College receives 2025 Frank Murray Recognition for Continuous Improvement

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation awarded the College of Education with the 2025 Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement during its annual meeting in Arlington, Va., Sept. 9-10.

The Frank Murray Recognition is awarded annually to providers demonstrating evidence and data trends to achieve CAEP accreditation with no stipulations or areas for improvement. Providers selected for this recognition advance equity and excellence in educator preparation through purposeful use of self-study procedures and evidence-based reporting that assure quality and support continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 learning.

The award is named after Frank Murray, who was the founding President of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC), served as Chairman of the Board for TEAC and was also an initial member of the CAEP Board of Directors.

‘Opportunity of a lifetime’

Darrell Hargreaves referees wheelchair basketball at Paris Paralympics

The University of Alabama’s own Darrell Hargreaves attended the 2024 Paris Paralympics after being selected to represent the U.S. as a wheelchair basketball referee.

This was Hargreaves’ third Paralympics to officiate and the fourth that he has been invited to. However, the magic and the thrill of the Games burns as bright as ever.

Hargreaves refereed seven games in Paris, one of those being the men’s bronze match between Germany and Canada. Germany came out on top 75-62, making it their first wheelchair basketball medal win in 32 years, a historic moment that Hargreaves said he felt honored to be part of.

The wheelchair basketball games were held in Bercy Arena, the same venue gymnastics and basketball took place in the preceding weeks during the Olympics.

Every single wheelchair basketball game was played in front of a full arena of fans, Hargreaves said. “Eleven days of competition. 31 sold-out games totaling over 500,000 spectators.”

Hargreaves is UA associate director of recreation facility operations, an adjunct with the Kinesiology Department, as well as a graduate student in the higher education administration program.

“The University of Alabama has been very supportive of my selection to work the Games,” he said. “Not only do I feel like I represent the United States as a referee, but I feel like I represent The University of Alabama as well.”

He expressed gratitude to his instructors and supervisors for working with him so he could be part of the Paris Paralympic Games.

“I truly appreciate their support to be able to seize this opportunity of a lifetime,” Hargreaves said.

Team USA snags silver in women’s basketball at the Paralympics

The U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team brought home silver after securing the No. 2 spot at the Paris Paralympics on Sept. 8.

Team USA started strong during the finals but fell to the Netherlands 63-49. With this silver-medal win, the U.S. earns its third-straight medal in women’s wheelchair basketball. The team won gold in 2016 and bronze in 2020.

The Crimson Tide was well represented in Paris with several Alabama Adapted Athletics student-athletes and staff members on Team USA, including Abby Bauleke, Bailey Moody and Ixhelt Gonzalez as well as head coach Ryan Hynes, assistant coach Lindsey Zurbrugg and athletic trainer Alex Curry.

The College of Education couldn’t be more proud of these UA Paralympians!

SUMMER I INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION

Drs. Amanda Cramer and Cortney Dilgard teamed up to model integrated instructional practices for ECE/Elem undergraduate students during the Summer I term. Senior ECE/Elem education majors enrolled in CEE 304 (Science Methods) and CEE 478 (Language Arts) experienced integrated instruction while also co-planning an integrated mini-unit. Teacher candidates facilitated their integrated mini-unit (STEM and Writing) with students enrolled in the summer literacy program at The Alberta School of Performing Arts (TASPA).

The Summer I experience culminated with a Field Trip to the Cahaba River Biodiversity Center in West Blocton. Students were challenged to make integrated connections to the real-world field trip experience, highlighting the natural integration of content that occurs through purposeful and authentic experiences. (Photos of students shared with permission from TASPA)

Greensboro Middle School opens innovative AR/VR lab

Greensboro Middle School is poised to be at the forefront of providing advanced STEM opportunities for its students with the Aug. 27 opening of its first Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Laboratory.

“This lab is a transformative addition for both our students and community. It unlocks new possibilities for learning and creativity that we’ve never experienced before,” said Principal of Greensboro Middle Anthony Sanders. “We are deeply grateful to our partners and look forward to the future with great anticipation.”

The lab was made possible by a generous award from the Air University K-12 STEM Outreach Program, which aims to “inspire, cultivate, and develop exceptional STEM talent” by providing resources to underserved communities. This mission is reflected in the program’s investment in the AR/VR lab, which will also support the development of the next generation of STEM leaders.

The University of Alabama’s Drs. Dominic Combs and Hope Drummonds-Whiteside were instrumental in bringing the lab to

Greensboro, helping strengthen the partnership between UA, Air University, and Greensboro Middle School through their vision and dedication. Both Combs and Drummonds-Whiteside are part of the UA Office of Interdisciplinary STEM Education Research (ISER).

“Our collaboration demonstrates the power of united efforts towards a common goal,” said Drummonds-Whiteside, a STEM education research specialist with the Alabama Transportation Institute. “We are eager to see how this will inspire students to pursue STEM careers and positively impact the broader community.”

Greensboro Middle’s AR/VR lab features 10 advanced working stations that will immerse more than 200 students in sixth through eighth grade in cutting-edge virtual reality technology. This enables students to create and explore their own virtual experiences, offering new opportunities for learning and creativity.

“This lab is more than just a technological innovation; it’s a catalyst for transformation,” said Dr. Combs, ISER director of evaluation and a clinical assistant professor of evaluation research.

Achievements & Announcements

Dr. Claire Major named Distinguished Teaching Professor

Dr. Claire Major, professor in higher education and the director of The University of Alabama Teaching Academy, was named a UA Distinguished Teaching Professor for the College of Education by the UA Board of Trustees.

This honor recognizes faculty members whose research or teaching accomplishments bring great credit to the University through their unwavering dedication to excellence in teaching in their academic discipline.

Earlier this year, Major received the 2024 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award, highlighting her commitment to fostering academic excellence through teaching, innovation and service.

Dr. Carl Hancock to be inducted into AMEA Hall of Fame

Dr. Carl Hancock, professor and head of the Department of Music Education, has been selected by the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA) Governing Board to join the AMEA Hall of Fame.

This honor represents Hancock's outstanding contributions to music education in Alabama as well as his service to AMEA over the years.

Hancock will receive a plaque during the annual AMEA Professional Development Conference at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in January 2025.

Dr. Cailin Kerch receives Exemplary Alumni Award

Clinical Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Early Childhood Education Dr. Cailin Kerch recently received an Exemplary Alumni Award in the Early Childhood Education program from the University of Alabama at Birmingham's (UAB) School of Education & Human Sciences.

Kerch, who in 2023 was also honored with the Nellie McCrory Faculty Excellence Award for Service from the College, has been instrumental in designing and implementing the Early Learning Initiative at the UA Gadsden Center, which opened in January of 2021.

Dr. Elroy Aguiar appointed to JPAH Editorial Board

Assistant Professor of Exercise Science Dr. Elroy Aguiar has been appointed to the Journal of Physical Activity and Health (JPAH) Editorial Board as well as named co-editor for JPAH's special issue on “Leveraging Technology to Revolutionize Physical Activity Guidelines, Surveillance, and Interventions.”

Dr. Aguiar also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH).

Dr. Hyemin Han listed as top-cited researcher in field

A 2023 list compiled by Stanford researchers featured Dr. Hyemin Han, associate professor of educational psychology and educational neuroscience, in the Top-2% of cited researchers in his field.

Stanford researchers use the Scopus, one of the most well-known and widely used citation databases, to compile this annual list.

Other UA College of Education faculty members featured for their relative fields that year were Professor of Special Education Dr. Lucy Barnard-Brak, Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling Dr. Emily Lund, and Professor of Sport Pedagogy Dr. Matthew Curtner-Smith.

Chris Lee inducted into international, national honor societies

Academic Advisor Chris Lee was recently inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi honor societies.

The national honor society Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes superior leadership and exemplary character, and Kappa Delta Pi honors educators on an international level, honoring the Top-20% of those in the academic field.

Dr. Robin McWilliam to guide upcoming teacher leader fellowship trip

Early Childhood Development Professor and Director of Evidence-based International Early Intervention Office (EIEIO) Dr. Robin McWilliam is inviting educators to take part in a teacher leader fellowship abroad to Singapore next spring.

The upcoming ARAMFO program will provide participants with integral knowledge and tools for educators determined to advance within the early childhood education field. The program will also offer a look into the progressive strategies and practices that make Singapore a renowned pioneer in education.

Visit aramfo.org/2025-Singapore-The-Teacher-Leader-Fellowship-Abroad for more details.

Ala. Department of Education hosts New Counselor Academy

Education Specialist with the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) Dr. Monica Mack coordinated and hosted the ALSDE New Counselor Academy with assistance from UA school counseling student Jeffrey Lewis, who represented UA Counselor Education at the event. The key speaker was Stephen Watts Jr., a counselor at Citronelle High School who in 2023 was named the Secondary School Counselor of the Year by the Alabama School Counselor Association (ALSCA).

Stephen Watts Jr. and Jeffrey Lewis

Stephen Watts Jr. and Jeffrey Lewis

UA alumna inducted into Senior Citizens Hall of Fame

Retired teacher-educator Dr. Martha Poole Simmons was honored as a 2024 inductee into the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame on Aug. 11.

Dr. Simmons is a University of Alabama alumna, earning her bachelor's degree and doctorate in 1959 and 1980, respectively, both in elementary education. She taught elementary school students for eight years before moving to the university level for 23.

Simmons was an elementary education professor at Belmont University and Huntingdon College as well as specialized in undergraduate and graduate science and mathematics methods courses at Alabama State University for 16 years.

Hall of Fame nomination deadline is Oct. 1

Don't forget to send your 2025 Hall of Fame nominations in before Oct. 1!

More information about each can be found on the Hall of Fame and guidelines page.

Please send your nominations to rebecca.ballard@ua.edu or mail them to Box 870231, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 (Attn: Dr. Rebecca Ballard).

For additional details or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Rebecca Ballard.

Upcoming Events

SEPT. 23-28
BEAT WEEK

Beat Week is a one-week giving challenge where alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and fans are called together to show their support for these championship institutions and their students. Every gift you give pushes your side closer to victory in this clash of champions, where no matter the outcome on or off the field, we all win. Click here to donate.

SEPT. 28
Alabama vs. University of Georgia

The Crimson Tide will face off against the Georgia Bulldogs in Bryant-Denny Stadium this Saturday.

Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m.

OCT. 25
Alumni Awards

The College of Education's annual Alumni Awards ceremony will be Oct. 25 from 5-6:30 p.m.

OCT. 20-26
Homecoming 2024

Alabama will take on the Missouri Tigers for Homecoming this year on Saturday, Oct. 26.

This year's Homecoming theme is “New Era, Same Standard,” and the weeklong festivities will start Sunday, Oct. 20, with the Roll Tide Run and the official Homecoming Kick-off.

The pep rally and bonfire will be Friday, Oct. 25, with the annual parade taking place prior to the Homecoming game on Saturday.

Look for an invitation to the College's tailgate in your email as the date gets closer.

For more details, visit homecoming.sl.ua.edu.