Infographic: Education Faculty by the Numbers
Faculty for the Graduate Programs in Education at UNE Online are integral to our students’ success. These tremendous professionals teach and mentor through a scholar-practitioner model because they see our students as their future peers. Calling on their experience as public school hiring managers, our instructors connect every lesson to professional situations and cultivate the skills they know are required for success. Education faculty by the numbers We’ve created this infographic as a way to visually represent some of the amazing credentials our faculty embody. Click to download infographic Praise for our education faculty “Our scholar-practitioner model is incredibly powerful. As educators, we come to grips at some point that a lot of the theory we learn in our prep is hard to see implemented unless you have someone standing by your shoulder telling you that ‘right there, that is Piaget,’ and our faculty is able do just that because they can talk the talk and walk the walk. They’re… Read More >
Tags: Education | faculty | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEdStudent Spotlight: Stephanie N. Marcotte, Ed.D. in Transformative Leadership
Stephanie Marcotte is a student in the Ed.D. Transformative Leadership program at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. She talks about her experience as an online student, how her leadership has developed throughout her time in the UNE Ed.D. program, and how her identity as a leader has changed throughout the program. What are your current leadership roles? Like many adjunct professors around the country, I work multiple jobs. While I believe in the establishment of full-time benefited teaching opportunities, I have learned a lot from wearing many hats. Currently, I am an adjunct professor of ESL within a credit-bearing community college academic ESL program, a teacher-trainer, a union chapter president representing all faculty and professional staff, and now an interim part-time professional staff member within the nursing department at my community college. “Busy” doesn’t quite represent the many hours I spend working, teaching, preparing, and supporting others. All of these roles… Read More >
Tags: Ed.D | Ed.D. Student Spotlight | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Student SpotlightDeveloping Teachers as Leaders
One of the main responsibilities of being an administrator in the K-12 education setting is to evaluate the performance of faculty and staff. Understanding the importance the role supervision and evaluation plays in the development of teacher leaders is vital to the culture of the school in which the practice is being utilized. In the Graduate Programs in Education at the University of New England, students in the Educational Leadership focus area, and specifically the Supervision and Evaluation course, are provided the opportunity to share some of the key takeaways they’ve learned from the process of evaluating their own colleagues. Findings from Student Feedback A central theme that surfaced from this student feedback is that communication is integral to the supervision and evaluation process. Students repeatedly reflected on multi-directional communication as a foundational approach to effective supervision and evaluation planning and implementation. Students also stated post observation conferences as one of the biggest levers for change. Within their own work… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | learning theoryHow Educational Leadership Skills Can Make You an Agent of Change
There are many ways to improve yourself, your organization, or your community, but attaining a doctorate in education might be one of the most overlooked. Leadership is a valuable trait in any sector, and the unique adaptability of an Ed.D. in Transformative Leadership has been attracting the attention of educators, healthcare officials, public servants, and human resource professionals alike. We’ve seen transportation consultants advancing access to basic services in rural areas, principals looking to undercover alternative pathways to success for students, and a rising number of workforce developers looking to enact more effective training courses. What makes an Ed.D. attractive to a diverse group of students, and how does an Ed.D. enable students to make an impact on their communities? What is educational leadership, and how might it apply to my industry? Educational leadership is the ability to identify and guide improvement in learning processes, systems, and policies. These improvements may affect departments, individuals, budgets, laws and other standards, or… Read More >
Tags: Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in EducationProgram Director Spotlight: Erin L. Connor, Ph.D.
Dr. Erin Connor is the Program Director for the Graduate Programs in Education at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies here at the University of New England. Dr. Connor comes from a long line of educators, but going into her undergraduate program at Swarthmore College, she was convinced that she was not going to become a teacher. It wasn’t until Dr. Connor took an Introduction to Education class to fulfill a prerequisite requirement during her freshman year at Swarthmore that she realized education was in fact her calling. Her professor at the time, who remains a close friend to this day, asked “when are you going to come to terms with the fact that this is what you need to do?” Dr. Connor went on to become the first student in Swarthmore history to sit for honors exams in education. She then went on to obtain her Master’s in Education from Harvard University and her Ph.D. from the University… Read More >
Tags: Graduate Programs in EducationWhat Can You Do With an Ed.D.?
The Doctor of Education in Transformative Leadership (Ed.D.) program at the University of New England’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies focuses on leadership development, problem-based inquiry, and organizational change. This cohort-based program prepares mid-career professionals to transform self, organization, and community through focused, flexible study. However, those considering a Doctorate in Education often ask us how this emphasis on transformation can benefit their careers. In short, “what can you do with an Ed.D.”? A Diverse Student and Faculty Body Provides Opportunity The Ed.D. student body is the most diverse audience served by our graduate programs in education. In addition to K-12 education professionals, students in the Ed.D. come from clinical backgrounds in healthcare settings, community colleges, and non-profit community groups and service agencies. Likewise, in addition to holding terminal degrees themselves, our Ed.D. instructors are drawn from a wide variety of professional leadership roles such as K-12, higher education and healthcare administration from across the country. The diversity of… Read More >
Tags: Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in EducationStudent Spotlight: Jessica Brousseau, CAGS AEL Program
Jessica Brousseau is a student in the UNE Online CAGS in Advanced Educational Leadership program. As a high school counselor, she enjoys learning from the diverse perspectives and experiences of her classmates, and she feels that she especially benefits from learning how her classmates in other states deal with common situations in different ways. We spoke with her recently about her experience of being a first time 100% online student and got her perspective on the program. Can you tell me a bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your CAGS AEL? I work at a regional high school in Litchfield, Connecticut. This is my second year as a school counselor there, working with kids in grades 9-12. Prior to that, while I was a graduate student earning my Master’s in School Counseling at the University of St. Joseph’s in West Hartford, CT, I was a school counseling intern. I’m pretty new to the school counseling scene, but I’ve… Read More >
Tags: CAGS | CAGS AEL | Education Student Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education | Student SpotlightPost Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program
The Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program is a unique way of structuring classes where students begin on-ground in face-to-face classes to earn their Teacher Certification, and then they have the option of taking a few more classes online to earn their Master’s of Science in Education. We spoke with Dr. Lane Clarke, Associate Professor of Education at the University of New England, about the program. How is the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program structured? This Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program is a Teacher Certification plus a Master’s program. Our students get the Teacher Certification courses from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which are the courses that are required by the State of Maine to become certified as a teacher. Then they have the option of continuing on to the online program to take an additional five graduate courses which will then earn them their Master’s in Education. It’s a really neat combination of face-to-face and online instruction, which gets… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in EducationUNE Online Among Top Online Programs in Graduate Education
UNE Online is thrilled to share that we’ve again been named one of the top Online Programs in Graduate Education by U.S. News and World Report in their 2018 Rankings. UNE Online also received high marks in the student engagement category, ranking in the top 15% of schools for student engagement. Big shout out to all of our faculty and staff! U.S. News and World Report calculated the rankings based on the following five categories: Student engagement (35 percent): Quality online graduate education programs grant aspiring teachers and educational administrators opportunities to readily interact with their instructors and classmates. In turn, instructors are not only accessible and responsive, but they are also tasked with helping to create an experience rewarding enough that students stay enrolled and complete their degrees in a reasonable amount of time. Student services and technology (20 percent): Programs that incorporate diverse online learning technologies allow greater flexibility for students to take classes from a distance. Outside… Read More >
Tags: CAGS | Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEdFaculty Spotlight: Dr. Lane Clarke, Education Program
Dr. Lane Clarke is an Associate Professor of Education at the University of New England on the Biddeford Campus. As the department chair, she teaches classes at the undergraduate level to pre-service teachers in literacy and global education. Her research interests include online teaching, technology and literacy, and working with students who struggle with literacy. She has published three books: Educating Literacy Teachers Online: Tools, Techniques, and Transformations (Clarke & Watts-Taffe, 2013), The reading turn-around: A five-part framework for differentiated instruction (Jones, Clarke & Enriquez, 2009) and High-tech teaching success: A step by step guide to using innovative technology in your classroom (Clarke & Besnoy, 2009). In addition, she has articles published in journals such as The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Journal of Literacy Research, English Journal, and Language Arts, among others. We spoke with Dr. Clarke about her career and the Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program she helped develop for online students. Can you tell… Read More >
Tags: Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership | Ed.D | Education | Education Faculty Spotlight | Faculty Spotlight | Graduate Programs in EducationStudent Spotlight: Rachael Flaxman, Education Program
Rachael Flaxman is an elementary school teacher in Maine and a student in our online MSEd program. We celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week by speaking with some of our students who have dedicated their professional lives to education. Teachers make a profound impact on the lives they touch, so we want to honor some of these very special teachers who are also our students, and who are making a difference every single day in their classroom. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and what encouraged you to pursue your Master’s in Education? I was a little bit later coming to teaching. I didn’t start teaching until I was about 30. We lived in California and I got my teaching degree out there. I taught just for a couple of years in California before taking quite a few years off to be home with my kids, but I’ve been back in the classroom for about ten years now. I… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd Student Spotlight | Student SpotlightFaculty Spotlight: Dr. Carol Marcotte – Education Program
Dr. Carol Marcotte is a long-time faculty member in the Graduate Programs in Education within the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Her primary specialty areas include literacy and educational leadership. In addition to having a background as a classroom teacher, she was also a principal for eight years. Her first role at University of New England was in 2001 as an adjunct faculty member. Currently an Associate Lecturer in the Educational Department at UNE, Carol’s primary responsibility is to be a Concentration leader for the Certificates in Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) and MSEd: Educational Leadership programs at UNE Online. In the aftermath of several devastating hurricanes, Dr. Marcotte has been very involved in humanitarian efforts with St. Maarten to support the students and schools on the island. Stepping in and helping the people of St. Maarten Dr. Marcotte has been visiting the island of St. Maarten regularly for more than 20 years now, and really has a heart for the… Read More >
Tags: CAGS | Faculty Spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEdAssistant Director Spotlight: Monique Roy – Education Program
As a non-traditional student and life-long learner, Monique Roy truly understands the value of education and believes that it has the ability to change lives because it has changed hers. Monique has been involved in all aspects of education (including student, teacher, advisor, curriculum developer, certification officer and school board member), so her well-rounded perspective makes her an incredible asset to her students, and to the Graduate Programs in Education at UNE Online. Monique Roy is the Assistant Director for the Graduate Programs in Education at UNE Online. Monique is also a teacher in her “spare time.” As Monique has learned through her career, she “NEEDS that teaching piece as a part of my life.” Read on to learn more about Monique’s journey and her passion for education at all levels. Can you tell me a little bit about your background and what drew you to UNE Online? How did you get interested in the field of Education? Sure thing!… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEdTeacher Appreciation Spotlight: Lindsey Good
This week, we are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week by spotlighting of some of our students who have dedicated their professional lives to education. Teachers provide so much to their students and communities and have a profound impact on the lives they touch. We want to honor some of these very special teachers who are also our students, and who are making a difference every day in their classroom. Lindsey Good is one of these teachers and a student in our MSEd program. She knows firsthand how impactful teachers are in the lives they touch. Lindsey’s high school English teacher made learning so relevant and engaging for her that it inspired Lindsey to dedicate her to career giving back as a teacher herself. Can you tell me a little bit about your background? I grew up in Portland, and love all that Maine has to offer. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Maine at Farmington in 2011, with… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEd | Teacher Appreciation WeekTrain Managers to Train
Increasingly, organizations are recognizing that workplace training and development are not only essential for retaining engaged and happy employees, but companies are also experiencing the positive impact that workplace training and development has on their bottom line. Employee engagement According to Forbes Magazine, employee engagement is defined as “the emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals.”1 And engaged employees can have a profound impact on their business and business outcomes. In fact, engaged employees can positively affect business profitability and productivity in staggering numbers: Highly engaged business units result in 21% greater profitability (Gallup)2 Highly engaged business units realize a 41% reduction in absenteeism and a 17% increase in productivity (Gallup)3 While at the same time, disengaged employees can have a profoundly negative impact on businesses and business outcomes. In fact, disengaged workers cause massive losses in productivity – between $450 and $500 billion a year (Mental Health America).4 Workplace training and development Now that we… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEdMeet our Team: Colby Averill
Colby Averill is an enrollment counselor at UNE Online and has been with the team since 2014. Colby obtained both his Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Thomas College. While at Thomas College, Colby was a superstar baseball player and went on to coach during his time as an MBA student. Colby also served as a Student Ambassador while at Thomas College, acting as a liaison to the college for prospective students. Transitioning to an enrollment counselor at UNE Online was a natural fit for Colby as he excels at connecting with prospective students, and enjoys guiding them through the challenging decision-making process. He’s also an exemplary team player and is always willing to lend a hand. Outside of his work at UNE Online, Colby is an avid Red Sox fan and his favorite player is Dustin Pedroia. At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what… Read More >
Tags: Education | Education Spotlight | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Education | Master of Science in Education | MSEd | Team SpotlightNew Education Legislation: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Education Legislation Through the Decades In December of 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2002. This reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) attempted to address some of the issues that made No Child Left Behind a source of challenge and frustration for many school districts nationwide. While the policies of federal education reform legislation have changed over the decades, one goal has remained constant: close the achievement gaps between poor and minority students and the more advantaged. Elementary and Secondary Education Bill In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Bill into law as part of the “War on Poverty” along with a wave of civil rights legislation. Federal funding was granted to schools that had higher rates of poverty and larger achievement gaps. The provision for this funding is known as Title I. “As a son of a tenant farmer,… Read More >
Tags: Education | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in EducationMeet Our Team: Greg Andrews
If you were to look up dedication in the UNE Online dictionary, you would find a picture of Greg Andrews. Greg’s commitment to his students is inspiring, and because of it, he’s become a household name to many of his students. He’s also a native Mainer, and New England sports aficionado, affectionately naming his cat after the famed Red Sox alum Nomar Garciaparra and dubbing a Patriots win as part of his ideal Sunday afternoon. At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. What do you do at UNE Online? I’m a Student Support Specialist here at UNE Online. I support all of our graduate-level Education students – from Master’s to Doctoral, and everything in between. I’ve been here for about two and a… Read More >
Tags: CAGS | Ed.D | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd | student support | Student Support SpotlightMeet Our Team: Brendan Parsons
Brendan Parsons works as a Student Support specialist on our Graduate Programs in Education. Standing tall at 6’5” it’s safe to say Brendan is our tallest staff member. When Brendan isn’t helping his coworkers access items on top shelves, he’s assisting current and prospective students with everything from registration to transcript requests. Brendan’s cool, calm demeanor allows him to work well under pressure and the students he supports often praise him for being easy to talk to. At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We like sharing a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. Here’s more about Brendan: What do you do at UNE Online? I started as a Student Support Specialist for the Science Prerequisites program. That team is unique among Student Support Specialists as they work with students during the registration process… Read More >
Tags: Education | Graduate Programs in Education | student support | Student Support SpotlightMeet Our Team: Kelsey McIntyre
Kelsey McIntyre is one of UNE Online’s superstar enrollment counselors, specializing in our Online Graduate Education Programs. Kelsey has a unique ability to connect with our potential students and help to identify their goals and motivations for pursuing a higher education degree. She then works with them to help them build their best application possible. In her spare time, you can find Kelsey in some body of water; whether it’s the ocean or a lake, this native Mainer takes advantage of everything the #vacationland state has to offer. At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. What do you do at UNE Online? I’m an enrollment counselor for UNE’s Online Graduate Programs in Education. So that includes our MSEd programs, our CAGS, PMC and… Read More >
Tags: CAGS | Ed.D | Enrollment | enrollment counselor spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd | PMCAlumni Spotlight: Dr. Vicki Rusbult, Ed.D. – Education Program
UNE Online Alumna Dr. Vicki Rusbult fulfilled a lifelong dream last May and graduated from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies with her Ed.D. And it turns out that her dissertation wasn’t only interesting to her faculty advisor… The ‘National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Rural Transportation National Newsletter’ recently published a link to her full dissertation in their national newsletter. We’re so thrilled for Dr. Rusbult and her impressive national exposure! We spoke with Dr. Rusbult to talk about her professional career, and how her Ed.D. from UNE Online is opening doors and helping further her work. Here’s a little more about how she is putting her Ed.D. to good use: What was your experience like, getting your Ed.D. online? Not being in a classroom was initially a concern of mine, but the thing is, with technology now you’re able to have valuable interactions. You still have group work, but instead of in-person, you communicate on the telephone… Read More >
Tags: 12 Days of Online Learning | Alumni Spotlight | Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership | Ed.D | Ed.D. Alumni Spotlight | Ed.D. Student Spotlight | Education | Graduate Programs in Education | Student SpotlightMeet Our Team: Jason Asdourian
As a Student Support Specialist for students enrolled in deadline-based programs, there’s no one who understands that time is of the essence better than Jason Asdourian. As a former Civilian for the Army, Jason learned the value of time and prides himself on getting things done now, if not yesterday. At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. What do you do at UNE Online? I am a Student Support Specialist for our Graduate Programs in Education. I help our students throughout the entirety of their program and work with them to resolve any issues or speed bumps they may encounter. Student Support Specialists are kind of like a concierge for the student. Where are you from? I grew up in South Portland, Maine…. Read More >
Tags: Graduate Programs in Education | student support | Student Support SpotlightMeet Our Team: Lucas Good
Lucas Good is an Enrollment Counselor for our advanced degree programs in Education here at UNE Online. Lucas not only studied elementary education, but is also a certified teacher. So if anyone knows what it’s like to be a teacher and apply to one of our Education programs, it’s Lucas. He also loves pizza, ice cream and the ocean. At UNE Online students are our top priority, and their success is what drives each and every one of us to do what we do. We’d like to share a little bit about the people that are dedicated to making that happen every day. What do you do at UNE Online? I’m an Enrollment Counselor here at UNE, and I work specifically with applicants for our advanced degree programs in Education. I’m an applicant’s first point of contact when they are interested in one of our advanced degree education programs. I cover the Master of Science in Education, CAGS, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Ed.D programs…. Read More >
Tags: CAGS | Enrollment | enrollment counselor spotlight | Graduate Programs in Education | MSEd | PMCESSA: Changes in Certification for Special Ed Teachers
As noted in our previous blog New Education Legislation: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Every Student Succeeds Act reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It was also noted in the blog post, that this new act would bring changes, and changes have already begun in the State of Maine. On May 16th, the Maine Department of Education sent out a Priority Notice to inform Maine school administrators of amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) which deals primarily with special education. The Priority Notice Requirement 34 CFR Section 602(10)(B) mandated that a person employed as a special education teacher in elementary school, middle school, or secondary school must have obtained full certification as a special education teacher. The teacher must not be working under certification or licensure requirements that are waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis. – Maine Department of Education 2016 What does this mean for Maine educators? Maine will no longer… Read More >
Tags: Education | Enrollment | Graduate Programs in Education