Spotlight on Success

The Education Department is committed to offering diverse experiences for its teacher candidates. To meet this goal, the department has developed a tradition of inviting authors to the campus each year to discuss the role of diversity in writing and teaching.

This year, through a Community Arts Development Grant from the Frederick Arts Council, we hosted Ms. Wendy Shang, author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu.

She presented “Pages from the Past: Using Family Stories in Writing” to the Mount community and also visited Education classes to instruct a workshop entitled “Hear Me Roar, Write and Delete, Delete, Delete.”

Ms. Shang discussed the craft of writing, her books and the inspiration for them, her journey as a published author, incorporating books in the classroom, and other topics related to writing and diversity during her presentations.

Kim McGlaughlin accepted the grant award at the Frederick Arts Council’s annual “Celebration of the Arts” dinner on October 17, 2012.

The School of Education and Human Services (SEHS) received a grant from Simple K-12, an Orlando based, online teacher professional development company. All Mount St. Mary's students, faculty, staff, SEHS alumni are eligible for a free one-year membership to The Teacher Learning Community.  Furthermore, Simple K-12 provides an opportunity to collaborate with over 100,000 teachers and educators from around the world. Simple K-12 will provide various resources on many of topics and subjects.

The third lecture of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton lecture series was held on October 16th in Knott Auditorium. The guest lecturer was Mr. Dan Curtin whose presentation was entitled: "Catholic Schools of America: Gift to the Church and Nation."

Mr.Curtin,  former Executive Director of the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education (CACE) of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA),  and now consultant for Catholic education to the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools, delivered an engaging lecture to a well-attended auditorium. Mr. Curtin reviewed the history of the development of Catholic schools in the United States and how they have played the dual role of serving the Church as well as our nation in forming moral, responsible and educated citizens to participate fully in our democracy. 

The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Lecture series was instituted by Dr. Caroline Eick three years ago in her capacity as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton professor. The purpose of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton lecture series is to examine the role of Catholic schools in the development of democracy at national and international levels. These lectures feature historical as well as contemporary perspectives, and draw on the expertise of lay as well as religious scholars, teachers, administrators, educators and advocates for Catholic schools.

Pictured are Mr. Daniel Curtin and Dr. Caroline M. Eick

On October 15, 16, and 17, the Mount Teacher Academy hosted West Frederick Middle School's eighth grade class. One of the goals for the Mount Teacher Academy is college readiness for students in high poverty/high minority schools. Therefore, the Mount Teacher Academy planned a field trip for the eighth grade students to learn about the various aspects of college and how their grades and work in the eighth grade is important for being prepared for college.

The field trip gave eighth graders a sneak peek at college life ranging from academic (the various programs of study) to recreational (students explored the ARCC facillities and Dillon Fieldhouse). Student life at the Mount was discussed, as well as the benefits of being involved in activities, clubs, and sports. 

Dr. Frazier, the Coordinator of Teacher Education, explained the admissions process and how working hard in the eighth grade and in high school prepares them for a successful college experience.  The eighth graders concluded their memorable field trip be eating lunch with Mount students in Patriot Hall.

Kim Hansen, assistant professor of sociology, has written the book Military Chaplains and Religious Diversity based on his dissertation research.

One reviewer noted: “Professor Hansen’s book is an engaging and down-to-earth description of the work that Americans expect of their military chaplains. A good listener and careful ethnographer, Hansen shows us the surprising balancing act performed by chaplains who are at once military officers, facilitators of the constitutional free exercise rights of a diverse group of sailors, marines, soldiers, and airmen, and representatives of their particular religious communities."