ESU faculty and students at the National Professional Development School Conference in Jacksonville, FL in late March. (
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East Stroudsburg University’s Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education and Department of Special Education were represented at the National Professional Development School (NAPDS) Conference in Jacksonville, Florida from March 22-25.
All attendees represented the ESU College of Education by presenting on highly-relevant topics in the field including Culturally Responsive Practices, Science and Writing Content Integration, Mental Health Professional Development and the Establishment of a Mental Health Stakeholder Coalition, Learning on Lenape Land, and a Newcomer’s Perspective of PDS.
ESU faculty participants included Dr. Tanya Camella Beers, instructor of special education and rehabilitation; Dr. Nurun Begum, associate professor and department chair of early childhood and elementary education; Dr. Erica Greer, instructor of early childhood and elementary education; Jaclyn Kessel, director of field experiences and partnerships; Dr. Alison Rutter, associate professor of early childhood and elementary education; Dr. Anu Sachdev, instructor of early childhood and elementary education; Dr. Gina Scala, professor and department chair of special education and rehabilitation; and Dr. Sally Viney, instructor of early childhood and elementary education. Student participants included Holly Fisher, a senior majoring in early childhood education from Langhorne, Pa.; Mallory Keenan, a senior majoring in special education, early childhood education from Belvidere, N.J. Sierra McGinnity, a senior majoring in special education, early childhood education from Dunmore, Pa.; and Rheannon Parker, a senior majoring in special education, early childhood education from Bethlehem, Pa.
The mission of NAPDS is to advance the education profession by providing leadership, advocacy, and support to sustain professional development schools as learning communities that improve student learning, prepare educators through clinical practice, provide reciprocal professional development, and conduct shared inquiry.
The team from the College of Education engaged in scholarship and continues to advance the mission of the Professional Development School model in its programs with partner schools.
For more information about ESU’s College of Education contact Dr. Brooke Langan, dean of the College of Education at 570-422-3377 or email blangan1@esu.edu.