UI to Offer Unique Graduate Study Program Thanks to Endowment
Thursday, June 22 2000
June 22, 2000^^CONTACT: Jeanne Christiansen, College of Education associate dean, (208) 885-6772, jeannec@uidaho.edu or Chad Cain, University Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-6567, cmcain@uidaho.edu ^^MOSCOW-Eight teachers from northern Idaho and Spokane, Wash., have received fellowships from the University of Idaho's College of Education that will allow them to participate in a unique graduate program leading to a master's or education specialist degree.^^Each teacher will receive a $7,500 scholarship from the Thomas C. Wright Endowment for the yearlong program. Thomas C. Wright, a UI alumnus, recently set up the $60,000 endowment to support the continuing education of practicing teachers.^^"The creation of this endowment has allowed the College of Education to create an innovative approach to its graduate program that will give teachers a unique opportunity to further their education," said Jeanne Christiansen, College of Education associate dean.^^The four-semester program begins this summer with six weeks of intensive courses running from June 26 to Aug. 4. Teachers will develop an individualized study or research plan, which each teacher then will apply in his or her classroom throughout the school year. The final session for this group will be next summer. Teachers who complete the program will earn a master's degree or an education specialist degree.^^The participants will work closely with accomplished educators on some common themes, including standards- and assessment-driven instruction, use of technology in instruction, classroom-based research and reading and writing across the curriculum. Each teacher has participated in the National Board Certification process through the North Idaho Partnership. ^^UI College of Education Faculty Member Jerry McMurtry, public school officials and other UI faculty members will facilitate the program.^^Tom Wright graduated from UI with a master's degree in educational administration in 1954. He built The Wright Group, an educational materials publishing company, from the ground up. He recently sold that enterprise and now is focusing his efforts on philanthropy in support of education.^^The teachers and their residing school districts are:^^COEUR D'ALENE Lynne Peters: Woodland Middle School, Coeur d'Alene School District^^Nancy Larsen: Ramsey Elementary, Coeur d'Alene School District^^Michelle Faucher-Sharples: Bryan Elementary, Coeur d'Alene School District^^Charlene Soucy: Fernan Elementary, Coeur d'Alene School District^^LEWISTON Josephine Marshall: Sacajawea Junior High, Lewiston School District^^Janet Peacock: Sacajawea Junior High, Lewiston School District^^MOSCOW Crag Hill: Moscow High School, Moscow School District^^SPOKANE, WASH. Victoria Boyd: Greenacres Junior High: Central Valley School District^^--30-- cc-6/22/00 EDU^
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