NSU Horizons Fall 2010

17 horizons Nova Southeastern University Fischler School of Education and Human Services graduates are proving that a need and a place exist for great teachers, administrators, and educators who continue to make a difference, even in tough economic times. An advanced education degree can open doors to traditional positions as teachers, principals, and superintendents or help an educational entrepreneur start a business or become an advocate for children and families. An education degree’s versatility is one of the many reasons the Fischler School is the nation’s top pro- ducer of minority doctorates in education. It’s also why the Fischler School, with approximately 57,000 graduates, is one of the largest schools of education in the United States. “Educators who understand contemporary teaching methods and how to reach students, who have the drive to be the best they can, and who continually seek to increase their knowledge are needed now more than ever,” said H. Wells Singleton, Ph.D., education provost and university dean for the Fischler School. Last summer, the Fischler School hosted a series of free Teacher Career Develop- ment Days. The workshops featured make and take home lesson plans; interactive curriculum tutorials in high-demand areas such as reading, exceptional student education, science, and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); professional career guidance; financial aid information; and free school supplies. Singleton said he hopes the workshops showed teachers how much they are appreciated, valued, and needed. “Teaching is a calling—an honorable profession— and there’s no doubt that our graduates are making a difference,” he added. Read on to learn how some Fischler School graduates are changing lives. Educators Who Excel By Charlyne Varkonyi Schaub and Andra Liwag