UI College of Education Dean Dale Gentry Honored in Moscow May 30
Wednesday, May 29 2002
May 29, 2002^MOSCOW – Dale Gentry, who steps down as the University of Idaho education dean of 17 years -- the longest serving dean currently at UI -- will be honored at a reception at the University Inn, Thursday, May 30, 4-5:30 p.m.^The event will feature a video, “The Gentry Years: 1985 to 2002,” documenting the college’s impact on education in Idaho. Another reception is June 20, 4:30-6 p.m. at the Boise Doubletree Riverside, dovetailing with the Idaho Association of School Administrators meeting. Receptions are free and open to the public.^“Dale Gentry is one of the most respected educators in Idaho,” said Marilyn Howard, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, interviewed for the Gentry video. UI President Bob Hoover added that in addition to shepherding the college through many changes, Gentry has been part of “virtually every study and reform in Idaho education in the past 17 years.”^Under his leadership, more than 8,000 students have earned degrees in education, some 3,400 of them at the doctoral and masters level. These include students from most continents and many states. Many of them now serve in leadership roles throughout Idaho, nationally and even internationally.^During the Gentry years, outreach programs have grown from a fledging one faculty person in Boise to robust programs in Coeur d’Alene, Boise, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls, supporting hundreds of students each year. Roger Reynoldson, faculty emeritus at the UI Boise Center, said many of Idaho’s principals and superintendents today “from Burley to Moscow were trained in UI educational leadership graduate programs, many of them thanks to Dale Gentry.”^Gentry’s team met the national mandate to apply rigorous new standards to public school curriculum, and to redesign teacher education to meet greater challenges facing teachers.^The Gentry team met the technology challenge for Idaho schools, working with legislators to enact some of the most rigorous goals for K-12 schools in the nation. His team helped Idaho students and teachers create technology tests and offered thousands of hours of workshops to teachers. In Gentry's early years, technology mainly “meant a telephone,” says UI Coeur d’Alene dean Jack Dawson. Distance Learning meant “professors got in their cars after teaching all day in Moscow and drove 80 miles to Coeur d’Alene for evening classes.”^Today classes are taught via video conferencing, so the teacher and students in Moscow can interact with classrooms in other parts of Idaho. “Our's is one of the most technologically advanced colleges of education,” said Jerry Tuchscherer, associate education dean. Two entire graduate education degrees are available online and more are on the way, serving teachers in rural communities far from campus centers.^The Gentry Years video also documents the changing role of a dean. “We used to focus mostly on internal matters such as curriculum, faculty development, and on-campus issues,” said former education dean Thomas O. Bell. “Now deans must worry about fund raising,” outreach strategies, and national dialogs about K-12 issues. UI’s Hoover credit’s Gentry with playing an “important role” in educator-philanthropist Thomas C. Wright’s record $24 million donation to the university. And, education scholarships have increased five-fold over the last two years to annual awards of $317,000.^Gentry and his wife, Pat, long-time special education teacher in Moscow schools, have both resigned their positions to consider their next career steps. “Our main concern, always,” says Gentry, “is helping bring about the best possible education for children. That desire has always governed our life, and it always will.” ^Media Contacts: Dale Gentry, dean, College of Education, (208) 885-6773, dgentry@uidaho.edu; Mary Ann Reese, UI College of Education media relations, (208) 885-2841, mreese@uidaho.edu;^Photo available at http://www.its.uidaho.edu/today/photo_list.asp^**Media are welcome to the Dean Gentry receptions May 30, from 4-5:30 P.M. at the University Inn in Moscow and June 20, 4:30-6 p.m. at Boise’s Doubletree Riverside. Also, Gentry will be available for interviews in Moscow May 30, or earlier by phone.^-30- ^(mar) 5/29/02 –EDU
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The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.