Under the Arch

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION NAMES GANNON CENTER FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE

Secretary of Education Gerald L. Zahorchak today announced that Gannon University has been selected as one of four Centers for Teaching Excellence to help Pennsylvania educators pursue the profession’s gold standard for excellence: certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS).

Improving the quality of classroom instruction is one of the most effective ways to improve student achievement, which is why Governor Rendell’s initiative will increase the number of Pennsylvania’s board-certified teachers by as much as 200 percent.

“Great teachers are the first and most important component in any successful educational setting, and we know that students of board-certified teachers achieve at higher levels,” said Zahorchak. “That’s why I am proud to announce this new Center for Teaching Excellence at Gannon University. Thanks to Governor Rendell’s leadership, we will help as many as 500 more teachers earn National Board Certification and boost student achievement through this nationally-recognized, high-quality, professional-development program for master teachers.”

Independent studies have shown that students of board-certified teachers achieve at greater levels; 7 to 15 percentage points higher, according to one study.

Grants of $75,000 have been awarded to establish Centers for Teaching Excellence on the campuses of Gannon, Duquesne, Temple, and East Stroudsburg universities. Geographically targeted to cover each region of the commonwealth, the centers will work closely with local school districts to recruit high-quality candidates and provide a location for NBPTS-required mentoring, group work, and research activities. Centers will also engage the local business community to help fund privately-donated scholarships for local NBPTS candidates.

Priority will be given to Centers for Teaching Excellence candidates who are employed in struggling schools and to those seeking certification in early childhood education, secondary math and/or science.

The Centers for Teaching Excellence is part of Governor Edward G. Rendell’s latest professional development initiative to boost student achievement by improving teaching quality. Governor Rendell’s $1.2 million investment will help teachers earn National Board Certification and also establishes the Centers for Teaching Excellence to recruit and support candidates.

“In today’s global economy, Pennsylvania needs the best teachers to develop the best students; young people who are able to truly compete and succeed with other nations in the new economy,” Zahorchak said. “Governor Rendell is pushing to drastically increase the number of teachers who reach the revered ranks of board-certified master teachers because their students will greatly benefit. The skills they hone will impact the lives of thousands of students throughout the commonwealth so that they may reach greater heights.”

Governor Rendell’s investment provides stipends of $1,250 each to cover half the tuition costs for qualifying candidates seeking NBPTS certification (the other half is covered by federal stipends). The funding will also reimburse school districts for leave time of up to three school days for candidates to complete assignments, prepare for exams and participate in mentorship opportunities during the year in which they are earning NBPTS certification.

“Going through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process was one of the most meaningful professional development experiences of my teaching career,” said Melissa Butler, a first-grade teacher at Helen S. Faison Arts Academy in Pittsburgh. “The process influenced the depth of reflection on my own teaching. It also taught me a method for focusing on my instruction that allows me to make critical decisions that impact how thoroughly my children learn throughout the day.”

The centers will be fully operational this month. Interested candidates can visit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Web site, www.nbpts.org, or the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Web site, www.pde.state.pa.us, for more information.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

Campaign update: Since the beginning of the new fiscal year (July 1, 2006), nearly 140 Gannon University employees have made contributions to The Power To Transform Comprehensive Campaign. Those employees have given more than $47,600 to the Campaign. In addition, more than 500 employees and students attended the Tropical Transformation Community Kickoff event held in the Hammermill Center in August. Thanks to all those who participated in the event and contributed to the campaign. For more information on the Campaign or to make a gift, contact Britt Daehnke ’98 ‘05M, campaign coordinator and associate director of the Annual Fund, at ext. 7261 or e-mail at daehnke001.
Special thanks to Gannon colleagues for their assistance with external media interview requests. Ward McCracken, dean of student development, did an interview with Emily Matson of WICU-channel 12 on recent sanctions to campus Greek organizations.
Attention faculty: The Gannon Faculty Senate invites all full-time faculty to participate in an open forum Thursday, Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in room 101 of the Zurn Science Center. Please come and share your ideas and questions with your colleagues and Faculty Senate.
This weekend, Oct. 6-8, is Gannon’s annual Alumni Homecoming/Reunion Weekend. Events are scheduled Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and there is something of interest for all ages. Come and join in on the fun!
Annmarie George, associate professor, fine arts, recently was selected by the Alumni Board of Governors of Daemen College, her undergraduate alma mater, to be chair of the Distinguished Alumni selection Committee. She also serves and was elected as a board member and recording secretary to the Alumni Board of Governors. The alumni selected by the committee for the Distinguished Alumni Award and three other alumni award areas will be announced at Daemen College’s Homecoming Weekend of Oct. 20-22.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Tuesday, October 3 – United Way Kickoff Breakfast: Kickoff breakfast to celebrate the opening of the United Way campaign. The breakfast will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. in room 219 of Waldron.
Tuesday, October 3 – Graduate and Professional School Fair: Representatives from more than 70 schools/programs will be on hand to meet with students and answer questions. The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Yehl Room.
Tuesday, October 3 – Memorial Mass: For Stefanie Kmiotek, the freshman who died unexpectedly last May. The mass will be offered at 4:30 p.m. in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel. Stefanie’s family commissioned an icon of Mary, Seat of Wisdom that will be blessed and placed in the chapel during the Mass.
Thursday, October 5 – Community Mass: Offered at 11 a.m. in the Chapel.
Friday-Sunday, October 6-8 – Alumni Reunion/Homecoming Weekend: Celebrating landmark reunions will be the Gannon and Villa Maria College classes of 1956, ’66, ’81, and ’96. The homecoming parade will begin at Gridley Park at 10 a.m. Saturday. For more information on events and who is attending, log onto www.gannonalumni.org.
Friday, October 13 – Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: Conducted by Bruce Morton Wright. The concert will feature as soloist Patrick Jones (saxophone) and will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel.
Saturday, October 14 – Scholarship Celebration: The honorees are George P. Hesch, Ph.D. (posthumously); Michael J. Minnaugh ’53; and Robert H. Morosky ’63. Each will receive the with the Archbishop Gannon Medal of Distinction. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. in the Yehl Room.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Tuesday, October 3 – Gannon University United Way Campaign Kick-off Breakfast; 23^rd annual Graduate and Professional School Fair; Welcome to The National Association of College Admissions Counselors; Mass and presentation of icon in memory of Stefanie Kmiotek. Wednesday, October 4 – Strategic Plan II task force meeting. Thursday, October 5 – Community Mass; student hour. Friday, October 6 – Alumni Homecoming/Reunion Weekend Events; Distinguished Alumni Dinner. Saturday, October 5 – Alumni Homecoming/Reunion Weekend Events; Activities Programming Board Homecoming Parade; Homecoming Game, Gannon vs. Wayne State. Sunday, October 5 – Alumni Homecoming/Reunion Weekend Events.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the deaths of:

Paula Straub, mother of Gannon student Stephen Straub (criminal justice major).
Anne O’Connell, mother of Dr. Patrick O’Connell, associate professor, theology; and mother-in-law of Dr. Suzanne O’Connell, assistant professor, nursing.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

Dennis Fletcher. Patricia Pollifrone. David Russo. Bernadette Carrig. Theresa Vitolo. Donald Romig. Ronald Prescott. Kenneth Warner. Dana Carlson. Earl Brieger. Eugene Dangelo. Terry Giles. Ann Zielinski. Bob Cline. Brian Yaple. Carolyn Galleher. Harvey Kanter. Kathleen Lieb. Bernard Hessley. Ram Sundaram. Mary Vagula. Connie Stahon. Judith Mochoskay. Curtis Waite. Susan Carnes. Matthew Wolford. Cynthia Mancini. Adam Anderson. Sister Min-Shik Kim. Dana Kosko. Stacey Lutz-McCain. Chet LaPrice. Kathy MacMurdy. Ann Oshlick. Danielle Wood. Barbara Roberts. Robert Rawding. Nicholas Pronko.

FROM THE EDITOR

Gannon University faculty, staff, and administrators: As an employee newsletter, Under the Arch is your publication. The goal is for Under the Arch to be a complete resource for you: a place where you can stay up to date on everything happening on campus: events, news related to the university and its employees, important announcements, etc. Your help is needed to make Under the Arch as effective as possible. Please notify us of any news, specific to you or your department, that would be of interest to the Gannon Community. For example, if you attend a conference, present a paper, complete work on an advanced degree, or have any other news to share with your colleagues, please send it to Nick Pronko, media relations officer. Submissions can be e-mailed to pronko001@gannon.edu. To be included in a forthcoming Monday edition, information should be submitted by the preceding Thursday. Look forward to hearing from you!