Message from the Dean
Sermon in Shoes
These are difficult times on our campus. We are still feeling the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic. Furthermore, we are facing an incredible budget challenge. There are many unknowns as we work through these challenges, which bring uncertainty and anxiety. During such times music becomes my constant companion as I drive to and from work. Music is my thin place. One of my favorite gospel groups is Shower Power, an acapella gospel group from Zimbabwe. A line from one of their songs has been stuck in my head lately: “YOUR life is message; you are a sermon in shoes. What is it that you are preaching? Christian of today, where are you?” It had me thinking. In my work and in our work as the SOE, what it is we are preaching?
In this current issue of On Point, you will get a hint of how we are walking as we strive to serve our students and our community well. You will read about the work and accomplishments of our alumni and our current students. You will learn about the contributions of our faculty and staff to their respective guilds. We have had several events that have presented us opportunities to learn and grow as a community. The makeup of that community shifts as time passes. At this time of the year, we typically have some transitions and this year in no different. You will read about some members of our team moving to new ventures. You will be introduced to some new members of our SOE family as well.
You see, amid all the challenges we do have much to celebrate. Our students are phenomenal; our faculty and staff are relentless in their pursuit of excellence in their work. Guided by our faith, we forge ahead holding each other up. We remain committed to our students and to their success. We strive to live faithful lives every day and let others see Jesus in us no matter what we are all going through.
Being a sermon in shoes takes commitment, courage, and compassion. It is important that we are at our highest level of empathy — walking in each other’s shoes if you will. We are glad to be a sermon in shoes in these times fraught with anxiety and uncertainty. We continue our walk with our eyes firmly fixed on God so we can avoid tripping and falling. And should we fall, we have God, and we have each other.
Blessings to you,
Nyaradzo Mvududu
Dean
School of Education
Alumni & current students highlights
Dr. Adam Swinyard, superintendent of Spokane Public Schools, was named 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA). The award is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership of active, front-line superintendents and pay tribute to those who lead Washington’s public schools.
Dr. Swinyard was characterized as “effectively leading the district to a place where all — staff, students, and family — feel and experience a strong sense of belonging by boldly sharing love as the primary focus of the district. This focus has promoted a reawakening to the value and importance of relationships.”
Spokane Public Schools is the third largest district in Washington state, with 56 schools, 30,000 students in grades K–12, and over 5,000 staff members. In 2013, Dr. Swinyard joined Spokane Public Schools, where he worked as a principal at Sacajawea Middle School before becoming the district’s associate superintendent for teaching and learning and director of secondary schools. He received his doctorate in education and master’s degree in education through Seattle Pacific University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Northwest University. As the state’s Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Swinyard will be a candidate for the 2023 American Association of School Administrators’ National Superintendent of the Year Award. The national award will be announced in February during the AASA National Conference on Education in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Emmanuel (Manny) Mourtzanos (EdD, 2005) serves as the Vice Chancellor of Educational Services at the Kern Community College District in Bakersfield, California, supporting the academic and student services functions at Bakersfield College, Porterville College, and Cerro Coso Community College. Manny previously served Bakersfield College as the vice president of student affairs, executive dean, and dean of instruction, spanning 10 years. Manny also served in numerous administrative roles in higher education over the past 26 years, including dean of students (California State University Bakersfield); associate dean of student services (Letourneau University); director of education (University of Washington School of Medicine – Graduate Medical Education); and assistant director of residence life (Seattle Pacific University). Manny has been actively involved as a faculty member at various institutions throughout his career, including currently serving as part of the Core Faculty for CSUB’s Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership since 2018, and as an affiliate faculty member in Fresno State University’s Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership (2015-2018). Manny earned his EdD from Seattle Pacific University (2005), MA in Student Development from Providence College and Seminary (1996), and BRE in Christian Education from Tyndale University College (1993). Manny can be reached at emmanuel.mourtzanos@kccd.edu.
Dr. Kedmon Elisha Mapana was appointed by H.E President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the executive secretary of the National Arts Council (BASATA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This is a well-deserved appointment for Dr. Mapana who has a keen interest, exposure, experience, and knowledge in the arts discipline. Dr. Mapana, is a senior lecturer and heads the University of Dar es Salaam Department of Creative Arts. He graduated with a PhD in Education from SPU, focusing on musical traditions in the school curriculum (attitudes of Tanzanian Music Educators); and a Master of Arts with concentrations in Ethnomusicology and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine and Performing Arts, both from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Alice Wing-Shuen Lau, a doctoral student, was selected as a 2023 TESOL Leadership Mentoring Program Award recipient. Alice will be recognized at the 2023 TESOL International Convention & English Language EXPO. This is a high honor indeed and we are very proud of Alice!
Have a professional success to share? Send it to On Point at fryettl@spu.edu for publication in the “Alumni & Current Students Highlights” section of our next issue.
Faculty & staff highlights
Faculty/Staff Recognition
Dr. Kris Gritter, professor and chair of Literacy, Language, and Equity, and a team of colleagues recently published their book Young Adult Literature and Spirituality. In this book they offer approaches to in-class discussions about young adult literature that allow broader thinking beyond theme. Drawing from a variety of contemplative traditions, they show teachers how themes might operate as prayers of lament, yearning, anger, confession, thankfulness, reconciliation, joy, obedience, pilgrimage, contemplation, and equanimity.
Dr. Alice Bravo, assistant professor of teacher education, co-authored an article “Supporting the inclusion and retention of autistic students: Exploring teachers’ and paraeducators’ use of evidence-based practices in public elementary schools,” which was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry. Her other co-authored article “Social validity in behavioral research: A selective review” was published in Perspectives on Behavior Science: (2022).
Dr. Julie Antilla, associate professor and chair of Educational Leadership, had her co-authored chapter published in the Handbook of Research on the Educator Continuum and Development of Teachers. The chapter is titled “Developing and using STEM pedagogical content knowledge across career stages.” The citation for the chapter is: Coomes, J., Antilla-Garza, J., & McNamara, J. (2022) Developing and using STEM pedagogical content knowledge across career stages. In B. Zugelder & M. L’Esperance (Eds.), Handbook of Research on the Educator Continuum and Development of Teachers. IGI Global.
Dr. Nalline Baliram, Dr. Jill Heiney-Smith, and Dr. Kirsten Koetje gave a presentation titled “Supporting Teacher Education Students’ Sense of Belonging Through Professional Learning Networks” at the Hawaii International Conference on Education. Their presentation related to the Professional Learning Networks that was launched summer 2021 to the AMAT cohort. This new program requirement replaced the EDTPA that was eliminated.
In the fall of 2021, director of Graduate Teacher Education Dr. Jill Heiney-Smith visited the classrooms of eight recent graduates across Washington state. Dr. Heiney-Smith designed this project for her sabbatical research to learn more about how our graduates perceive their preparation once they have their own classrooms. One of these visits was to Master of Arts in Teaching Alumna Joan King, whose experience feeling seen and supported as a teacher of color within the program did not match her experiences once she graduated, and especially during the job search.
An idea was born to collaborate on a presentation that would explore the ways that university teacher programs and district leaders should work together to better prepare educators of color for the job search process and induction into their first teaching jobs. In October 2022, Dr. Heiney-Smith and Ms. King presented their experiences to participants at the Technology Access Foundation’s first Convening, “a space for educators to collaborate, share ideas, and gather with intention” (see the TAF website for more information).
Joan King defended her dissertation in December 2022, and continued teaching the SPU community through her EdTalk.
Kristi Kanehen will be transitioning out of her role as the Associate Director of Graduate Programs to focus on her own graduate studies. Kristi served in this role for one year and has been in the SOE for 15 years. Kristi has been an invaluable member of the SOE and of the SPU community. The SPU Staff Council selected Kristi as Staff of the Month for March 2023. Kristi is so deserving of this honor! She serves our faculty and students with such care and grace. Her depth of knowledge and experience have served us well. Way to leave on a high note, Kristi!
Dr. Dan Bishop is retiring after 21 years of service to the School of Education. During his time in the SOE, he served in a variety of roles. He served as assistant dean overseeing Teacher Education and Professional Education for the SOE, directed the Center for Professional Education, and most recently he served as chair of the Teaching, Learning, and Leadership program, helping to prepare current teachers for leadership roles with their schools. Dan is a well-loved member of our SOE family, and we will miss his presence with us.
This is one of the newest additions to our SOE family! Welcome to Margaret Jacquelyn Brown who made her arrival at 5:47 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2023. We are so glad you are here, Midge! Congratulations to parents Jenn and Jared!
And here is the other addition to our SOE family. Congratulations to Emily and Jordan on the arrival of baby John Phelix Shannon! He made his appearance on Feb. 10, 2023. Welcome to the world, John! We have been waiting for you.
In January 2023 UKRIDA had a celebration for their 56th anniversary. At this event UKRIDA gives awards to partners, both at home and abroad, through the “Ukrida Jaya Partnership Awards 2023.” For foreign partners, there are several categories of awards. The SPU School of Education was recognized at Krida Wacana Christian University’s 56th-anniversary celebration in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the award for “Committed Partner in Boosting Faculty Research, Publication, and Professional Development.” UKRIDA acknowledged SPU’s support, specifically the efforts of Drs. Kris Gritter, Munyi Shea, and David Wicks in helping the professional growth of UKRIDA faculty.
Christy Barnes, adjunct instructor and Center for Professional Education program coordinator, published three poems recently: “The Classics”(Plume); “Late Postpartum Dream Sequence” (Literary Mama) and “Snag” (SWWIM). Way to begin the year! Christy is also a 2013 SPU MFA graduate.
Dr. Jordan Shannon, assistant professor of Counselor Education, authored two articles titled “A Study of Help-Seeking Behaviors for African American Men: Implications for Counselor Education” in the Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, 00, 1-10 and (with Seward, D. X., & Luke, M.) “Dynamics of Co-Leadership Development in a Training Group” in The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 47:3-4, 208-223, DOI: 10.1080/01933922.2022.2139876
Jason Thornberry had his personal essay, “Ubu and the Addendum,” published in 100subtexts literary magazine, a journal from the UK. The essay is about the trials of apartment living and the twin tribulations of pet adoption and landlords.
Parenting and schooling anthology project with Dr. Greg Fritzberg
In his 1899 book The School and Society, John Dewey wrote, “What the best and wisest parent wants for his child, that must we want for all the children of the community. Anything less is unlovely, and left unchecked, destroys our democracy.” A century-and-a-quarter later, Dewey’s charge to nurture the next generations into lives of creativity, contribution, and informed citizenship through equality of educational opportunities still rings with moral significance for most American adults — adults who largely believe in and support the success of America’s public and private schools. But how does Dewey’s charge inform our personal educational choices? As our schools struggle with staffing and resource shortages and with the cultural and curricular battles of each era, how do families navigate the sometimes muddy path between actively upholding their public ideals and privately making the right decisions about their own children’s schooling? And what happens when the path toward the “right-for-your-child” education is not straight, not easy, or perhaps not clear at all? Finally, as we seek what is “right” for our own children, what are the inevitable impacts of these personal choices on our community? What is our obligation to other people’s children? To all children?
In a soon to be completed anthology on contemporary American education and the tensions of educational choice (Instincts and Ideals: Essays on Parenting, Schooling, and Democracy), Dr. Greg Fritzberg and SOE graduate student (and English Department writing instructor) Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum gathered narrative responses to the above questions from individual parents and guardians across the country, in addition to reflecting on the issues themselves.
They hope the book will be unique in that it showcases personal rather than academic reflections from a wide range of contributors — scholars and professional writers speaking not simply about their opinions on American education, but how they’ve guided their own children. When educators and parents/guardians speak of their guiding values as opposed to opining in third- person about our massive and multi-layered educational system, honesty surfaces and hopefully leads to non-judgmental reflection and meaningful dialogue among readers. In addition, Greg offers thoughts in the text about the promise and dangers of contemporary school choice policy designs in terms of structuring parental choice-making in ways that don’t lead to class and racial segregation, but instead provide side constraints that protect equal opportunity and shared citizenship formation. Greg and Kirsten hope to follow up successful publication of this book with public opportunities for parents and guardians to continue non-judgmental sharing of their own stories and choices, their own joys and pains, and their collective hopes for popular education in our struggling democracy.
News & Events
On Jan. 19, 2023, the School of Education hosted an EdTalks series event: “Using Choreographed Songs to Teach Science.” Jennifer Mangan, PhD, and David Newman have leveraged the power of music and movement to increase retention of science facts among middle school students. In this EdTalk, they shared how their approach of adding the arts to learning potentially dry science facts can promote enjoyment of the learning process. Their work has found that learning a song promotes retention of knowledge, but adding simple choreography to the song has the potential to further aid learning. In addition, adding the arts to learning science facts some may find dry promotes enjoyment of the learning process.
Jennifer Mangan is associate professor of interdisciplinary studies at James Madison University, where she teaches science and science education, with an emphasis on field methods for teachers, weather and climate, geological sciences, and environmental science. David Newman has been writing songs since the age of seven and was strongly influenced by a childhood infused with Sesame Street, The Electric Company, and Schoolhouse Rock.
In our EdTalks series event on Feb. 16, 2023, participants learned how the Model Minority Myth and other biases have been weaponized against Asian American students and works against their racial identity. Dr. Joan King offered strategies and methods for educators to implement a culturally competent approach in their classrooms to better support their Asian American students.
Joan King is a staff writer for Mochi Magazine (a magazine that amplifies Asian American women) and a collegiate recovery advocate. She is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, the National Association of Memoir Writers, the Willamette Writers Organization, and the National Women of Color Network. In addition to a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, an MA in English, and a recently earned Doctorate in Education, she has a certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University. Additionally, Dr. King has received a U.S. Air Force Medal of Achievement.
Teacher Education Program Hosts Youth Mental Health Workshops
Just like their adult caregivers, K–12 many students in American schools are facing a growing crisis in managing their mental health. Whether this is due to lingering impacts from the pandemic, a rise in generalized worry and anxiety, social media, or too much time spent on screens, our new teachers need tools to support their students. New teachers also need to know how their students’ mental health impacts their learning and how to consider related topics such as equitable grading for students experiencing anxiety. While these topics are explored in several courses, the Teacher Education Program (TEP) leaders wanted to create an opportunity for teacher candidates to come together in a larger format where they could learn from experts in the field and discuss their experiences, observations, and needs related to their current teaching internships.
Due to the developmental differences with mental health, two workshops were held on Feb. 16 and required for all TEP students. Elementary teacher candidates learned from Danielle Allen, a licensed mental health counselor and child mental health therapist working for Spokane Public Schools in Spokane, Washington. Ms. Allen is also a Certified Circle of Security Parenting and Classroom facilitator and has been serving parent and staff/educator groups in the community for the last four years. Secondary teacher candidates learned from SPU’s own Dr. Amy Mezulis. Dr. Mezulis is the chair of SPU’s Clinical Psychology PhD program, supervises doctoral trainees, and teaches courses in adolescent development, cognitive-behavioral therapy, diagnosis, and assessment. Her clinical areas of expertise include mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, suicidality and self-injury, trauma, substance use, and adolescent development.
TEP students, faculty, and staff joined in the workshops and left wanting to learn more. Next year we hope to coordinate more learning on this critical topic across various programs in the School of Education.
The SOE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI) hosted the third virtual Diversity Conference titled “Advancing Toward Educational Justice: Cultivating Transformative Educational Spaces for All on March 11, 2023. The keynote speaker was Carla Estes, Principal of Lochburn Middle School in the Clover Park School District. This conference is an avenue for Washington educators to discuss the current needs of K–12 schools and learn ways to support K–12 students appropriately in response to the current sociopolitical climate. The keynote presentation addressed the fact that as educators we are tasked with integrating diverse voices. It is imperative to incorporate voices, perspectives, and experiences without highlighting trauma as a focal point. Intentional examination of diverse voices through a trauma lens ensures safe spaces for all learners.
The SOE will be hosting our annual Job and Family Engagement Resource Fair on April 18. We will have many of our top school district partners in attendance, as well as community-based organizations. We hope for students to leave the event with promising job leads and great connections with the community organizations. Last year’s fair was a great success, with over 25 districts and organizations sending representatives to network with graduating School of Education students. Our students walked away with strategies to promote welcoming and equitable partnerships with families. We look forward to hosting again in April!
Giving
Like you, we believe in our mission to engage the culture and change the world … starting in the classroom. That’s why SPU’s School of Education is always looking for new ways to help you connect with the future of education in our state and beyond. And there’s more than one way you can get involved. In fact, here are four ways to give.
On Point
Do you have news or know of any faculty, staff, or alumni that should be featured in the next issue? Please email On Point at fryettl@spu.edu