I provide high quality preparation for family professionals
For more than eight years, I served as lecturer and program coordinator for the University of Minnesota’s Parent and Family Education program.
In addition to teaching online graduate-level courses, I managed multiple, complex projects to ensure high-quality preparation of licensed teachers in parent and family education. Projects ranged from maintaining accreditation and continuous improvement to coordinating student teaching placements in school district Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs throughout the state.
All projects aimed to ensure we were preparing parent educators to deliver high quality family education and engagement. The photo below is from a recognition of students teachers at a state-wide conference.
Innovation with Integrity.
In 2008, the Parent and Family Education program became one of the first fully online graduate programs at the University of Minnesota. Alongside adult learning theory, neuroscience research, and quality assurance guidelines, we integrated Bransford’s four learning environmental design perspectives: Learner-Centerd, Knowledge-Centered, Community-Centered, and Assessment-Centered.
By moving a teacher preparation program online without compromising quality, we were able to create a more responsive and accessible program for students throughout the state and around the world; ultimately providing more families with high quality engagement and education.
Innovation through Continuous Improvement.
In 2018, we secured an Innovative Teaching Grant to revise the parent and family education program alongside a Moodle to Canvas LMS transition. We used data from our Continuous Improvement Process to create a more streamlined scope and sequence, and update content to include trauma and mental health, special needs in children and parents, working with immigrant and refugee families, and more.