12; Lynda V. Gillespie, Ph.D. ’01; Stephanie L. Holt, B.S. ’74; Dale C. Kalkofen, M.A.E. ’76; Kathryn G. Kirk, M.Ed. ’80, Ph.D. ’10; W. Chris Martin, B.S. ’88; Heather A. Shortall, M.T. ’00, Post Master’s Cert. ’12; Pamela A. Toliver, M.Ed. ’09; Carmen Y. Ward, M.Ed. ’01, Ph.D. ’12 and Jacqueline W. Wilson, B.S. ’77, M.Ed. ’83, Ph.D. ’96

VCU Alumni Association RepresentativeDiane Stout-Brown, Executive Director, VCU Alumni Association

SOE ADVANCEMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS

Robert E. Marchant, M.Ed. ’71, Chairman, Barbara-lyn Belcher, Jo Lynne DeMary, M.Ed. ’72, Michael D. Fraizer, Susan L. Genovese, Stewart D. Roberson, Walter S. Robertson III and Brian White

Ex-Officio Members

Christine S. Walther-Thomas, Professor and DeanMagnus H. Johnsson, Executive Director of External Relations & Development

VCU is an equal opportunity affirmative action university.

P.O. B

ox 842020 Richm

ond, VA 23284-2020

We are one of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” and on the move! U.S. News & World Report has released its 2014 Best Graduate Schools rankings, and the VCU School of Education ranks 28th in the nation among graduate schools of education.

O N T H E M O V E : V C U S c h o o l o f E d u c a t i o n i s a t o p 3 0 p r o g r a m a m o n g A m e r i c a ’s B e s t G r a d u a t e S c h o o l s

Return Service Requested

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f Bal

timor

e Co

unty

Pub

lic S

choo

ls.

SOE ALUMNI STARS

S. Dallas Dance 2013Dale C. Kalkofen 2011 Patricia Wright 2008

Stephanie L. Holt 2005Donna M. Dalton 2003Jo Lynne DeMary 2001

Jane Moncure 2000Susan T. Noble 1999Jay F. Fitzgerald 1998

Edward B. Barber 1997M. Kenneth Magill 1995Sydney Sherrod 1994

Richard W. Leatherman 1993James Bynum 1992

Sandra Wiltshire 1991Deborah D’Allesandro 1990William C. Bosher, Jr. 1989