Eight faculty and staff members of Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education (RCOE), along with the Appalachian Academy at Middle Fork’s leadership team, were recently honored with 2019 RCOE awards.
Kristen Benson ‘01: NEW Inclusive Excellence Award
Theresa Redmond ‘05 and Chris Van Loan: Outstanding Teaching Awards
Alecia Jackson: Outstanding Mentoring Award
Rebekah Saylors ‘08: Outstanding Staff Award
Jerianne Taylor: Outstanding Administrator Award
Jennifer McGee: Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement Award
Jeff Goodman ‘93: Outstanding Adjunct or Instructor/Clinical Faculty Award
Academy at Middle Fork Leadership Team: Community of Practice Award
RCOE faculty, staff and students were invited to submit nominations in eight categories: Inclusive Excellence, Outstanding Teaching,Community of Practice, Outstanding Mentoring, Outstanding Service, Outstanding Staff, Outstanding Administrator, Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement and Outstanding Adjunct or Instructor/Clinical Faculty. The Inclusive Excellence award is new for 2019.
Nominated individuals or groups were then asked to provide supporting portfolios, which were reviewed by the RCOE Awards Committee. Awards were presented at the RCOE Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 2.
Committee Chairs, Leslie Bradbury, professor in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Heather Brandon, digital communications specialist with University Communications, and Debra Prykanowski, assistant professor in the RCOE’s Department of Reading Education and Special Education, expressed thanks to all who nominated a colleague or submitted a portfolio.
“We received an amazing number of quality submissions across all categories which speaks to the high level of work RCOE faculty and staff are engaged in,” said Brandon. She added that the committee saw an increase in nominations this year, especially from students, and noted that they (the committee) were honored to be part of a process that supports and fosters community within the college and celebrates excellence.
2019 RCOE Awards Recipients
Dr. Kristen Benson ‘01
2019 Inclusive Excellence Award
Dr. Kristen Benson ‘01, assistant professor in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“I am honored to receive this award, and am grateful each day for a career that provides a platform to engage in justice work. I am excited to collectively continue developing actions to create more diverse and inclusive communities through shared accountability, intentional practices, and policy.”
Benson is an assistant professor of marriage and family therapy in the RCOE’s Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian. She earned her Ph.D. in human development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), M.A. in marriage and family therapy from Appalachian, and B.S. in family and child science from Florida State University. In addition, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina. She joined the college’s faculty in 2017.
“I am honored to receive this award, and am grateful each day for a career that provides a platform to engage in justice work,” she said. “I am excited to collectively continue developing actions to create more diverse and inclusive communities through shared accountability, intentional practices, and policy.”
Benson feels a call to engage in social justice work professionally, personally, and faithfully. Kristen’s research and clinical focus is on anti-racist, economically-just, LGBTQ inclusive and supportive therapy. She has published and presented her research nationally and internationally.
Benson is a clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a member of the National Council on Family Relations, where she chairs the Social Justice Network. Her current research explores the experiences of transgender and nonbinary people’s personal experiences related to gender-related legal initiatives and discourse in North Carolina.
Dr. Theresa Redmond ‘05
2019 Outstanding Teaching Award
Dr. Theresa Redmond ‘05, associate professor in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“As a teacher, I strive to create unique, participatory learning experiences that thoughtfully and equitably facilitate my students’ abilities to deeply engage in scholarly content and to express their ideas in creative, generative ways. My hope is to support the self-actualization of my students so that they may bring energy and empathy to their work, to others, and to the world.”
Redmond is an associate professor of media studies in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian. She earned her Ed.D. in curriculum and teaching from Boston University, M.A. in educational media from Appalachian, and B.A. in fine arts from Saint Michael’s College. She joined the college’s faculty in 2011 as an assistant professor and was promoted in 2016.
“Receiving the 2019 Outstanding Teaching Award from our community of remarkable teacher-scholars is an honor and joy,” she said. “As a teacher, I strive to create unique, participatory learning experiences that thoughtfully and equitably facilitate my students’ abilities to deeply engage in scholarly content and to express their ideas in creative, generative ways. My hope is to support the self-actualization of my students so that they may bring energy and empathy to their work, to others, and to the world.”
Redmond teaches courses in media studies and teacher education. Broadly, her research focuses on teaching and learning with, through, and about media and technology. Specifically, she examines critical media literacy as a subject of study and way of teaching that cultivates students' preparation, fluency, and empowerment in physical and digital spaces through creative and expressive inquiry.
Currently, she is investigating media literacy assessment, ecomedia literacy, privacy and datamining, and multimodal pedagogies for critical media literacy through visual journaling.
Dr. Chris Van Loan
2019 Outstanding Teaching Award
Dr. Chris Van Loan, associate professor in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Reading Education and Special Education. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“I am extremely honored and humbled to be recognized for this award. There are many outstanding teachers and to be considered among them is truly special.”
Van Loan is an associate professor of special education in the RCOE’s Department of Reading Education and Special Education at Appalachian. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Ed. in special education from the University of Florida and B.S. in sociology from Florida State University. He joined the college’s faculty in 2009 as an instructor - he was hired as an assistant professor in 2010 and was promoted in 2016. He has also served as special education undergraduate and graduate program director (2015-17). In addition, he is a former special education teacher and migrant health educator, and he volunteered with the Peace Corps.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to be recognized for this award,” he said. “There are many outstanding teachers and to be considered among them is truly special.”
Van Loan teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in emotional and behavioral disorders, classroom management and positive behavioral supports, methods for instruction, and research and issues in special education. His research interests include teacher-student relationships, cognitive behavioral interventions, and educational services for disadvantaged youth in schools, juvenile corrections, and psychiatric schools.
Dr. Alecia Jackson
2019 Outstanding Mentoring Award
Dr. Alecia Jackson, professor in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“The most rewarding aspect of my work is mentoring students as they learn post-foundational theories and methodologies at our university here in rural Appalachia. It is my belief and commitment that now, more than ever, teachers, leaders, and researchers need to become critical consumers and producers of their professional lives. I provide mentoring and support as students struggle with difficult concepts, new ways of thinking, and the very hard work of cracking open the theory/practice dichotomy so that they can ‘talk back’ to common-sense ideologies that infuse educational spaces and damage marginalized people.”
Jackson is a professor of qualitative research and social science theory in the RCOE’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies at Appalachian. She earned her Ph.D. in language education from the University of Georgia, M.S.Ed. in middle grades language arts from North Carolina State University, and B.S. in middle grades language arts education from the University of Georgia. She joined the college’s faculty in 2003 as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2009, professor in 2014.
“The most rewarding aspect of my work is mentoring students as they learn post-foundational theories and methodologies at our university here in rural Appalachia,” she said. “It is my belief and commitment that now, more than ever, teachers, leaders, and researchers need to become critical consumers and producers of their professional lives. I provide mentoring and support as students struggle with difficult concepts, new ways of thinking, and the very hard work of cracking open the theory/practice dichotomy so that they can ‘talk back’ to common-sense ideologies that infuse educational spaces and damage marginalized people.”
In her sixteen years with the RCOE, Jackson has closely mentored 28 graduate students in doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis work across a range of disciplines – including educational leadership, arts-based research, gender studies, music therapy, and English.
Three of her mentees have gone on to win the Naylor Award for Outstanding Dissertation. Jackson also leads workshops and seminars on theory and research across populations that include Appalachian faculty as well as the wider academic community at institutions in the U.S. and Europe. She deeply values both the relationships and the transformations that emerge in her mentoring practices.
Rebekah Saylors ‘08
2019 Outstanding Staff Award
Rebekah Saylors ‘08, Reich College of Education Director of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement. Photo by Marie Freeman
“I am very honored to have received this award. I am grateful to work with so many amazing people both in the college and across the university. I love being able to connect students to scholarship opportunities and programs to advance their education.”
Saylors serves the RCOE as Director of Marketing, Communications, and Engagement. She earned her M.A. in higher education from Appalachian and B.A. in English/communication arts from Lees-McRae College.
She joined the college’s staff in 2010 as a University Program Associate in the Office of the Dean and, until recently, served as the Scholarship Coordinator and Accelerated Admissions Recruiter (2015-2019). She moved into her current role in April 2019.
“I am very honored to have received this award,” she said. “I am grateful to work with so many amazing people both in the college and across the university. I love being able to connect students to scholarship opportunities and programs to advance their education.”
Saylors is also a student - she is currently enrolled in Appalachian’s MBA program. In addition, she teaches a first year seminar course as well as a course titled "So You Think You Want To Teach."
Dr. Jerianne Taylor
2019 Outstanding Administrator Award
Dr. Jerianne Taylor, professor in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“This awards means a lot to me because Career and Technical Education is often overlooked and or misunderstood. As a product of CTE, I learned firsthand its value and impact on students and their future careers. Built on the foundations of skills development, leadership and work-based learning, CTE courses prepare students not only for their future careers but for life. CTE students learn to apply academic concepts and principles to real world problems.”
Taylor is a professor of career and technical education (CTE) in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian as well as the program director. She earned her Ed.D. in technology education from North Carolina State University and M.Ed. and B.S. in industrial education from Clemson University. She joined Appalachian’s faculty in 2005 as an assistant professor and undergraduate program coordinator of technology education in the Department of Technology and Environmental Design. Taylor was promoted to associate professor in 2010, professor in 2016. In addition, she served as interim chair (July 2014 to June 2015) of the Department of Technology and Environmental Design, which was later renamed the Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment.
Appalachian’s CTE program, which Taylor has directed since it was established in 2015, is North Carolina’s only such program. As program director, Taylor promotes and strengthens CTE through advocacy, fundraising, regional partnerships, curriculum development, and more. In addition, she serves as the North Carolina Technology Student Association (NCTSA) Executive Director and State Advisor, a non-profit national student organization devoted to teaching technology education to young people
“This awards means a lot to me because Career and Technical Education is often overlooked and or misunderstood,” she said. “As a product of CTE, I learned firsthand its value and impact on students and their future careers. Built on the foundations of skills development, leadership and work-based learning, CTE courses prepare students not only for their future careers but for life. CTE students learn to apply academic concepts and principles to real world problems.”
Taylor added that Appalachian’s CTE program is successful because the faculty and administration are committed to preparing CTE teachers in North Carolina. The program, which offers students six concentrations, serves a model of efficiency and collaboration. Furthermore, the program is growing - CTE added a new business-focused training concentration, Workforce Education and Development, in the fall of 2018, and an Agriculture Education concentration is accepting students for fall 2019.
Dr. Jennifer McGee
2019 Outstanding Scholarship/Creative Achievement Award
Dr. Jennifer McGee, associate professor in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Photo by Chase Reynolds
"The Reich College of Education is full of faculty doing excellent research and it’s an honor to receive this award and to be recognized by my colleagues and friends."
McGee is an associate professor of research and evaluation in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian. She earned her Ed.D. in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, M.S. in agricultural education from the University of Florida, and B.S. in agriculture education from North Carolina State University. She joined the college’s faculty in 2012 as an assistant professor and was promoted in 2017.
“The Reich College of Education is full of faculty doing excellent research and it’s an honor to receive this award and to be recognized by my colleagues and friends,” she said.
McGee’s research interests include: assessment, program evaluation, self-efficacy, and S.T.E.M. education. She teaches courses in research methods, applied statistics, and classroom assessment. She has published in such journals as the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, Action in Teacher Education, and the International Journal of Educational Research.
In addition, McGee is currently a faculty fellow in the Center for Analytics Research and Education (CARE) in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business. She is also a co-PI on an NSF grant-funded project titled "Appalachian High Achievers in STEM" and an external evaluator for the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) partnership housed at Appalachian. She is currently serving as president of the North Carolina Association for Research in Education (NCARE).
Jeff Goodman ‘93
2019 Outstanding Adjunct or Instructor/Clinical Faculty Award
Jeff Goodman ‘93, senior lecturer in the Reich College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. Photo by Marie Freeman
“My teaching is part of a long chain of influences, and when I walk into the classroom, I bring with me my fantastic colleagues, my father, all my students from many years of teaching, and so many others who have shaped my thinking. It inspires me to think of my classroom as a place where, in essence, all my loved ones come together and mingle with the people who influenced my students and brought them to this moment. Goodness is eternal so long as we create communities that keep it alive, and it comforts me to know that my students and I will live on in one another and in the lives of their students far in the future.”
Goodman is a senior lecturer in the RCOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Appalachian. He earned his M.A. in Educational Media from Appalachian and B.A. in biology from Harvard College. He joined the college’s faculty in 1993 and is now in his 26th year of teaching at Appalachian.
“My teaching is part of a long chain of influences, and when I walk into the classroom, I bring with me my fantastic colleagues, my father, all my students from many years of teaching, and so many others who have shaped my thinking,” he said. “It inspires me to think of my classroom as a place where, in essence, all my loved ones come together and mingle with the people who influenced my students and brought them to this moment. Goodness is eternal so long as we create communities that keep it alive, and it comforts me to know that my students and I will live on in one another and in the lives of their students far in the future.”
Goodman has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses during his time at Appalachian, including: Science Education; Media Literacy; Documentary Film; Photography; Video Production; Multimedia and Teaching; Instructional Graphics; the Physics, Biology and Psychology of Sight and Sound; and Instructional Design.
He shared that he sees the role of the teacher to be an "enthusiasm engineer" - that is, to facilitate others' desires to learn and connect. To do this effectively, according to Goodman, instructors need more than teaching techniques; they have to make sure that their own curiosity is strong.
“When was the last time you really said 'wow?'” he asked. “Who did you share your excitement with?”
Goodman added that his ongoing project entitled "Human Wonder Research" attempts to pose those questions and others related to amazement and connection with the world and each other.
“I am extremely fortunate to have a job where I can ask these questions and where I have so many around me to help me answer it,” he said.
Academy at Middle Fork Leadership Team
2019 Community of Practice Award
The Academy at Middle Fork leadership Team. Pictured from left: Dr. Amie Snow ‘06 ‘14, Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Tasha Hall-Powell ‘01 ‘09, Academy Principal; Verschello M. Nelson, Academy Assistant Principal; and Dr. Robin Groce, RCOE Assistant Dean for the Academy. Photo by Rebekah Saylors
“I am honored to work alongside such a dynamic team of leaders in education,” said Hall-Powell. “The unique talents and diverse experiences that live within our leadership team bring a rich level of support and care to students, staff, and families of the Academy. I am truly thankful to share in receiving this award and the opportunity to represent Appalachian State University as principal of the Academy at Middlefork.”
Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork, established fall 2018, provides a balanced education for children, teachers, principals and families through the implementation of research-based practices, state of the art literacy instruction, and exemplary classroom instruction and administration. The Academy is a model for professional development and social justice emphasizing sustainable practices in global education and responsible living.
The Academy is committed to faculty, students and family through four commitments:
Learning Together: The Academy builds and improves professional partnerships in education through collaboration and the joint goal of high-quality instructional programming benefiting families, communities, staff, and other stakeholders.
Developing the Whole Child: The Academy fosters the social, emotional, cognitive, and developmental needs of the whole child.
Boosting Academics: The Academy prepares students for academic success and life by increasing their academic skills with the implementation of an early literacy concentration, literacy workshop, and interdisciplinary curriculum.
Amplifying Sustainability: The Academy models responsible, sustainable living by pursuing civility, equity and equality, healthy living, nutrition and fitness, and respect for the environment within the framework of an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum inclusive of the arts.
The Academy’s leadership team includes Dr. Robin Groce, RCOE Assistant Dean for the Academy; Tasha Hall-Powell ‘01 ‘09, Principal; Verschello Nelson, Assistant Principal; and Dr. Amie Snow ‘06 ‘14, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
“I am honored to work alongside such a dynamic team of leaders in education,” said Hall-Powell. “The unique talents and diverse experiences that live within our leadership team bring a rich level of support and care to students, staff, and families of the Academy. I am truly thankful to share in receiving this award and the opportunity to represent Appalachian State University as principal of the Academy at Middlefork.”
The leadership team works closely with each other in collaboration with Appalachian faculty and staff from a variety of academic disciplines and institutional offices including science, math, social studies, reading, music, art, sustainability, technology, library science, educational leadership, counseling, expressive arts, budget offices, human resources, graduate programming, equity and compliance, grants and sponsored programs and more. The team also works closely with the UNC System and UNC Legislature to provide open access to school business. The team has participated in numerous state and system sponsored events since 2016 to further the work of the school and in the best interest of children.
“It's an honor to be recognized for the work we've done this year,” said Nelson. “I am honored to have the opportunity to change the trajectory path of our students' education and future careers. In just a short time, we've already changed their futures from limited opportunities to endless opportunities.”
Some highlights from the Academy’s first year include:
The leadership team hosted the first Laboratory School Summit this spring that brought representation from all laboratory schools in the system, state legislators, and other dignitaries together for the common good.
Students and staff are committed to the core principles of HIKE (honesty, integrity, kindness, and excellence) as demonstrated in decreased behavior issues/office referrals from the previous school year and increased attendance and academic standing.
The Academy’s Battle of the Books team earned second place at the regional contest and is progressing to the final district level competition.
The students hosted a Black History Wax Museum and presented to guests about the contributions of Black Americans. Special guests included two African-American authors, and an African-American radio talk-show personality.
The Academy established a Student Ambassador Team as well as an elected Student Council who recently visited Appalachian’s campus and met with Chancellor Everts, members of Appalachian’s Student Government Association, and Appalachian Student Ambassadors to share values of leadership and learn more about college student life.
“It's been an incredible year at the Academy!” said Snow. “It means so much to be recognized for the work that we have done to build a positive school culture where all of our students and all of our staff feel successful. We are excited about beginning Year Two and all the amazing things that we will do together.”
Through an environment of communication and collaboration, the leadership team has fostered valuable relationships for children, staff, and families with strategic practices of restorative justice and positive behavior support. Each member of the leadership team plays a very specific role of working toward excellence in building school community and increasing student achievement. By working closely together as a team, we have seen an increase in academic achievement, but most importantly an overall increased level of enthusiasm for learning and working together as an educational community.
RCOE Award Recipients
