May 2013 Newsletter
In This Issue
A Word from our Assistant Dean
Dear Friends,
What joy God gives to those of us who have the opportunity to serve Him as we prepare our students for service in public, private, Christian and home school. We will soon be graduating 43 undergraduate and 19 graduate students, all of whom are fully prepared to take their places in classrooms in our local schools or around the world.
As these students leave Biola University, it would be easy to think that our work is done. However, in the last few months God has given me the privilege of meeting with alumni who want to know how to prepare themselves for teaching overseas, how to seek reconciliation with a supervisor at school, and what to do next as an international student preparing to return to a gospel limited access country. I've met with alumni seeking reconciliation with a former pastor, figuring out what to do to meet the needs of children when serving overseas, and how to apply for an adjunct professor position.
When I work in a Christian university and as others serve as Christians in public schools, we take on the role of a shepherd. Our service is a calling and we are never done. We desire our students to flourish in their relationship with the Lord and with other men and women in their workplace. We pray that if they become parents, they will build strong, God-honoring homes. Our hope is that they will serve Christ’s Church as the eyes and ears, hands and feet, mouths and hearts of the God we love. Jesus asks us to be His witnesses in our local neighborhoods, to those on the other side of town and to the ends of the earth.
As shepherds we are called to love, to sometimes give challenging messages, to open up pastures where those we lead can flourish, to protect others from predators, to reassure those who are frightened and to enjoy being in the company of those we serve.
We cannot think of a more fulfilling calling!
With a thankful heart,
Tim Stranske, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean, School of Education
Faculty Updates
SOE Participates in Lebanon’s Inaugural National Day for Students with Learning Disabilities
Drs. Dennis Eastman, Carolyn Bishop, and Robin LaBarbera recently visited Beirut, Lebanon to participate in the activities surrounding their first-ever National Day for Students with Learning Difficulties on April 22, 2013. Organizations involved in the day's events were Lebanon’s Ministry of Education and the non-profit Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences (SKILD). The arrangement of such a day is quite an achievement. Says Dr. LaBarbera, with little help for students with learning difficulties, the country has made great strides since the team visited two years ago, which is quite encouraging.
Cambodian Outreach
This past January, the SOE sent Drs. Dennis Eastman and Carolyn Bishop to train expatriate and Khmer teachers while alumna Carly Bedard, Director of Calvary Chapel Yorba Linda Preschool, spent the week training preschool teachers. The teachers trained were part of Asian Hope and its three schools in Phnom Penh, Logos International School, Asian Hope International School, and KC International School. Biola's School of Education was first connected with Asian Hope through Dr. Rebecca Hong, who spent time in Phnom Penh during her post-doctorate research to examine the rebuilding of an educational infrastructure in a post-war country. Dr. Hong also travelled to the region to provide training in March.
School of Education's Burundi Project Featured in Christianity Today
Drs. Tim Stranske and Fred Ramirez have been involved in working with Burundi’s Ministry of Education for many years now as the east African country works to improve its educational system after a decade-long genocide. This work was featured in a recent Christianity Today article.
Announcements & Upcoming Events
The School of Education received authorization this spring to offer the Preliminary Education Specialist Credential (Mild/Moderate), enabling teachers in the classroom to better interact with those with mild to moderate disabilities. We are excited to help teacher candidates receive training in this field, which is so desperately needed in the state’s schools and districts. For more information on this exciting new program, click here.
Biola Youth Academics Summer Offerings
Biola Youth Academics offers a variety of courses for grades 3-12 to enhance students’ summer learning. Choose from Torrey Academy’s California History course for grades 9-12, week-long Summer Academies for grades 3-12, and two-day Summer Intensives for grades 9-12 designed to help students prepare for fall classes:
- Summer 2013 courses: Art, Aquatics, Torrey Academy California History, Creative Writing, Film, Math, Public Speaking, Science
- Summer 2013 Intensives: Algebra 1 and 2, High School Writing, Jr. High Writing, Pre-Calculus, Spanish 2
For complete information and to register, visit http://youth.biola.edu/
JSE Conference and Journal
The 2nd annual JSE Conference was held this March with Mr. Stephen Bauman, President and CEO of World Relief, as keynote speaker. The conference was a great success with an increase in participants as well as with some wonderful topics covered in the speaker sessions. The 3rd annual JSE Conference will be held on November 7-8, 2014, with Dr. Michael Mata (Fuller Seminary) as our keynote speaker and with the theme Strength Together.
The 1st edition of the JSE Journal (JSEJ) is now online. This first online journal for the University aims to address justice, spirituality, and education in a variety of ways. If you have a topic in mind, consider putting in an application to speak at the 2014 JSE Conference and/or sending a paper for publishing consideration for the JSEJ. The deadline of our current Call for Papers for the next issue of JSEJ is June 1, 2013.
Learn About Digital Technologies and Education at the biola.digital Conference
The biola.digital conference will be held on campus at Biola from June 4-6. The biola.digital conference is designed to empower individuals with the vision, knowledge, and relationships necessary to be thoughtful stewards of digital technologies for the cause of Christ. The conference will kick off on Tuesday night, June 4, with a keynote address from best-selling author and social media expert Michael Hyatt. Then, on Wednesday and Thursday, conference participants will attend breakout sessions where they can learn and interact with experts in the field of digital technologies. This year, biola.digital will include breakout sessions around the topic of education, including sessions on the use of Twitter as a student engagement tool and the latest research on mobile learning. Our own Dr. Rebecca Hong will be leading the breakout session entitled Building Relationships One Tweet at a Time. To find out more about the conference and to register, go to the conference website at bioladigital.com.
Opportunities to Teach in China
Educational Resources and Referrals China (ERRC) has an urgent need for more student teaching interns for their upcoming summer program. The teaching dates are from July 15-Aug. 2 in Beijing. Interns will be mentored by an experienced teacher in a middle school or high school with time for observation as well as time to lead class and activities. All SOE students are natural candidates as interns need to be 18 years or over, have a strong Christian faith and have a desire to learn to teach. Continuing education credit is available through Seattle Pacific University; costs are $1200 + visa, insurance and travel and fundraising support is available. For more information, contact Dr. Doretha O’Quinn.
Looking for a Job? Need to Fill an Open Position?
School of Education faculty and staff routinely receive announcements of jobs from local, regional and national schools and education-related companies. As is past protocol, all those with job postings are urged to post them directly to BiolaLINK. Be sure to check out the job postings there today!
Alumni News
Cat Dayco Guerra (MAEd 2001) recently received an award from the Norwalk-La Mirada School District for her service and leadership in fine arts. Cat directs the fine arts program at La Mirada High School and has received numerous grants to support her programs at the high school. Her most recent production was "The Sound of Music." The orchestra was also directed by fellow School of Education alumnus Evan Elison (MUED 2011, SSC 2012).
Joel Blomenkamp, EdD (BA 1994, MA 1997) recently published a children's book entitled The Storm: A Children's Parable for Understanding Life's Hardships. This book helps children anchor to Jesus in the trials of life through the telling of a sailing journey taken by a grandfather and his granddaughter.
Christy Abeelen (MAEd 2003) has accepted the position of Principal of Whittier Christian Elementary, Newlin Campus. Her recent years of serving as student teacher supervisor for Biola University’s School of Education have honed her experience in clinical supervision, an important skillset for principals.
Michael Haverluck (MAEd 2003) was recently hired by Managing Editor for Gospel Media Group, part of the Los Angeles-based Spark Networks. Michael will be heading the re-launch of one of its websites. Congratulations, Michael!
Cindi Judd (BA 1999, MAEd 2004) passed away unexpectedly this February. Cindi taught at El Modena High School in Orange and previously worked at the Orange Unified School District office as Coordinator of Research and Assessment. Her students said that she “takes honors geometry to the next level [and] will have you willingly carrying your textbook to and from school. [She is] soft-spoken and kind, kind, and kind” and that “Miss Judd actually cares about her students and will go to great lengths to help you if you ask.” The School of Education offers condolences to Cindi's family.