Carol Johannah Ziegler-Ritter is the 2013 valedictorian for Nyack College Manhattan Campus. Johannah, 4.0 GPA, graduates with a BS in Childhood Education and initial certification in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6).

Johannah reflects, “I went into education because I had a desire to work with children and had seen the joy (and the challenges) that teaching can bring to the teacher in members of my family who were also teachers. As for hurdles, as a homeschool student, I had never stepped foot in a public school before I began my course related fieldwork. It was challenging to me to have to adjust to that education environment and teach/manage 28 students at once. I am currently working as a full-time live-in nanny for three year old girl. I am using my training in education to help prepare her for school, which she will be starting soon.”

When asked what her plans are for the future, Johannah shares, “I am considering pursuing a master's degree in literacy, and hope to eventually use my education to homeschool my own children.”

Johannah credits Dr. Marie White and Professor Miriam Velez as well as her classmates with much of her success while at Nyack College. “They took the time to not only prepare me for teaching, but to truly get to know me as a person and prepare me for life. I am also grateful for my fellow education students--my school family. Their friendship and support, especially of my closest friend at Nyack, Victoria Safi, made my time at Nyack College an experience that was not only challenging but also enjoyable.”

The School of Education wishes Johannah well as she pursues her professional and personal goals.

Edlynne Victoria Safi, a December 2012 graduate in Childhood Education with a concentration in English, is presently earning her Master degree in Special Education at Fordham University. Victoria shares her testimony of some special honors she received as a result of her years spent in both the Education and English departments at Nyack College. In addition to her studies, Victoria works in the Nyack College Admissions Office.

I entered Nyack College NYC in Fall 2009 as a transfer student, and recently graduated in December 2012. When I first heard of Nyack College of being New York City's Christian College, I knew it was the place I needed to study at, and thankfully I did because my life has changed so much because of it. A few fun facts about me... I wasn't always a good student in my High School years, and even in my Community College days I wasn't much of a studious person. As a matter of fact, I received my G.E.D because I did not complete High School. I had a very low GPA in my former college, but all of that had changed once I started in Nyack College. 

I studied Childhood Education with a concentration in English, and I am now an NYS certified teacher. I have been on the Dean's List my entire time here at Nyack, and this is not being mentioned to brag about my accomplishments, I am extremely thankful for the faculty and staff who have believed in me, challenged me, and encouraged me to work hard to reach my goal. I currently attend Fordham University and am pursuing my Masters in Special Education. I am in an intense program and feel like I am with the cream of the crop, and I know I would have never made it this far without Nyack College as my stepping stone. I am incredibly prepared with my studies at Fordham University and truly am reaping the benefits of Nyack. I recently had a Behavior Management Portfolio due for one of my classes, and although this 34-page assignment was intense, I was prepared thanks to the School of Education at Nyack. As I was presenting to my professor and class, my professor announced that she would like to use my case study in a chapter of her upcoming textbook. I am honored that I was given the opportunity to have my work published in an education textbook, and I am so glad that still having the connection with Nyack College allowed me to be able to share this news and be able to pour back into the community that has molded me. 

My advice to those current Nyack College students and also prospective students is to stay strong, believe in yourself and work hard! Yes, things will be tough at times but never give up on yourself and your education, when you step out into the world you will truly see the benefits from your studies.

Sincerely, 

E.Victoria.Safi

“[God] has raised up a generation of educators who reflect and represent His heart for His threatened and vulnerable little ones. They are the Davids of education who believe with all their hearts that the Lord can slay the giants that are taunting the children of God. They represent God’s C.A.U.S.E.:

Christ

Appointed

Urban

School

Educators”

(Vernard T. Gant, Director)

This acronym was the focal point on April 6, 2013, as professors Miriam Velez and Marie White of the Urban Education Center at the Manhattan campus of Nyack College served as host to an Education Roundtable. The event welcomed special speaker Dr. Vernard T. Gant, who serves as Director of Urban School Services of ACSI International as well as consultant to several committees concerned with the plight of the public school education. Among the invited guests were New York City principals, teachers, and administrators along with professionals from the field of counseling and charter school corporations. The afternoon session was reserved for Manhattan Campus School of Education alumni to meet with Dr. Gant and discuss how Christian urban school educators can support each other as people of faith addressing the educational plight of poor and disadvantaged children outside the Christian school setting.

In his presentation, Dr. Gant offered trends, anecdotes, and statistics to vividly illustrate the challenges of working with urban children and youth in public schools and the call of Christian teachers who choose to remain in public education. “These educators realize the transformative power of relationships and endeavor to bring the love of Christ that abides in them to bear upon the lives of the children entrusted to their care. They have at their disposal a specialized curriculum designed by God and modeled by Christ.”

The purpose of the Roundtable was to raise awareness of the need of urban youth and begin a conversation regarding resources available to Christian public school teachers, and to consider how Nyack College can support these efforts. The next steps will be outlined by Dr. Gant as he takes this message to other academic settings and returns to NYC in the summer to launch an initiative by networking with Christian School teachers in public schools supporting their retention.

Featured photograph shows participants in Education Roundtable event.

Photograph of Dr. Gant posted with his permission.

Audrey King, a May 2013 School of Education graduate, is embarking on a new adventure through Teach for America this summer. She has been accepted into the Teach for America program and will be traveling to the Appalachian Mountains to begin her training and placement.

Teach for America is a highly-valued organization which equips and places teachers in very low socio-economic areas to teach young people who live there. Children being taught by this program’s new teachers are usually selected based on factors such as free lunch eligibility, low standardized test scores, and/or low reading level. Teacher candidates pass through a series of interviews in order to be accepted as candidates in the Teach for America program.

Audrey, who earns a BS in Adolescence Education with English, will head to eastern Kentucky for a week of acclimation, followed by a five-week training period in Mississippi. After training she will return to Kentucky where she goes on to the next stage of the process: visiting schools selected by the program which she can then apply to for her placement.

Some schools can be as big as 2000 students or as small as 20 students in a one-room schoolhouse. Teachers placed in the smaller schools in isolated areas may find themselves teaching several subjects outside their certification areas.

Audrey says, “I’m very excited about this, especially for the opportunity to teach right out of college. I feel so honored to be accepted into the program. Honestly, I’m a little nervous because I’ve never been to Kentucky, but I can't wait to begin the adventure and start teaching!"

The School of Education celebrated its annual Awards Chapel on Monday, April 22, 2013 with dozens of eager students and faculty in attendance.

The Chapel began with a time of worship with two students leading us in song, followed by an inspiring message by Dr. Dion Harrigan who preached on the topic, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense.” He shared an anecdote of a dog lover taking his pet to the vet for an endless series of vaccinations. While the dog spent the day whimpering about her discomfort, the owner’s heart response was, “I put her through it because I loved her.” Dr. Harrigan compared this to our Father God’s heart about our wellbeing, illustrated through Jeremiah 29:11: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

The remainder of the Chapel was devoted to the faculty’s presentation of awards to students.

Barnabas Award: Outstanding Collaborator in Methods’ Groupwork: For a junior who is consistently a good teammate, punctual, responsible, and encouraging.

Adolescence Education – Alex Ellingwood

Childhood Education – Rosepisey Pich

Early Childhood Education – Chia Lo

Education Dean's List: For teacher candidates whose academic achievement in education is evidenced by a Cum Ed GPA of 3.75-4.0.

Elizabeth Beers                       Jessica Hannon                   Courtney Soucek

Robert Callamari                     Esther Huynh                      Abbey Taylor

Samantha Cialini                     Stephanie Leone                 Jonathan Tice

Renee Curry                           Michelle Makela                   Allie Van Hooker

Eleisha Dickson                       Jacob Manuel                      Paul Van Houten

Seth Ditmer                            Stephanie Mercier               Maria Varano

Alexander Ellingwood               Kari Nehlsen                       Jared Vonderheide

Rachel Fort                             Hannah Plock                      Heather Wakeley

Abigail Frank                           Philip Powell                       Rebekah Williams

Joseph Gessler                        Megan Rohan                     Sarah Yim

Martha Guiza                           Pamela Shafer

Pi Lambda Theta: Pi Lambda Theta is an international honor society and professional association in education. The following sophomores, juniors, and seniors have been nominated for membership by the School of Education based on their pursuit of a career in education and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

Elizabeth Beers                        Jessica Hannon                       Megan Rohan

Renee Curry                            Esther Huynh                         Shoshana Rosenberg

Eleisha Dickson                        Brianna Kane                         Pamela Shafer

Seth Ditmer                             Emmaline Kempf                    Katherine Shinners

Alexander Ellingwood                Audrey King                          Courtney Soucek

Samantha Foland                      Stephanie Leone                    Samantha Taussig

Rachel Fort                               Darla Lunsford                       Abbey Taylor

Joseph Gessler                          Michelle Makela                      Jonathan Tice

Samantha Glasstetter                Stephanie Mercier                   Allie Van Hooker

Mark Goracy                             Kari Nehlsen                           Paul Van Houten

Martha Guiza                            Hannah Plock                           Jared Vonderheide

Amanda Halter                          Shawnja Pratt                          Heather Wakeley

Rebekah Williams                      Sarah Yim

Outstanding Professionalism in Fieldwork: For the junior who consistently displayed promptness, professional dress, and rapport with the children and cooperating teachers in fieldwork.

Adolescence Education – Seth Ditmer

Childhood Education – Martha Guiza

Early Childhood Education – Lindsay Kane

Educator of Promise: For the junior who demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions in methods courses for being an excellent educator.

Adolescence Education  – Amanda Halter

TESOL – Kara Enneper

Early Childhood-Childhood Education – Esther Huynh

Design, Delivery, and Creativity in Instruction: For the junior whose lessons and unit plans are well thought-through, interesting, motivating, and presented clearly in class presentations.

Adolescence Education – Amanda Halter

Childhood Education – Courtney Soucek

Early Childhood Education – Hannah Plock

Excellence in Teaching: For the student teachers who address the needs of diverse individuals, demonstrate mastery of pedagogical knowledge (as evidenced by achieving a 3.5 Education GPA), show creativity and innovation in lesson planning and delivery, and receive positive evaluations by college supervisor and cooperating teacher (as evidenced by earning an A in both placements.

Elizabeth Beers                         Michelle Makela

Eleisha Dickson                         Stephanie Mercier

Abigail Frank                             Ian Pena

Samantha Glasstetter                Paul Van Houten

Audrey King                              Heather Wakeley

Stephanie Leone                        Erica Warmelink
 

Apple Award for Student Teacher of the Year: For the student teacher who most consistently displays overall professionalism, a commitment to excellence, lives a positive Christian witness, demonstrates remarkable teaching capability, and has enthusiasm for the teaching profession.

Heather Wakeley

Heather is pictured above holding her prized Apple Award for Student Teacher of the Year.