February 2024

Dean Alexander excited to work closely with faculty, staff, and students

While Dean Joyce Alexander is new to The University of Alabama and the College of Education, the role of dean is one she is well acquainted with.

Prior to coming to the University, Dr. Alexander was dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University from 2015-2021, a position that brought new administrative knowledge and leadership experience.

“Having served as dean before, there are some aspects that are very similar to my previous position,” she said, “but UA is also unique. There are some things I have had to work into my way of thinking about this job, so it has been a growth experience for me, too.”

Alexander came to the College from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) in Washington, D.C., where she was awarded the 2022-2023 Dean-in-Residence Education Research Policy Fellowship. There, she worked with AERA leadership on education research programming and policy issues, led the Consortium of University and Research Institutions and learned a great deal about funding agencies and the congressional bill process as it relates to advocacy organizations. Though she enjoyed the work, she said the slow pace of visible impact didn’t seem to be the best fit.

“I realized I like having the opportunity as dean to see the fruits of our work on a timelier scale,” Alexander said. “Now, I can get back to seeing the faculty do amazing work and the staff shepherd our students along. I get to see those students graduate and make an impact beyond our campus, and I get to see the impact of our mentoring and our research.”

“There is a lot of community outreach and a commitment to make an impact, and that is something I hold dear myself. ... It just affirms to me that this is a good match.”
— Dr. Joyce Alexander

Since her tenure began on Jan. 3, she already has plans in motion and is eager to work closely with COE faculty, staff, and students.

“One of my most favorite things (about being dean) is watching students graduate,” Alexander said. “I love to shake their hands and give them their diploma as they cross the stage then see them go out and impact beyond our campus. It is a big moment for them and their families, and for us, it means we were able to mentor these students.”

In May, the College will hold its first faculty and staff retreat where Alexander will discuss four commitments she has in mind for the College’s future: providing transformational learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, publicizing the excellent work and research of the College, impacting the community, and considering the quality of life for all faculty, staff, and students.

“I would like for us to come out of that (retreat) with a collective vision of where we see ourselves going,” she said. “For instance, how will we take each of the commitments and make them ours? Where do we want to be in 10 years, and what will the College be known for then? How will we know if we have accomplished our goals?”

Alexander is excited to engaging more with the community and take advantage of all Tuscaloosa has to offer.

“As I have gotten to know many of the faculty research programs and the teams we have here, there is a lot of community outreach and a commitment to make an impact, and that is something I hold dear myself,” Alexander said. “It has been exciting to see that the College is so steeped in that way of thinking – it just affirms to me that this is a good match.”

Dean Joyce Alexander

The Early Learning Initiative hosts orientation and training with partners in preparation for its new after-school program. (Photo courtesy of The University of Alabama Gadsden Center)

UA Gadsden Center receives grants to implement Born Ready project and out-of-school pre-K program

The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education recently awarded The University of Alabama Gadsden Center with two grants that will help better assist families in Etowah County.

While both grant-funded programs are geared toward preschoolers, $15,000 will go toward research-based parenting classes, and the other $25,000 grant will provide pre-kindergarten children with high-quality out-of-school care.

Starting in March, the Born Ready University Parenting Program will offer free infant development classes to 20 families while also offering childcare and incentives. Expecting parents or caregivers of unborn children as well as parents or caregivers of children from birth to 5 years old can participate in Born Ready University. The program will recruit from the Early Learning Initiative's (ELI) First Class Pre-K but will also partner with community agencies to support young parents.

ELI's new after-school program, which will kick off at the end of February, will serve as an extension of the First Class Pre-K school day and to further the ELI creative curriculum. The program will provide children with excellent out-of-school care as they engage in activities related to physical development, science, arts and creative expression, and social-emotional development. This exciting curriculum is made possible through partnerships with the YMCA of the Coosa Valley, and the Mary G. Hardin Center for Cultural Arts. The ELI after-school program is anticipated to expand into the summer.

New book guides practitioners through implementation of Tier 2 framework

Earlier this year, Dr. Sara McDaniel, director of Center for Interconnected Behavioral and Mental Health Systems (CIBMHS) and UA professor of special education; Dr. Allison Bruhn, professor of special education at the University of Iowa and executive director of the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; and Dr. Sara Estrapala, assistant research professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri–Columbia, published a guide that will help educational practitioners and preservice teachers navigate implementation of Tier 2 framework.

Through a culmination of evidence-based data, training materials, and research, “Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports in Schools Linking Assessment to Tier 2 Intervention” serves as a user-friendly resource for educators that includes reproducible forms and checklists. The book, part of the Guildford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, aims to assist in identifying and addressing individual students’ social, emotional, and behavioral by using positive behavioral interventions and supports, specifically from Tier 2.

“The overall goal,” Dr. McDaniel said, “is to get a simple step-by-step framework into the hands of any K-12 educator, district leader, or school leader interested in using an evidence-based framework to address social, emotional, and behavioral needs. One that does not lean on punishment approaches and is more proactive and systematic.”

As director of the CIBMHS, McDaniel has traveled across the U.S. to train some of the largest school districts in the nation during two-day workshop sessions. It was time to consider a simpler and more accessible alternative that educators can refer to as needed after the training workshops end, she said.

“We wanted to pull all of the training materials and research we’ve done to create one resource that is more feasible for readers ...”
— Dr. Sara McDaniel

McDaniel, Bruhn, and Estrapala were approached by Guilford Publishing about organizing their Tier 2 training content into a single book for practitioners, which is actually something the professors had discussed doing for some time.

“We wanted to pull all of the training materials and research we’ve done to create one resource that is more feasible for readers and includes bite-sized sections,” McDaniel said.

She and Bruhn have specialized in Tier 2 framework since 2013, publishing articles and performing studies that show its efficiency and success. While most schools and districts do well at implementing Tiers 1 and 3, McDaniel said, research shows a gap at Tier 2. This often means students experiencing emotional symptoms are ignored, receive very little or no intervention and support, or are sent to the office as a result. This leads to worsening symptoms and behaviors and can lead to increasing discipline issues both in and outside of school.

“I think the social, emotional, behavioral area is a little more difficult because it is extra work for teachers,” McDaniel said. “It seems to be that the average human response to a student with a behavioral learning error is to see the error as a problem or disruption and something punitive.”

Tier 2 addresses this issue and prevents it through interventions in conduct, self-regulation, social issues, emotional issues, and co-occurring academic and social, emotional, and behavioral needs.

Despite being published in January, “Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports in Schools Linking Assessment to Tier 2 Intervention” is already receiving great reviews, including those from schools and districts already trained by McDaniel.

“They have gotten (the book) and are so thankful to have the information all in one place now,” she said. “So far, everyone seems very happy with it.”

“Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Supports in Schools Linking Assessment to Tier 2 Intervention” is available for purchase through Guilford Press and Amazon.

Dr. Sara McDaniel

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

UA Whole Child and the Tuscaloosa County School System are working with one another to support their students and help them thrive. On March 1, the University welcomed students from Matthews, Maxwell, Englewood, and Buhl elementary schools to the Judy Bonner Child Development Center for UA Whole Child's second youth leadership event. This year, 60 students received leadership training that will help them transform the culture within their schools. UA Whole Child is planning to host youth leadership teams from all 35 Tuscaloosa County schools at next year's event.

For more information on UA Whole Child and the Whole Child approach, visit whole-child.ua.edu.

Honors & Announcements

Dr. Sims becomes member of NCSE Board of Directors

The National Center of Science Education (NCSE) recently welcomed Dr. Emily Sims to its Board of Directors. Her nomination to join as a director of the organization received unanimous approval, President Ken Miller said.

The NCSE is dedicated to making sure students across the U.S. receive the accurate and effective science education they deserve by working with teachers, parents, scientists, and concerned citizens across all levels to ensure topics including evolution and climate change are taught honestly and confidently.

TSP honors Dr. Preast with early career faculty award

In early February, Dr. June Preast was announced as a winner of the 2024 Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP) Early Career Faculty Award. This honor is reserved for the highest quality of early career faculty in the field of School Psychology, and Dr. Preast is being recognized for her excellent contributions to graduate training in the field as well as mentoring school psychologists.

Winners received their awards on Feb. 16 at the 2024 Trainers of School Psychologists Conference in New Orleans where TSP celebrated its 50th anniversary.

STEM learning incentive given to Tuscaloosa City Schools

Tuscaloosa City Schools in partnership with The University of Alabama has been named as a recipient of the STEM Learning Ecosystem Planning Incentive (SLEPI) by the Alabama STEM Council and the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES) for its dedication to advancing STEM education, workforce development, and economic growth in the region.

The UA College of Education's own Dr. Lisa Fowler, clinical professor of science education, is part of the team that made this opportunity possible.

SLEPI is part of a statewide initiative to establish connected STEM Learning Ecosystems to enhance educational experiences and help foster the growth of local economies that will benefit all Alabamians.

Dr. Auslander selected as AMTE vice president and board member

Dr. Susan Auslander, professor of elementary mathematics education, was recently appointed as vice president and board member of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educations (AMTE) for the 2024-27 term.

According to its website, AMTE is the largest professional organization devoted to the improvement of mathematics teacher education and includes more than 1,000 members devoted to the preservice education and professional development of K-12 math teachers.

UA education programs featured in U.S. News Best Online Program rankings

In February, The University of Alabama was featured among the U.S. News 2024 Best Online Programs rankings. Several of the College of Education's online programs were listed for their excellence:

Grad Education #19
Grad Education – Curriculum and Instruction #12
Grad Education – Educational Administration and Supervision #15
Veterans – Grad Education #7

Secondary education graduate earns Fulbright teaching assistantship award

Fourteen students from The University of Alabama were chosen by the Fulbright Program for various 2023-24 academic awards. This made the sixth time in eight years that the University was a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Student Awards.

Marie Moore, who graduated from UA with a degree in secondary education and Spanish, was one of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award recipients. Moore is from New Lenox, Illinois, and is a 2023 Honors College summa cum laude graduate. She was selected to teach English in Spain.

Events & Activities

From left: Emmanuel Babalola, Curriculum & Instruction doctoral student; Francis Yakubu, Curriculum & Instruction doctoral student; Alison Hooper, associate professor of early childhood education; Alexandria Knight, elementary education student; Melissa Walton, clinical instructor and Curriculum & Instruction doctoral student; and Stella Tejada, elementary education student.

COE students and instructors volunteer at parent education event

United Way of West Alabama Success By 6 hosted a parent education event on Feb. 10 for families at the New Heights Community Resource Center in Tuscaloosa. This was the first of three Ready, Set, GROW! events to be held this month for parents and caregivers of children 0-6 years old as well as soon-to-be parents.

Students and instructors from the College of Education volunteered at Ready, Set, GROW!, providing childcare and assisting the families in completing developmental screening, allowing them to learn more about their child's growth.

To learn more about the program, visit uwwa.org/success-by-6/ready-set-grow.

PRESIDENTIAL WOMEN

Six education graduates who served as National Alumni Association presidents

In this month's issue, we will highlight six of our College of Education alumnae who returned to the Capstone to lead the National Alumni Association. All of these women are deserving of recognition for their excellent leadership, their dedication to the University, and their commitment to their communities.

Jeanice P. Kirkland
1991-1992

When Jeanice Kirkland took on the role of University of Alabama National Alumni Association president in 1991, she became the second woman chosen for the position. That same year, Kirkland was awarded the College of Education's Outstanding Contribution to Education Award, and her leadership in the alumni association brought a historic increase in scholarship funding for students at the Capstone.

In 1994, Kirkland was named one of the University's 31 most outstanding women during its Centennial Year of Women celebration and received the alumni association's Distinguished Alumna Award in 1998, an honor her father had also achieved in 1989. Prior to her time as NAA president, she served as the Covington County chapter president as well as vice president of the alumni association.

Kirkland graduated with a degree in elementary education and a minor in vocal performance from the University in 1964, later receiving her master’s degree in education from Troy State University in 1975. After a long career as an educator in Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, and Andalusia public schools, she retired in 2009. When Kirkland passed in 2015, she left behind a legacy as a teacher who believed in and encouraged students as well as someone who provided the same encouragement and guidance to anyone in need.

Margaret L. Watson
1996-1997

By becoming the third woman to serve as National Alumni Association president, Margaret Watson carried on a family tradition, following in the footsteps of both her father and great uncle who were also NAA presidents.

In the 1970s, Watson earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University, which made her a sixth-generation graduate. During her career, Watson was a guidance counselor at Theodore High School in Mobile County and a leader in the American and Alabama Counseling associations. Prior to her role as president of NAA, she chaired committees for chapters in Dothan, Mobile, and Pensacola, Fla., and served as president-elect of the alumni association from 1995-96.

A few of the honors she earned over the years include the Alumni Student Award in 1971, the Distinguished Alumna Award in 1991, and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award in 2003, which she received as a non-student honoree.

The University offers the Bishop B. Michael and Margaret Lee Watson Endowed Scholarship, a Jefferson County Chapter alumni scholarship in Watson's and her husband's name. The endowed scholarship was first awarded during the 2017-18 academic year and continues to assist students in need.

Melanie W. Chambliss
2007-2008

Melanie Chambliss has always had fond memories when it comes to The University of Alabama, especially as a place of growth, and she puts great importance on her involvement in the National Alumni Association as well as her community.

Before she officially became president of the alumni association in 2007, she served as president-elect in 2006. Chambliss was already an active NAA member, having served as a president and member of the Prattville Chapter's scholarship and recruitment committee. She was president of the Autauga County Bama Fans Chapter as well as a member of several local organizations, including the University Autauga County Heritage Association, the Prattville Chamber of Commerce, and the Yaupon Garden Club.

Chambliss graduated from UA with her bachelor's degree in speech communication in 1965 and her master's in education in 1968. She went on work as a teacher and counselor for the Autauga County Schools for 25 years before retiring. From 1999-2004, she chaired her school's committee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as well as served as vice president of the District VI Counseling Association. Her leadership, service, and involvement within the community showcases her dedication and drive to help make a difference.

Sabrina S. Keating
2012-2013

Prior to becoming president in 2012, Sabrina Keating's dedication to the UA National Alumni Association could already be seen with her serving the association in multiple capacities.

Keating was an active member of the Walker County Alumni Chapter for more than 16 years, taking on the roles of historian; treasurer, which she held for 10 years; and was a member of the Distinguished Alumni Award Committee and Nominating Committee. From 2001-03, she was vice president of District 3, and the Walker County chapter awarded her for her dedication with the Outstanding Alumni Member Award in 2003.

She graduated from the University magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in education in 1978. As an undergraduate, Keating was a member of Kappa Delta Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi, and the National Business Education Association. She was also a charter member of the Student American Vocational Association and worked in the UA admissions office during that time.

Keating continues to show her appreciation for her alma mater and is a member of the UA President's Cabinet.

Linda C. Thomas
2018-2019

It was when Linda Thomas and her husband moved back to his hometown of Fort Payne that she became heavily involved with the alumni association. With her husband already acting as a DeKalb County alumni chapter officer, they began attending meetings together.

After Thomas retired from teaching in 2004, the DeKalb County chapter asked her to be chapter president. She held that position for three years before becoming a member of the alumni association's executive council board and the local scholarship committee. She was nominated as president-elect of the association by its former President Ben Shurett, becoming the first DeKalb County resident to serve as president on a national level. During her time in the alumni association, she helped organize a food drive the week of the Iron Bowl and assisted with the DeKalb Alabama-Auburn Golf Shootout Scholarship Fundraiser.

Thomas earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the Capstone in 1972 and returned in 1982 for her master's in early childhood education. She taught elementary-age students in Scottsboro and Madison counties before she and her husband moved to Fort Payne. There, Thomas educated kindergarteners in the Fort Payne City School System for 20 years. In all, she dedicated more than 30 years to working with elementary school children.

Mandy R. Wyatt
2020-2022

As a member of a family of Tide fans, Mandy Wyatt knew early on that she wanted to attend UA. She also came from a family of teachers, which influenced her to take that path as well. She received her bachelor's degree in education from the University in 1993 and her master's in elementary education in 1996.

For 25 years, Wyatt taught elementary school with a specialization in reading instruction and also worked as an adjunct professor at UA beginning in 2009. After retiring from her teaching career, she dedicated her time and effort to the Tuscaloosa chapter of the National Alumni Association, which was an outlet for her to continue working with students, this time through recruitment and scholarships.

On the Tuscaloosa County chapter level, Wyatt has served on the executive board and as president. She had a key role in a scholarship fundraiser planned by the Tuscaloosa County alumni board, that involved taking buses to away football games. After she moved to Atlanta, Wyatt continued to work with the NAA via the Bama in Atlanta chapter and also taught part time. In summer 2018 and 2019, she had the opportunity to teach in China through a UA elementary education partnership with Shanghai Normal University. It was in 2019 that she was nominated as president-elect, a testament to her work, her dedication, and her passion for the University. Wyatt officially became National Alumni Association president in 2020.

Class of 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

**Front row, from left:** 2024 inductees Beth Curtis, Honorable Joel Dubina, Dr. Sue Brannan Walker, and nominator Saudra Grace; **back row:** nominators Mandy Wyatt, Honorable Scott Coogler, and Dr. Liza Wilson, 2024 inductee Dr. Kathy Wetzel, Dean Joyce Alexander, nominator Dr. Penny Davis, and Mark Childress, who accepted on behalf of 2024 inductee the late Dr. Hanna Gillion.

**Front row, from left:** 2024 inductees Beth Curtis, Honorable Joel Dubina, Dr. Sue Brannan Walker, and nominator Saudra Grace; **back row:** nominators Mandy Wyatt, Honorable Scott Coogler, and Dr. Liza Wilson, 2024 inductee Dr. Kathy Wetzel, Dean Joyce Alexander, nominator Dr. Penny Davis, and Mark Childress, who accepted on behalf of 2024 inductee the late Dr. Hanna Gillion.

The College of Education inducted five new honorees into its Hall of Fame during an evening of commendation and celebration at the Tuscaloosa River Market on Feb. 10.

The following inductees were nominated and honored by their peers for their outstanding contributions and devotion to the field of education.

K-12 Leader and Literacy Champion

K-12 Leader and Literacy Champion

Elizabeth Curtis

Beth Curtis completed her B.S.E. in 1970 in elementary education at the Capstone. She has served as an educator for more than 50 years and has taught multiple age levels, including preschool, elementary school, and community college. After graduating from the University, Curtis promptly began her career in education as a first-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Tuscaloosa. While teaching at Central, she also earned her M.A. from UA and was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi International Honorary and Kappa Delta Epsilon.

After completing her master’s degree, Curtis moved to Phenix City, Alabama, and taught elementary school students for another year then was promoted to principal. After moving to teach in New Orleans, Curtis came back to Tuscaloosa in 1976, where she began working for Shelton State Community College as a reading instructor. Eventually, she moved her career to Verner Elementary School. Read full bio here.

Senior United States Circuit Judge

Senior United States Circuit Judge

Honorable Joel Dubina

Joel F. Dubina was born in Elkhart, Indiana, but grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1970, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Alabama and a Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in 1973.

Judge Dubina began his legal career by serving as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Robert Varner of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama from 1973-74. He then worked in a private practice of law in Montgomery for nine years and was selected to serve as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Middle District from 1983 to 1986. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan nominated Dubina to take the seat Varner vacated on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Judge Dubina served in that role until 1990. Read full bio here.

Professor and UA Women’s Athletics Leader

Professor and UA Women’s Athletics Leader

Hanna Gillion

A native of Butler County, Alabama, Dr. Hanna Gillion earned degrees from the University of Montevallo, Troy State University, and The University of Alabama, where she became a professor in 1962. Gillion was instrumental in pioneering women’s intercollegiate athletics at the University, and in the days before the University paid salaries to women coaches or funded women’s teams, she founded, coached, and paid travel expenses for the women’s volleyball, tennis and golf teams. She also led the Title IX fight for equality in athletics funding, which resulted in the first federally funded women’s intercollegiate sports teams.

Among her accomplishments during her tenure at the University are her active membership in the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation, her work with the Alabama Special Olympics, and the special bond she shared with her students, instilling in them the vision that education could be a steppingstone to helping others and becoming the best individuals they can be. Read full bio here.

Professor Emerita and Former Associate Dean of Student Services and Certification

Professor Emerita and Former Associate Dean of Student Services and Certification

Kathy Shaver-Wetzel

Dr. Kathy Shaver-Wetzel’s career in education spans more than 40 years. She has been a special educator in the Tuscaloosa County Schools as well as an administrator and faculty member in the College of Education at The University of Alabama.

Although Dr. Shaver-Wetzel spent more than 20 years in the College of Education, her career in education began as a special education teacher in the Tuscaloosa County Schools. She quickly emerged as a leader and became the coordinator for schoolwide enrichment for Tuscaloosa County Schools. As a teacher, she was asked to serve as a lead for the Summer Enrichment Workshop at The University of Alabama. During this time, she also became a leader for the Alabama for the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools by serving on teams for school reviews, later serving as its assistant director. Her many contributions have been recognized over the decades, including by AdvancEd – formerly SACS and now Cognia – which bestowed her with the prestigious Excellence in Education Award for the state. Read full bio here.

Professor Emerita and Former Alabama Poet Laureate

Professor Emerita and Former Alabama Poet Laureate

Dr. Sue Brannan Walker

Sue Brannan Walker graduated with a B.S. in education from The University of Alabama in 1961, traveling to Foley to begin her education career teaching high school English for a year. She later attended Tulane University, where she earned her M.Ed. in 1967, M.A. in 1969, and Ph.D. in English in 1979. As a teaching assistant at Tulane, she taught freshman English at Newcomb College and also received a research grant from Tulane to study the Carson McCullers Collection at the University of Texas.

Walker returned to south Alabama in 1979 to be closer to her parents, and in 1980 she worked as an editor for the regional magazine Alabama Sun in Mobile. That same year, she also worked as an assistant professor in the English department at the University of South Alabama, where she taught for 35 years. In 1981, Walker founded the international literary journal Negative Capability, of which she also was publisher and editor. Read full bio here.

Campus Spotlight

FIT FOR CHAMPIONS

Apparel design students in the University of Alabama department of clothing, textiles and interior design learn to create clothing for adaptive athletes as part of a $300,000 grant project.

Read the full UA News Center article by Bryant Welbourne here.

Wearable tech study seeks skin tone variety

A study on the effects of skin tone and hot environments on the accuracy of wearable technology seeks healthy adults to complete lab-based exercise. Contact ammulholland@crimson.ua.edu.

Upcoming Events

March 8
College of Education Night

Faculty and staff are invited to attend the women's wheelchair basketball national championship as the Tide women compete in Stran-Hardin Arena on Friday night at 6 p.m.

UA Adapted Athletics has provided all faculty and staff members up to 4 tickets, which will be valid all weekend.