College of Education News

• Guthrie Named Interim Superintendent of Western Heights
• Dr. Meagan Moreland Shows How to Make an Active Volcano at Home on NewsOn6
• NSU Grad to Lead Houston School District as Superintendent
• COE Alum Named Oklahoma 2021 - 20 under 2 honoree
• NSU Education Degrees Selected 2021 Most Affordable
• COE Alum Named Asst Superintendent/Office Administrator of the Year
• Faculty & Staff Acknowledged at 2021 NSU Employee Recognition Reception
• COE Faculty & Students Receive DaVinci Institute Awards
• Armstrong named among 2021 NSU Centurions
• NSU Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education ranked #42 in nation
• Alum Featured for Inquiry-Based teaching in 5th Grade Reading & Social Studies classes

News Archives

Monty Guthrie (B.S. '90, M.Ed. School Administration '04) has been name interim superintendent of Western Heights Public Schools in Oklahoma City. Guthrie has 26 years of experience in education, and will lead development of an intervention plan to correct noncompliance and deficiencies identified within the district.

“Monty is a visionary leader with a track record of unifying staff and developing positive relationships within the school community,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister.

Click here to read the full story

July 2021

Dr. Meagan Moreland joined the News On 6 team on Thursday afternoon to share a fun hands-on volcano-themed activity for kids.

Watch the video clip on newson6.com

June 2021

Millard House (NSU M.Ed. School Administration, '98) was recently named the new superintendent of Houston Independent School District in Houston.

With about 30,000 employees who serve more than 200,000 students in 276 schools, Houston ISD is more than five times larger than the Clarksville, Tennessee school district. It’s the largest school district in Texas and seventh largest in the nation.

House is a Tulsa, Oklahoma native with nearly three decades of education and nonprofit experience. Before he was named CMCSS director of schools, he served as an executive consultant and executive director of New Leaders Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also served as the chief operating officer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System in Charlotte and deputy superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools.

Millard House pictured above

Click here to see full article

May 2021

Kaitlin Wright (Elementary Education, '19) was chosen as a 2021 20 Under 2 honoree.

The Teaching & Leading Initiative of Oklahoma has honored twenty of the top novice teachers in the state in the third annual 20 Under 2 Novice Teaching Awards, a list of promising new Oklahoma teachers. The 20 Under 2 award celebrates emerging teachers who are setting the educational pace for Oklahoma students and make Oklahoma’s future look bright.

Ms. Wright teaches 2nd grade at Okmulgee Primary School. Wright emphasizes the importance of emotional safety as a prerequisite to learning. “Children learn best when they are comfortable and loved. I try my hardest to give every student a place to feel safe, loved, valued, but also to learn and have fun!” Ms. Wright was selected because of her outstanding instructional skills and her deep commitment to students, families and community. 

This year's 20 Under 2 honorees will receive a $250 gift certificate to Magic City Books to purchase books for their classroom or professional development along with a few other gift items. 

Kaitlin Wright pictured above

Click here for full list of 2021 20 Under 2 Honorees

May 2021

Education Degree online has selected Northeastern State University's education programs as most affordable in the West South Central U.S. (TOLA States).

Click here to see full list on Education Degree website

May 2021

Former College of Education graduate, Sharon Ballew ('79, '83) was named by the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators as the 2021 OASA District 11 Assistant Superintendent/Central Office Administrator of the Year.

Ms. Ballew currently serves as the Director of Federal Programs at Tenkiller Public Schools and has been employed there since 1992. Her involvement in the district has includes grant writing, the Oklahoma Alliance of Boys & Girls Club, and the Oklahoma Association for Bilingual Education.

"Sharon Ballew is among the best of Oklahoma administrators. We are excited and proud to recognize these outstanding leaders," Dr. Pam Deering, OASA executive director.

Click here to read the full article from Tahlequah Daily Press

May 2021

Several College of Education faculty and staff members were acknowledged at this year's Employee Recognition Reception and Presentation, held on Thursday, April 29. Congratulations to all of this year's awardees, nominees, and retirees!

FACULTY MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Dr. Ingrid Massey, Director of the NSU Broken Arrow Reading and Literacy Center, received the Graduate Faculty Mentor of the Year Award.

The mission of the Faculty Mentor program is to enhance the educational experience of NSU students by supporting advising and mentoring activities in order to improve student academic achievement, recruitment, retention, graduation rates, career/professional development and post-graduate education. As part of the Faculty Mentor program, recognition is extended each year to an outstanding undergraduate and graduate faculty member. NSU students provided nominations for this year's outstanding faculty mentors and were chosen by a select committee.

Dr. MooSong Kim, Department Chair of Health & Kinesiology, was also nominated.

STAR AWARD

Lori Riley, Academic Advisor II for College of Education in Broken Arrow, and Lois Buttress, COE Certification Coordinator, were both nominated for the STAR award.

Since 2011 Staff Council has formed a committee to recognize and honor staff members who excel and demonstrate star qualities: Service, Teamwork, Attitude,  Reliability and a strong commitment to the values of Northeastern State University: Integrity, Collaboration, Creativity, Leadership, Excellence, Communication, and Diversity.

YEARS OF SERVICE

Dr. Sally Armstrong, Professor in the Clinical Education department of Curriculum & Instruction, and Mrs. Lois Buttress, Teacher Certification Coordinator, were both honored with pins for 40 years of service at NSU. Congratulations and thank you for your years of service!

RETIREMENTS

COE extends congratulations and warm regards to those retiring this year:

Margaret Dobbs, Health & Kinesiology
Dr. Cindi Fries, Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Judy Moody, Educational Leadership

April 2021

Dr. Sally Armstrong, Professor of Curriculum & Instruction, was named among the 2021 NSU Centurions. Also among the 2021 list was Gene Frusher, who was awarded posthumously. Dr. Susan Frusher, recently retired Professor of Educational Leadership, accepted the award on his behalf.

The Centurion honor is awarded annually to 10 members of the Northeastern State University family alumni, faculty, staff, and students who impacted the life of the nominator, the Northeastern community, or the public at large. This award is for individuals whose leadership and commitment, in the course of helping others, has allowed them to make a significant impact in the past 100 years of NSU's history.

See NSU website for past winners.

March 2021

Study.com has published its 2021 rankings, and Northeastern State University has been ranked #42 on the list of Best Bachelor's Degrees in Early Childhood Education!

Over 40 million visitors per month use Study.com to research potential schools, degrees, and careers, and this list will help Study.com users and NSU potential students learn about Northeastern State University's excellent offerings. To compile the list, Study.com considered hundreds of universities across the country and selected Northeastern State University based on academic and career resources, the quality of education, faculty, and more. 

March 2021

Traeton Dansby, recipient of Teach2Reach and 2020 graduate of the College of Education, was recently recognized in the Tahlequah Daily Press for incorporating inquiry-based teaching in his 5th grade Reading and Social Studies classes. His students at Heritage Elementary School conducted a mock trial to debate the role that key figures in the American Revolution had in the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party.

Dansby began developing the project while an undergraduate in the Elementary Education program in Dr. Benn-Duke's Social Studies Strategies. "Seeing it come to fruition was so cool. I am so appreciative for the high quality education I received by the College of Ed. You all have such an outstanding program that fully equipped me to work in the classroom. Classes like Dr. Benn-Duke's are so rich with valuable information, I continue to use what I was taught in her class and others on a daily basis. I am forever appreciative of NSU's COE!"

Read the full story here: Heritage students 'acquit' American Revolution pair 

March 2021