MARCH 2013

College of eduCation

PRACTICUM

IN THIS ISSUE•UndergraduateResearchSymposium•FestivalofScience•SchoolUniversityPartnerships

5210GrandAve.•FortSmith,AR72913•479.788.7900•uafs.edu/coe

KathyAvilaobservestheDryIceColorShowlabexperiment.

TABLEOFCONTENTS

UAFSCOLLEGEOFEDUCATION,RECIPIENTOFTHECHEA

OUTSTANDINGINSTITUTIONALPRACTICEINSTUDENT

LEARNINGOUTCOMESAWARD

Chancellor’sMessage.................................................... 2

Dean’sMessage............................................................. 3

UndergraduateResearchSymposium........................ 4

SpecialEducationStory................................................ 5

NewFaculty................................................................ 6-7

SchoolUniversityPartnerships................................. 8-9

KappaDeltaPiHonorSociety........................... 10-11

ContentAreaFaculty........................................... 12-13

FestivalofScience................................................ 14-15

Grants-SupportingSchools......................................15

CHANCELLOR’SMESSAGE AtUAFS,weare fortunate that theCollegeofEducation

is a regional leader in teacher preparation. The college’s

nationalaccreditingbody,TheCouncil forHigherEducation

Accreditation, validated the work of the faculty and staff

when they presented the college with the CHEA Award

for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning

Outcomesin2010.Weareproudtoberecognizedforthis

nationalhonor.

In addition to supplying highly qualified teachers to the

region,theCollegeofEducationactivelyengageswitharea

schoolsinavarietyofoutreachandprofessionaldevelopment

opportunities, specifically in the timely implementation

of Common Core State Standards. Such work enhances

the quality of teaching and increases student learning—

importantfactorsthatcontributetothegrowthandstrength

oftheGreaterFortSmithRegion.

ThiseditionofPracticum highlightssomerecentachievements

and initiatives in theCollegeofEducation—ourpre-service

teachers successfully participated in the Undergraduate

Research Symposium this past spring, our education honor

societiesandclubscontinuetoprovidemeaningfuloutreach,

andtheinternteachingprogramhasbeenenhancedthrough

ayear-longteachingandmentoringexperience.

GoodthingsaretakingplaceintheCollegeofEducation,

andwearepleasedtosharethesewithyou.

PaulB.Beran,Ph.D.Chancellor,UniversityofArkansas-FortSmith

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JimCollin’s2001best-sellerGood to Greatproclaims in

itsfirstsentence,“Goodistheenemyofgreat.”Iagreewith

himandvowthat“great”willneverbeourenemy;“great”

mustbeourcolleague,ourfriend,ourgoal,andmostofall,

ourvision.

Collinsarguesthatmanybusinessesandinstitutionsnever

realizetheirfullpotentialbecause,sincetheyarealready

pretty good, do not strive to be great. The College of

EducationattheUniversityofArkansas-FortSmithisdefying

thispossiblepitfallby tacklingbigger challenges,despite

anexemplaryaccreditationvisitfromtheNationalCouncil

for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Many

institutionsmight be satisfiedwith such exemplary ratings,

butweare not.Currently,weare revisingand improving

all programs so they not only meet the needs of current

educators,butalsothefutureneedsofschools,students,and

educators.Wearestartingthisprocesswithgreaterdepths

of collaborationwith our partner schools and focusing on

creatingprofessionaldevelopmentschools.

Inordertomeetthesenewchallengesweneedtomake

systemic changes that stress rigor and accountability,

strengthen candidate selection and placement, and

redesign curricula. It is imperative that we address the

needsofschoolsmorethanweeverhaveandpartnerwith

themtoimproveourteacherpreparationprogramsothat

weplacebetterteachersinclassroomsandinturnenhance

P-12studentlearning.Ifwedonotdothis,wearefailing

toworktowardbecominga“greatcollege”thatmeetsthe

needsofthe21stcenturylearners.Thisisourchallenge.We

mustnotfail.

Itisthereforecrucialthatwestopoperatinginsilos.Ifweare

toimprovetheessenceofteachingandstudentachievement

wemustworktogethermorethaneverwithourpartnering

schools.Thiscollaborationmustfocusonstudentachievement

andwemustplaceourteachercandidatesinschoolsettings

thatarestructuredtosupportteacherimprovementaswell

as greater levels of student growth.While doing this,we

must redesign our preparation programs to meet these

challenges.We no longer can segment our programwith

subjectmatterpreparation, theory,andpedagogy taught

in isolation.Allofthismustbeintegratedintoallformsof

clinical practice. “Great” is our welcomed friend and the

visionofUAFS’sCollegeofEducation.Ourchildrenandour

professionareworthourbestefforts.

Welookforwardtoyoujoiningourjourney.

DEAN’SMESSAGE

Dr.JohnJonesDean,UAFSCollegeofEducation

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UNDERGRADUATERESEARCHSYMPOSIUM

The5thAnnualUndergraduateResearchSymposium,heldApril13,2012,at

UAFS,providedanopportunityforstudentstopresentwhattheyhavelearned

fromtheirresearchexperiencestofellowstudents,faculty,andthecommunity.

This annual conference enables students, faculty, and communitymembers to

examinetheconnectionbetweenresearchandeducation.TheUndergraduate

Research Symposium includes posters and presentation sessions by students

fromallacademicdisciplines.Participatingstudentsaresponsoredbyafaculty

member,andeachpresentationisfollowedbyaquestionandanswersession.

Thissymposiumallowsstudentstolearnfromoneanotherandbecomeinvolved

ininterdisciplinarydiscourse.

Eighteducationmajorsparticipatedinthespringevent.TaylorGrizzleSmith,

who earned second place for the College of Education with her research

presentation on cooperative learning groups and students with autism, said

that participating “gave me the experience of practically improving my

professional capabilities. It also gave me confidence as a well-developed

writerandpresenter.”OtherCollegeofEducationmajorspresentedontopics

rangingfromCommonCoreStateStandardsimplementationtothetransitionof

homeschooledstudentsintomainstreamclassroomenvironmentsandananalysis

oflocalhistoricalevents.

The annual undergraduate research symposium was established in 2008

undertheguidanceofDr.RayWallace,UAFSprovost.

AMANDAMAXWELL1st PlaceDifferentiatedInstruction,21stCentruySkills,andCommonCore:Oh,My!

TAYLORGRIZZLESMITH2nd PlaceInWhatWaysWillParticipationinCooperativeLearningGroupsBenefitStudentsDiagnosedwithaFormofAutism?

DIANEHUMPHREY3rd PlaceImprovingEducationforAcademicallyGiftedStudentsThroughtheUseofMultipleInstructionalStrategies

RHONDAMELTONOne-on-OneInstructionforaMaleStudentWhoisLearningDisabled

COLBYGARRThe1985VanBurenMainStreetCalamity

TATUM WILLIAMSBestPracticesinAssistingHomeschooledStudentsinTransitioningtoRegularClassroomEnvironments

JESSIERICHARDSONDarkFiction’sPlaceintheSecondarySchoolClassroom:AnAnalysisofThe Hunger Games

Dr.RayWallaceopenstheResearchSymposiumwithhiswelcomingremarks.

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SPECIALEDUCATIONSTORY

School officials from across the region are contacting the

UniversityofArkansas-FortSmithabouthiring itsspecial

education graduates, according to Dr. John Doak of Fort

Smith,assistantprofessorofspecialeducationintheUAFS

CollegeofEducation.

Theprogramhasgrownfromonestudentin2007to50

thisyear,and52havecompletedtheendorsementprogram.

GraduateshavesecuredemploymentprimarilyinArkansas,

Oklahoma,andTexas.

“Our graduates differ from those of other universities,”

saidDoak.“OurPraxisexamsuccessrateis100percent.”

Themission of this post-baccalaureate licensureprogram

in special education is toproduce candidateswhoexcel in

bringingthebestoutof theirstudents.Licensurecandidates

mustholdanArkansasinitialorstandardteachinglicenseor

befullyadmittedintotheCollegeofEducation.

“Our theory is that K-12 public school students with

exceptional learning needs should be meeting and

exceeding grade-level learning expectations,” Doak

shared. “The UAFS program trains teacher candidates

to link current neuroscience and educational research to

professionalpractice.Thisisthebestwaytoensurethatall

students,especiallythosewithculturalandlinguisticdiversity

and exceptional ability, meet and exceed grade level

standards.”

ThecurriculumisbuiltontheUniversalDesignforLearning

Guidelineswhichadvocatesengagingstudentswithmultiple

means of representing and expressing subject matter.

This curriculum is widely supported by leading educators,

according to Dr. John Jones of Fort Smith, dean of the

CollegeofEducation.

“Our students bring an attitude, an approach, and a

drive for accomplishment to their profession that school

administrators are seeking,” Jones stated. “We have

somethinginthiscurriculumthat’sasourceofprideforthe

peopleofFortSmithandthestateofArkansas.”

Parents should expect almost all children in special

educationtogoontosuccessfulpost-secondarycareers.“They

should expect their children to have successful academic

performance,excitingcareers,andrichandfulllives,”Doak

emphasized.“We’repreparingourcandidatestooperatein

thatreality.Schooldistrictsacrosstheregionappreciatethe

valueofacandidatewiththatphilosophy.”

Dr.JohnDoak,assistantprofessor,istheUAFSCollegeofEducation’sDirectorofSpecialEducation

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NEWFACULTY

JUDYDUNMIREMathInstructionalSpecialist,InstituteforMathandScienceEducationBS Secondary Education, Mathematics – Arkansas Tech University

“Ibelievethatqualityeducatorsallowstudentstoproductivelystrugglethroughaproblem,developefficientstrategiestoworkthroughtheproblem,andevaluatethereasonablenessoftheiranswerinrelationshiptotheproblem–allwithouttheteacherprovidingadditionalinformation.”

STEPHENBRODIEScienceInstructionalSpecialist,InstituteforMathandScienceEducationBS Physical Science – Arkansas Tech University M.Ed. Educational Technology – University of Arkansas

“ImovedfromthesecondaryscienceclassroomtoassistArkansasteachersinbetterpreparingtheirstudentsinallareasofscience.WorkingwithK-12teachersandpre-serviceteachercandidatesintheareasofteachingpedagogy,science,andtechnologycontentisveryrewarding.”

BARBARA HUNTExecutiveDirector,TeacherEducationBS Elementary Education – Indiana-Purdue UniversityMS Curriculum and Instruction with emphasis in Gifted Education –University of HoustonEd. D. Curriculum and Instruction, Gifted Education and Mid-Management Administrator – University of Houston

“Ibelieveinchildrenandtheirfuture.Thefuturegenerationneedstobewellpreparedandbeabletomakeadvancementsforthegoodofall,thusneedingwell-preparedteachers.ThecollaborationbetweenuniversityfacultyandP-12facultycanaccomplishthis.”

JENNIFERJENNINGSDAVISDirector,EducationRenewalZoneBA English Language Arts Education – University of Nebraska - KearneyM.Ed. Higher Education Administration – University of Nebraska - Lincoln

“Astrongdemocracyisdependentonaneducatedcitizenrythatisdevelopedthroughqualityeducationalsystems.Helpingareaschoolteachersconnectwithcampusresourcesthatallowthemtoteachmoreefficientlyandeffectivelyisaprivilege.Weareworkingtogethertobuildstrongcommunities.”

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MARSHAL HURSTAssistantDirector,EducationalRenewalZoneBS Mathematics – East Central UniversityMA Educational Leadership – Southern Nazarene University

“WhenIbeganteaching,IhadafewideasaboutwhatkindofteacherIwantedtobeandhowIwantedmystudentstolearn.ThoseideaschangedovertheyearsasItaughtmystudentsandmystudentstaughtme.IfeelprivilegedtonowworkfortheERZandhaveopportunitiestoassistourpartnerschoolsandfacultyintheeducationoftheirstudents.”

CHRISTINE RALSTONDirectorofAssessmentBS Elementary Education – Indiana University, South BendM.Ed. Elementary Education – Indiana Wesleyan UniversityPh.D. Educational Leadership – Purdue University

“Astheemphasisindataanddata-drivedecisionmakinghasgrown,itisimportanttounderstandeffectivestrategiesforusingdatacollaborativelytoenhanceprofessionalpracticeanddrivecontinuousimprovement.”

TISHASHIPLEYDirector,PreschoolProgrammingBS Early Childhood – Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityMS Elementary Admin – Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityPh.D. Curriculum and Instruction – Northcentral University

“Ibelievethathands-onteachingmakeslearningmeaningfulandengagingandhelpsstudentstobuildonpriorknowledgethroughexploration.Myresearchinterestsareindevelopmentallyappropriateteachingstrategiesintheearlychildhoodclassroom,obstaclesteachersface,andteachingformeaning.”

LAURA WITHERINGTONAssistantProfessorofEducation,DirectorofSchoolPartnershipsBA English – University of Central ArkansasMA English – University of Central ArkansasPh.D. English – University of Arkansas

“Mygoalinteachingmycourses,mentoringcandidatesandinterns,andprovidingprofessionaldevelopmenttoschoolsistosupportteachersinincreasingtheauthenticityoftheirmethodsandactivities.Throughincreasedauthenticity,rigor,andrelevance,studentswillbecomeindependentcriticalthinkerswhoarecapableofsolvingcomplexproblems.”

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WendyCrawford,UAFSpre-serviceteacher,workswithstudentsatAlmaPrimarySchool.8

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SCHOOLUNIVERSITYPARTNERSHIPSTheUAFSCollegeofEducationisembarkingonan

excitingnewinitiative—ProfessionalDevelopmentSchools.

ProfessionalDevelopmentSchools(PDSs)firstappeared

ontheAmericaneducationallandscapeinthemid-1990s

andweredesignedtobeamutuallybeneficialpartnership

betweenK-12schoolsanduniversities.

ThefirststepfortheCollegeofEducationin

implementingProfessionalDevelopmentSchoolsinthe

GreaterFortSmithRegionwastheestablishmentofthe

year-longinternshipforteachercandidates.Byhaving

teachercandidatesparticipateinayear-longexperience,

asopposedtothetraditionalsemester-longexperience,

“theinternsformastrongerrelationshipwithstudents,all

teachers,staff,andadministration,”saidJimWarnock,

principalatAlmaIntermediate.“Theyhavemorepractice

asateacher—moreflyinghours.”

AlmaPrimary,AlmaIntermediate,CedarvillePrimary,

andJ.J.IzzardElementary(VanBurenSchoolDistrict)

werethepilotschoolsforthiseffort.Thesefourschools

hostedsixUAFSteachercandidatesduringthe

2011-12academicyearwitheachcandidateassigned

toamentorteacherforthefullyear.Sincethe

candidatesandmentorteachersweretogetherfrom

AugusttoMay,solidworkingrelationshipsformed,

andteachersandcandidatescollaboratedinplanning,

preparing,andteachinglessons.Thestudentsbenefited

greatlybyhavingtwoteacherswiththemforthefull

year.WendyCrawford,picturedontheoppositepage,

wasoneofthesixteachercandidatesparticipatingin

thispilotprogram.“Shecaresaboutme,”claimedone

ofCrawford’sfirstgradersfromlastyear.Anothersaid,

“Shehelpsuslearnwordswedonotknow.”Crawford

explainedthattheexperience“wasverybeneficial;

especiallytoseethegrowthofallthestudents

throughouttheyear.”

TheProfessionalDevelopmentSchoolmodelwas

designedtoaccomplishafour-prongedagenda:1)to

preparefutureeducators,2)toprovidecurrenteducators

withongoingprofessionaldevelopment,3)topromote

inquirydirectedatimprovingteachingpractices,and4)

toenhancestudentachievement.Theyear-longinternship

ismovingtheCollegeofEducationforwardinsatisfying

suchanagenda.“Theimpactofthefullyearinternshipis

verypositive,”saidLonnieMitchell,principalatJ.J.Izzard

Elementary.“Theopportunitytoobserveaclassfrom

beginningtoendofyearcertainlyprovidesfutureteachers

agoodperspectiveofacompleteyear.Relationship

buildingandfamiliaritywithschoolcultureareadditional

positivefactors.”

LeadingthechargeatUAFSisDr.LauraWitherington,

directorofProfessionalDevelopmentSchools.Dr.

WitheringtoncreatedaplaninwhichtheCollegeof

Educationandselectpublicschoolswillcollaborateonthe

implementationofthePDSmodel.Themodelenhances

knowledge,skills,andtalentduetotheuniversityand

localschoolscombiningresources,whichresultsingreat

benefitsforstudents.Studentsalsobenefitfromteacher

interns,mentorteachers,andUniversityfacultywhoplay

activerolesinthePDSsetting.PDSsareameansto

enhanceteacherqualityandstudentachievement.

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KAPPADELTAPIHONORSOCIETYKappa Delta Pi Honor Society in Education (KDP) is an

organizationwithoveracentury-longhistorythatisrichin

honorandexcellence.UAFS’sAlphaBetaOmegachapter

is one of over 600 chapters internationally. The society

wasestablishedfor thepurposeof fosteringexcellence in

educationandpromotingfellowshipforthosededicatedto

the teaching profession.Membership is by invitation only,

andstudentsmustmeetspecificacademicstandardsbefore

beingadmittedasamember.

OnewaythattheUAFSstudentmembersfosterexcellence

and promote fellowship is through their commitment to

service.One of the society’s most successful efforts is the

LiteracyAlive! initiative. KDPmembers host an annual 5K

Race for Literacy Run/Walk with all proceeds benefiting

Literacy Alive! The money raised goes to support the

teaching efforts and programs of UAFS alumni teaching

in local schools.So far,KappaDeltaPi hasbeenable to

provided support to teachers and students at Tilles, Pike,

andEuperLaneElementariesandNorthsideHigh(allinFort

Smith Public School District) and Butterfield Trail Middle

School(VanBurenSchoolDistrict).

SeniormembersofKappaDeltaPireceivetheirhonorcordsforgraduation.

AshleyGerhardson,UAFSalumniandFortSmithPublicSchooleducator,receivesaUAFSpennantandtradebooksforherclassroomlibrary.

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LiteracyAliveparticipantspreparedprocessdramaexperiencesforNorthsideHighSchooljuniorsandseniors.Frontrow,lefttoright:Dr.LoisYocum,MeredithMaestri,JordynCox,MickiMusik,AshleyGerhardson,NorthsideHighSchoolAPEnglishteacher,andKathrynSchumaker,NorthsideHighSchoolAPEnglishteacher.Backrow:DarinChoate,JessieRichardson,andColbyGarr.

RhondaMelton,secretary;TatumWilliams,historian;DarinChoate,vicepresident;BritanyGary,delegaterepresentative;AmandaMaxwell,president;TaylorSmith,treasurer.

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CONTENTAREAFACULTYLINDAFAIRAssistantProfessorBA cum laude – Sociology and French – Rice University, HoustonMA Geography – University of California, Los Angeles Ph D. Geography – Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

“Mygoalasaprofessorofgeographyistoprovidemystudentswiththeskillsthatwillenablethemtosee,understand,andappreciatethewebofrelationshipsamongpeople,places,andenvironments,theimpactofthephysicalenvironmentonhumans,theimpactofhumansonthephysicalenvironment,andtheconnectionsbetweenpeopleandplaces.ItismyhopethatIwillimbuemystudentswithanexcitementaboutgeographyandinspirethemtobecomelife-longlearnersoftheworldaroundthem.”

KEVINJONESCoordiatorforEnglishwithTeacherLicensure,AssistantProfessorBS Education - Speech and Theatre – Missouri State UniversityMA Theatre – Missouri State UniversityPh.D. English - American Studies – University of Arkansas

“Asfarasaphilosophyofteaching,weshouldhelpstudentsreachtheirfullpotentialthroughcontentdevelopmentandpedagogicalbuilding.Weteachstudents,notsubjects,andweshouldworktohelpeachpersonfulfillhisorheracademicdreams.IteachbecauseIlikethe“ah-ha”momentwhentheyrealizetheyknowsomethingandtheymakeaconnectiontosomeotheractivityorpieceofinformation.”

RAGER MOOREDirectorofChoralMusicBA Music - Vocal Performance – University of ArkansasMA Music - Vocal Performance – University of ArkansasPh.D. Musical Arts – University of Missouri - Kansas City, Conservatory of Music

“Iteachlifeexperiencesthroughmusicthatgotothecoreofgoodmusicalunderstanding,emphasizingthevaluesofhonesty,integrity,commitment,andcompassion.”

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ROBERTA PARKSInstructorBS Mathematics – Arkansas Tech UniversityM.Ed. Mathematics Education – Arkansas Tech UniversityNational Board Certified Teacher

“For20yearsItaughtmathematicsinArkansaspublicschools.Ihaveseenmanychangesincurriculum,testing,assessments,andexpectationsovertheseyears,somegood,somenotsogood.Iaminterestedindoingresearchtolearnmoreabouthowyoungchildrenlearntothinkmathematicallyandalgebraicallyanddeterminethebestmethodstoteachthemandassesstheirlearning.”

CHARLESVOInstructorBS Biology – University of Missouri - St. LouisBS Anatomy – Parker UniversityMA Biology – University of ArkansasPh.D. Chiropractic – Parker University

“Ibelievethatteachersshouldbeabletoovercomelimitationsbytransformingweaknessesintostrengths.Studentsmustalsobeengagedinteachingandallowedtogivefeedback.Thisbuildsrapportwithstudentsandmakestheclassroomenvironmentmoreenjoyable.Asteachers,wemustseekoutnewteachingmethodsthatwilltransformtheclassroomintoaplacewherestudentsexcel.”

BRENDAROSSAssistantProfessorBA Linguistics - Spanish-Portuguese – University of Minnesota, Twin CitiesMA Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages – Penn State UniversityPh.D. Applied Linguistics – Penn State University

“IampassionateaboutteachinglanguagesandculturebecauseIbelieveinaglobalcommunityofpeoplewhorespecteachother’sdifferences.Ifirmlybelieveincommunicationandcooperationbothinsideandoutofmyclassroomandadaptmyclassesandmyresearchtothiscreed.”

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FESTIVALOFSCIENCE:AFUNDAYFORKIDS

Young scientists conducting strange experiments in college

laboratoriesmaysoundlikeahorrormovietosome,butit

wasafunafternoonfor45areaelementaryschoolstudents

andtheirparentsthispastfall.

It was the inaugural “Festival of Science,” a carnival-

likeevent intheMath-ScienceBuildinglaboratoriesonthe

UniversityofArkansas-FortSmithcampus.Theeventwas

forareathird-gradestudentsandwasintendedtopresent

chemistrytotheyoungscientistsinwaysthatstimulatedtheir

curiosityandenthusiasm,accordingtoitsorganizers.

UAFSinstructorsandstudentswereateveryexhibitand

workedwithgradeschoolstudentstohelpthemsuccessfully

completetheirexperiments.Participatingelementaryschool

studentsreceivedfreeT-shirts,popcorn,toysandprizes.

The festival combined the efforts and faculties of the

CollegeofEducationandtheCollegeofScience,Technology,

Engineering & Mathematics (STEM), as well as four area

elementary schools, according to Dr. Dave McGinnis,

assistantprofessorof chemistry in theCollegeofScience,

Technology,EngineeringandMathematics.

“STEMisallaroundus,”McGinnissaid.“Butkidsgrowup

andthey’reafraidofit.Wewanttogetelementaryschool

studentsinterestedinchemistryandscience,andwethinkthis

willhelpthathappen.”

Dr. Jennifer Jamison, who is also an assistant professor

ofchemistry,teamedwithMcGinnistoidentifyentertaining

and educational experiments that young scientists can

conductinchemistrylaboratories.AccordingtoJamisonand

McGinnis,studentsuncoveredtheprocessesformakingslime,

elephanttoothpaste,andseveralothersubstances,including

somethingcalled“oobleck,”whichtheyoungchemistsfound

especiallyfun.

AlsojoiningtheplanningteamfortheeventwasJennifer

JenningsDavis,directoroftheEducationRenewalZone(ERZ)

with theCollegeofEducationatUAFS,andLeslieBrodie,

sciencecurriculumcoordinatorforFortSmithPublicSchools.

Brodie works with district administrators and teachers to

strengthenandenhancesciencecurricula.

“Wewant toengageelementary students in the funand

wonderofscience,”saidJenningsDavis.“We’reworking in

thehopesthattheywilldevelopaloveofSTEMandwilltake

thatintoaccountwhenmakingcareerchoicesinthefuture.”

Jennings Davis said she became involved because her

workintheEducationRenewalZonepromotessimilargoals

asthefestival.“Notonlyisthisanengagingeventforthird

graders,it’salsoanopportunityforparentstogetinvolved

withtheirchild’slearning.”

McGinnis said often students don’t fully understand the

manyoccupationsavailableintheareasofSTEM.Agoalof

theFestivalofScienceistohelpyoungpeopleunderstand

earlyon theopportunities thatare in frontof them in the

areasofmathandscience.

McGinnissaidheandJamisonwantedtolimitthenumber

of kids who participated this year because it was their

inaugural event. He said the participating school districts

areaperfectfitforthiskickoff.

“We’re reallygrateful to theERZand LeslieBrodie for

makingthispossible,”hesaid.

KelseyHolleyofMansfieldElementary,(daughterofTrentandDustyHolley)isecstaticaboutmakingslimeintheSlimePitLab.

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Jennings Davis, her staff at ERZ, and Brodie helped

recruitparticipationofTrusty,Pike,andSuttonElementary

schoolsoftheFortSmithPublicSchoolDistrictandMansfield

ElementaryoftheMansfieldSchoolDistrict.Theorganizers

alsohostedTeacherHospitalityLabbeforetheeventtogive

theelementaryteachersapreviewoftheexperimentsand

andopportunitytomeettheprofessors.

“We want our area teachers to take ideas from the

festivalbacktotheirclassrooms,”JenningsDavissaid.

Brodieagreed,“Wewantour teachers tonetworkwith

university faculty andmake connections with people they

canlooktoforsciencesupportintheclassroom.”

GRANTS - SUPPORTING SCHOOLS

Dr.DaveMcGinnis,professorofchemistry,providesdemonstrationasMansfieldElementarystudentJoshuaYorkofHuntington(sonofRogerandDianeYork)lookson.

JoshuaBiggsisaUAFSstudentvolunteerforthefestival.

FY13 Award

Total Grant Award

STATE GRANTS

$86,500$86,500$86,500

$565,000$565,000$565,000

$86,500

$565,000

Arkansas Department of Education Science

Instructional Specialist Grant

Arkansas National Board for Professional Teaching

Standards Grant

$6,570

$26,800

Arkansas Department of Education Division of

Education Renewal Zones

$834,900

$135,600 $86,500

$515,000

Arkansas Department of Education Mathematics

Instructional Specialist Grant

Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood

Education Grant

$225,000

$1,750,000

FEDERAL GRANTSNational Science Foundation College Ready Grant

$773,000

$174,600

Arkansas Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Coalition Grant

PRIVATE GRANTS

$26,200

$13,200

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5210 Grand Ave. • PO Box 3649Fort Smith, AR 72913-3649888.512.5466 • 479.788.7900