SOE News Briefs: Fall 2016

Summer Literacy Institute Launches

The SOE’s Summer Literacy Institute brought more than 200 teachers from across the country to Baylor in July. The three-day professional development seminar featured well-known literacy experts Kylene Beers, previously a senior reading researcher at the Comer School Development Program at Yale University, along with Penny Kittle and Linda Rief — both teachers, authors and instructors at the University of New Hampshire Summer Literacy Institute.

Co-directors Dr. Barbara Purdum-Cassidy and Margaret Thomson said the conference grew out of a desire to reach more teachers with meaningful support, focusing on struggling readers and writers in grades 4-12. “Three full days with this quality of trainers is a very unusual format,” Thomson said. “Many teachers came in teams, so they were able to brainstorm and collaborate for the fall.”

Living and Learning Together

After a successful first year in 2015-16, the Education Living-Learning Center (LLC) doubled its population to 254 for fall 2016, now comprising all of South Russell Hall. The LLC houses both male and female students, on separate wings. About 90 percent of residents are freshmen, with leadership opportunities available for both freshmen and upperclassmen. Last year, almost 40 students served in a leadership role. Almost half of all incoming first-time freshmen education majors are living in the LLC for 2016-17.

Teacher Education Stats

The School of Education graduated a total of 92 students in teacher-education fields of elementary education, middle-grades education or secondary education. Of those graduates, 36 percent received university honors of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude.