Vander Ark Distinguished Teacher Education Student Award
This award reflects exemplary performance in student teaching as well as an excellent academic record.
2012-2013 Winners are:
Elementary - Sarah Fennema, Averi McEwen, and Ana Meekhof
Secondary - Kendra Beekman, Math; Eun Sub Cho, Integrated Science; Caleb Lagerway, History
2012-2013 Nominees are:
Elementary - Erin Fliestra, Bethany Hotrop, Jessie Hulst, Joy Hwang, Rebecca Jaspers, Holli Lanser, Elizabeth Murray, Grace Vander Sluis, Hannah VanDyk
Secondary - Tyler Baas, Elena Brubaker, Travis Kuiper, Lydia Mulder, Meghan Murphy, Simon Veldkamp
Beversluis Award in Christian Philosophy of Education
This award is given in honor of the late Dr. N. Henry Beversluis, who was a long time professor of the philosophy of education courses at Calvin College (1966-1979) and had previously served as a teacher and principal in several Christian schools. The aim of the award is to foster responsible thinking among students about Christian schooling in contemporary society and is given to students who best exemplify and express their Christian philosophy of education as determined by current professors of the philosophy of education course.
2012-2013 Winners are: Tara Elders and Eun Sub Cho
On May 3, 2013 the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) Accreditation Committee accepted the Accreditation Panel's recommendation for initial accreditation, five years, with no weaknesses and no stipulations, for the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program at Calvin College. The Summary of the Case describes Calvin's claims and program assessment plans.
Improving Teacher Quality Grants
Two $200,000 grants will enable Calvin faculty to work with local educators on effective ways to teach writing and mathematics.
Dr. Walcott has designed a research project investigating how colleges prepare teachers to work in urban schools.
Interim 2013: Indonesian Intersections: Business, Education and Culture
Students met with leaders in business, religion, healthcare, and education as they traveled across Java, Bali, and Sulawesi by plane, boat, bike, and automobile. The group visited a Balinese Hindu school and eight Christian K-12 schools supported by Reformed and Presbyterian churches in Indonesia. Education students shadowed teachers in International and National schools. They also met with college students and professors in business and education at UPH, a Christian university near Jakarta.
Interim 2013: Learning, Poverty, and Schooling
Participants developed an understanding of the challenges of urban education while visiting urban schools in Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Milwaukee.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for the new Honors Program in Education.
Congratulations to Jo-Ann Van Reeuwyk, Higher Ed. Teacher of the Year
Jo-Ann Van Reeuwyk has been recognized as the 2013 Michigan Art Education Association Higher Ed. Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching art education courses at Calvin since 2001.
Beversluis Christian Philosophy of Education Award
This award is given in honor of the Dr. N. Henry Beversluis, who served as a teacher and principal in Christian schools as well as a professor of the philosophy of education courses at Calvin College. The aim of the award is to foster responsible thinking among students about Christian schooling in contemporary society and given to students who best exemplify and express their Christian philosophy of education as determined by current professors of the philosophy of education course.
2011-2012 award winners: Sarah Fennema (Elementary Education) and Sarah Vander Molen (Secondary Education, English).
Vander Ark Distinguished Student Teacher Award
This award reflects exemplary performance in student teaching as well as an excellent academic record.
2011-2012 Award winners:
Elementary: Scott Burden, Hannah Osborn, Heather Sanderson
Secondary: Hannah Berridge, Math; Megan Looyenga, Social Studies; Sarah Vander Molen, English
2011-2012 Award nominees:
Elementary: Allison Gorter, Loriel Maxwell, Christina Messick, Cara Noordyke Molling, Kaleigh Umlauf, April Vander Molen, Rebekah VanDyk, Karyn Weglarz, and Ellen Zilka
Secondary: Jana Deters (Spanish); Meghan Donohue (English); Grace Ghent (Art); Jonathan Van Eck (Music)
Congratulations to Dr. David Smith, recipient of the Award for Innovative Teaching. Dr. Smith teaches IDIS 357 Secondary World-Languages Pedagogy. Also, congratulations to Education professor Dr. Clarence Joldersma, who was part of a team that has received the Award for Collaborative Change for their leadership in cultivating a culture of sustainability at Calvin.
Welcome to John Walcott
John Walcott will begin a three-year tenure-track appointment in the Education Department in August, 2012. Mr. Walcott graduated from Calvin College (MA, 1994) and currently is completing a PhD in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education at Michigan State University. He has taught and served as principal at the Potter’s House schools and served with Christian Reformed World Missions in the Dominican Republic.
- Literacy in Local Schools
- Dr. Ron Sjoerdsma's secondary education students are using games, music, art and other strategies to teach literacy in two local middle schools.
- Lament Psalms and Children
- Q&A on the Worship Institute website with Education professor Robert Keeley and his wife, Laura, who co-direct children's ministries at their church in Holland, on making lament psalms accessible to children.
- Improving Literacy Instruction
- A $200,000 Teacher Quality Grant allows Calvin's education department to enhance the teaching of reading in local schools.
- Improving Math Teaching in Grand Rapids
- Calvin math professor Jan Koop is using a $200,000 Michigan Department of Education grant to help area teachers understand and teach mathematics.
- Dr. Thomas Hoeksema Retires
- Dr. Hoeksema retired from the Education Department in 2011 after 35 years at Calvin.
- Student Teacher of the Year
- Please join us in congratulating DeDe Orlando who was recognized as the 2011 Michigan Student Teacher of the Year!
- Frederik Meijer Gardens Internship
- View a short video piece on a senior education student who had an internship at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park during Summer 2010.
- SPEC Newsletter
- Read about events and activities organized by the SPEC student organization during Spring 2010.
- Grant Supports Mathematics Education
- Congratulations to Professor Jan Koop who was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Education to provide professional development in mathematics to 41 educators.
- Dr. Jim Rooks appointed as Dean of Education
- We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jim Rooks will begin his term as Dean of Education during the fall 2009 semester.
- Literacy in Sierra Leone
- Dr. Johanna Kuyvenhoven was awarded a planning grant from the Higher Education for Development program in 2009 to support her work in Sierra Leone. Jo and her collaborators will develop a teaching of reading syllabus to be used in teacher training colleges. Her book, The Crocodile's Reward, was distributed to teachers throughout the country in 2008.
- The Joys and Challenges of Urban Music Education
- Six Calvin students spent Interim teaching music in the Grand Rapids Public Schools as part of a class led by Professor Phillip Hash.
- Grants Support Partnerships with Local Schools
- Teacher Education Program faculty have been awarded over $750,000 by the Michigan Department of Education over the past four years.
- Van Lunen Center for Executive Management in Christian Schools
- This innovative new center at Calvin will bring fresh resources to Christian school administrators. The Center will provide world-class executive management education for heads of Christian schools representing a wide range of faith traditions.
