News and Happenings

Spring 2008

Invitation to Dream Report on DCPS Student Ideas for School Reform Released
Thursday, May 1, the School of Education, Teaching & Health (SETH) hosted the release of "Invitation to Dream," a report that compiles students' opinions on the DC public school system and current reform efforts. The event was attended by student contributors and community members and included the screening of a short documentary on the project. SETH staff member Adey Stembridge coordinated the research and data analysis for the project with the help of student assistants from AU and GWU. Invitation to Dream is co-sponsored by DC VOICE and the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative.

Dr. Bob Moses speaks at AU on "The Algebra Project: Equity and Excellence in Math Education"
On March 15, 2008, the School of Education Teaching and Health hosted Dr. Bob Moses as the keynote speaker for a symposium titled, "Improving Math Education in Urban Schools." Moses, Eminent Scholar at the Center for Urban Education and Innovation at the University of Florida, spoke to an audience of public school teachers and administrators as well as AU education students. All attendees received a copy of Moses' book, Radical Equations: Civil Rights from Mississippi to the Algebra Project.

Seth Faculty Jesse Nickelson discusses Global Classrooms DC on Kojo Nnamdi Show
Seth Faculty Jesse Nickelson, who is also the DC Public Schools Social Studies Curriculum Director, was on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show Monday, April 21 to discuss Global Classrooms,a program that brings the Model United Nations to DC middle and high schools. Nickelson involved his students in the Model UN when he was a classroom teacher and now has facilitated its integration into the DCPS social studies curriculum. DC students participated Monday, July 28 in the Model UN simulation at the US State Department.

Professor Nickelson was joined on the Kojo Nnamdi show by Taishya Adams, Director, Global Classrooms Washington, DC for the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area and Richard Reitano, Professor of Government, Dutchess Community College and coach of the joint Vassar-Dutchess student delegation to the National Model United Nations.

To hear the interview online, go to http://wamu.org/programs/kn/08/04/21.php#20116

Student Teacher Mini-Grants Awarded
Four SETH student-teachers have received $500 mini grants to bring innovative methodologies and practices to D.C. area classrooms. The Ganek Family Student Teacher Mini Grants for Innovation in Education were created to allow American University student-teachers to test new and unique methodologies and techniques in DC classrooms with the help of their cooperating teachers. Throughout the spring, the grant recipients will implement their programs, which include a token economy used as a behavioral management tool for high school students, math taught through song, a school newspaper run by students in grades 2-5 and a world bazaar used to teach third-grade students business and world culture. Recipients are Thomas Bishop, Ariella Brodecki, Alison Clark, and Hilarie Shanley. For more info http://american.edu/cas/seth/ganek.cfm

Annual Report