Honor an Educator Awards

Barton, Dr. Leigh

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Cal State Fullerton

Dr. Leigh Barton transitioned into a full-time faculty position at Cal State Fullerton after retiring from 34 years of public school service in Jefferson Parish Public Schools, right outside of New Orleans, LA where she served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, district administrator, and assistant superintendent. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Worcester State College and both her master’s degree in curriculum & instruction and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of New Orleans. In her nearly 20 years of graduate-level teaching, Dr. Barton has been known as a committed and caring teacher who is especially effective at teaching future educational leaders utilize thoughtful reflection as a means of learning to better apply theory to practice. Dr. Barton will be retiring after this coming summer and returning to New Orleans with her wife Michelle.

The Faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership

Coan, Dr. Don

Retired, Director of Institutional Research, CSU Long Beach

Dr. Coan has a long history of educational contributions. After receiving his Ph.D from the University of Michigan in 1972, Dr. Coan was a faculty member in the College of Education at Indiana University where he taught graduate level courses in evaluation research methods, statistics, and the social psychology of higher education. In 1975 and for the next 7 years he worked at two regional Educational Research and Development laboratories conducting evaluation studies funded by the federal Department of Education and the Department of Labor on early child development, development of innovative elementary and high school curriculum for teaching interpersonal relationship skills and creative problem solving, and training and placement of out-of-school unemployed youth into private sector jobs. Dr. Coan re-entered academia to direct offices of institutional research at Neuman College in Pennsylvania and thereafter for 12 years in the California State University system at Long Beach. At Long Beach State he chaired two system-wide research committees working on implementing quality improvement initiatives in the CSU. After retiring in 2001, he continued to work as an independent research consultant for the CSU Chancellor’s Office, several CSU campuses, and other educational institutions around the country. Outside of his work in higher education, Dr. Coan is writing a book entitled Don’t Soil My Garden: Towards a Hydroponics Future, which he hopes to finish before the end of this century!

Ash and Sue Bishop

Cogan, Jan

Retired, Teacher at Tustin Unified School District

Jan is honored for her many years of dedication to teaching and learning. She was a French/Spanish/English teacher for 39 years at Tustin Unified where she was voted Teacher of the Year twice at Foothill High School. She has served the special education community in Hoopstars Basketball league, Soccer, American Riding Club for the Handicapped and as a Special Education Local Plan area liaison. Jan is a Titan and a member of the Foreign Language Association of Orange County and participated in many years in French camp as a music coordinator. She has studied language in France and in Mexico. She loves to sing and play the piano. In her retirement, Jan has become a Brain Education Certified Instructor and leader. She teaches through her outreach in elementary and Secondary schools and co-teaches ''Brain Education for Successful Aging'' at the Osher Lifelong Learning Center at CSUF. Her lifelong dedication to teaching and learning and her dedication to outreach is worthy of highest honors.

Dr. Judy Smith

DeLand, Dr. Paul

Chair and Professor, Department of Mathematics

Dr. DeLand taught for more than thirty-five years in the mathematics department at Cal State Fullerton, including nine years as department chair. Paul successfully guided the department through some tough economic times of downturn and furloughs. With the help of his leadership, the department remains active and strong today.

Dr. Martin V. Bonsangue

Friel, Dr. James O.

Chair and Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics

Dr. Friel taught for more than thirty-five years in the mathematics department at Cal State Fullerton, including twenty-three years as department chair. During this time, Jim helped to build the department into one of the largest departments in the CSU. With the help of his leadership, the department continues to be at the forefront of teaching and research.

Dr. Martin V. Bonsangue

Frutchey, Lynne

Teacher, Laguna Road School, Fullerton School District

Lynn Frutchey is a CSUF graduate in Child Development and master Degree in Education and Curriculum. She has served as a teacher and educational leader at Laguna Road Elementary in the Fullerton School district for the past 30 years. She was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award in 2013 and winner of the PTA Honorary Service Award in 2000 and 2013. She has served as Master teacher to over 50 student teachers and is a STEM specialist at Kids in Science. Lynn is GATE, CLAD and STEM Certified. At the District level, Lynn has taught staff development classes in Math and Science, Serves on School Site council, tutors students and has been grade level chair. Lynn credits Dr. David Pagni's math class at CSUF and Project equals for her avid interest in teaching math. Lynn coordinates and teaches in her church Sunday School, sings in the choir and leads the College Music Group. She is a dedicated volunteer in Donate Life American, an organ and tissue donation education association and serves as a Floragraph Specialist for the Rose Parade Donate Life float and as Lead for the Circle of Life Garden at the Annual Donate Life Run Walk held at CSUF. Her service also includes assisteens, Soccer, Speech and Debate, Girl Scouts. Lynn's passion for students, learning and teaching is strong and most commendable but, she is most proud of the fact that students from a few years past to 30 years ago come back to Laguna Road to visit and reach out to her in social media.

Dr. Judy Smith

Hastings, Megan

Principal of Middleton Elementary, LAUSD

Ms. Hasting’s breadth of experience and the many roles she has served in education has helped her become an innovative education leader and school principal in the Los Angeles Unified School District. In each of these roles, her priorities have always been meeting the needs of students, increasing student achievement, and developing effective teachers. While completing her undergraduate degree at UCLA, Ms. Hastings began her education career in 1993 serving as a Teaching Assistant at the Mirman School of the Gifted. In 1996, Ms. Hastings graduated with a BA in Political Science. Ms. Hastings already loved teaching and was passionate about education, but her parents had other career plans in mind. So while she told her father that she was going to law school she instead began teaching kindergarten at Brockton Avenue School. She taught grades kindergarten through fifth grade. As Ms. Hastings grew as a teacher and educator, she sought out new challenges and leadership opportunities. From 2004-2006, Ms. Hastings served as a math coach providing professional development to elementary school teachers at multiple school sites. In 2002, Ms. Hastings received her MS in Education Administration from Pepperdine University. With her administration degree completed, Ms. Hastings was now ready to lead a school and work to improve teaching and learning at the district level. From 2006-2009, she served as the Assistant Principal at 186th Street School. Then from 2009-2011, she worked for the Division of Special Education as an APEIS Coordinator, supervising 25 Assistant Principals, in ESC South. Currently, Ms. Hastings is the principal at Middleton Elementary where she and her team provide equal access to education to over 1100 students. Through her many teaching and leadership roles, Ms. Principal Hastings has become one of the most beloved and respected principals in LAUSD. Middleton Elementary’s positive school culture, student achievement, and teacher professional growth is reflective of Principal Hastings’ leadership and dedication. Ms. Hastings is truly deserving of being honored by the CSUF College of Education for her impactful and meaningful work in education as a teacher, coach, district leader, principal, and most importantly an advocate for all children.

Teacher Created Materials

Himmelheber, Eve

Associate Professor of Theatre, CSUF Theatre and Dance Department

Growing up, Eve Himmelheber wanted to be Shirley Temple, the child star who sang and danced in the movies. Years later, her mother told her Eve was going to be a teacher or a director. Her mother proved to be right on both counts, as Eve has become a wonderful educator and a talented director in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Cal State Fullerton.

Earlier, she pursued show business in a stage career that led to performing professionally across the nation. In her undergraduate studies in the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre program at the University of Arizona, she discovered a knack for helping other students and got the teaching bug. She went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Acting at Cal State Fullerton and embarked on a teaching career. In 2004, she returned to CSUF to join the faculty.

As a director, she has delighted thousands of campus theatregoers with entertaining productions ranging from Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors" to “Legally Blonde, the Musical.” From “Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play” to "Chicago.” As an educator, she has taught students who have gone on to perform on Broadway, at many regional theatres, on the silver screen and on cruise lines, at theme parks and other venues.

In addition to teaching and directing, she leads the university’s singing-and-dancing troupe, The Preeminents, and is the advisor for all musical theatre students.

Among other awards, she has received the Kennedy Center Medallion for her years of service to their American College Theatre Festival. In her student days, she was twice a national finalist in the festival's Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition.

In between shows, she and faculty member Bill Lett are currently working on a book about job opportunities for musical theatre students in non-traditional theatre venues such as cruise lines and theme parks.

David M. Reid

Houston, Dr. Pamela

Lecturer in Educational Leadership, Cal State Fullerton

Dr. Houston spent 21 years working as a principal within the ABC, Pasadena, and Paramount Unified School Districts. Her work has been marked by excellence in numerous areas including securing significant API gains, the use of data to inform decision-making, curriculum and instruction, standards-based teaching, the development of professional learning communities, and the cultivation of partnerships with local organizations. Prior to coming to Cal State Fullerton, she taught in the graduate programs at UCLA focusing on urban school leadership. Though retiring from full-time teaching at Cal State Fullerton at the end of this year, Dr. Houston will continue to teach part-time in the Master's of Science in Educational Administration program.

The Faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership

Hunt, Robert

Teacher/Principal at Sunset Lane School

In memory of a wonderful educator and educational leader.

Kay and Ed Krausman

Jameson-Whitney, Paula

Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

Paula Jameson-Whitney is an education leader who has successfully led school and district-change initiatives. Through a breadth of district and school-level roles, Ms. Jameson-Whitney has strategically navigated education policy and systematically implemented research-based pedagogy, instructional methods, and practices to increase student achievement. In her current role as Assistant Superintendent of Education Services for National School District, Ms. Jameson-Whitney has been instrumental in leading the instructional shift to the Common Core State Standards. Additionally, she has led the collaboration among district stakeholders to develop and implement a five-part instructional wheel, which includes establishing a new instructional framework and professional development practices based on current research. With Ms. Jameson-Whitney’s leadership, the district is developing students’ 21st Century Skills and preparing them for college and careers.

Prior to her role as Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Jameson-Whitney was a District and School Improvement Coordinator for the San Diego County Office of Education and the Director of Learning Support for La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. Ms. Jameson-Whitney’s accomplishments in this work include serving as technical assistant to Program Improvement Schools; providing oversight of the district staff-development program; coaching principals; consulting with school districts on Categorical Programs; and co-authoring What Successful Schools Do to Involve Families.

Ms. Jameson-Whitney’s experience as a school leader and classroom teacher has given her the practical experience to translate sound pedagogy and a research-based vision into practice. She served as Principal in La Mesa School District, worked as an Assistant Principal for Parkway Middle School, and taught English as a Second Language, Social Studies, English, and Reading Lab for grades 6-8.

Ms. Jameson-Whitney is truly deserving of being honored by Cal State Fullerton for her implementation of change-producing policies, programs, instruction, and professional development. Her instrumental leadership is increasing capacity amongst district stakeholders and creating equitable opportunities for all students.

Teacher Created Materials

Jones, Jean Claude

Education Specialist, Willowbrook Middle School, Compton Unified School District

Jean Claude Jones is an incredibly inspirational educator who has dedicated 17 years to the Compton Unified School District to support students with disabilities with the maximum success academically and emotionally. He has developed programs and support systems that rival the best in the country. Jean Claude is extremely diligent, organized, and has a true passion for making a difference in the lives of the adolescents that he works with. The world is truly a better place because Jean Claude cares about the students at Willowbrook Middle School. How lucky are they that they get to have an encouraging professional like Mr. Jones in their lives!!

Dr. Melinda R. Pierson

Kreh, Linda

Director of Education, Advance Beauty College

Mrs. Linda Kreh is being honored for her exceptional qualities as an educator and the positive impact on the lives she has on her students and educator colleagues who are fortunate to be touched by her wonderful attributes daily. She currently serves as Director impacting the lives of her students at both campuses in Garden Grove and Laguna Hills. She has previously served as Lead Educator Manicuring Program, the largest in the USA. She has also been a celebrity nail artist serving her clientele to the highest of standards.

Advance Beauty College - Tam Nguyen, Linh Nguyen, Suzette Christian-Marchetti, Anh Tran

Lee, Dr. Joyce

Professor of Educational Leadership, Cal State Fullerton

Dr. Joyce Lee, Professor of Educational Leadership, was instrumental in the design and implementation of both Cal State Fullerton's Doctor of Educational Leadership program and its fully online Clear Administrative Credential Program. A founding member of the interdisciplinary MSIDT faculty group beginning in 2002, Dr. Lee played a key role in the development of CSUF's first fully online degree program, the Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology. Prior to joining Cal State Fullerton, Dr. Lee earned her Doctorate in Adult Learning and Organizational Development and her Masters’ Degree in Educational Technology at Columbia University in New York City. She has extensive experience in the field of public education as a school administrator, including leadership as a director of technology, and she has taught at the high school level in various P-12 rural, urban, and suburban school settings. In 2011, Dr. Lee was awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Faculty Marshal” by the College of Education. Dr. Lee will fully retire from Cal State Fullerton at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

The Faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership

Loveridge, Dr. Ronald

Member of the Political Science Department, U.C. Riverside

Dr. Loveridge is the epitome of an educator who combines practice and theory. A faculty member at UCR since 1965, he has also served on the Riverside City Council, as Mayor of the City of Riverside, as President of the League of California Cities, and as President of the National League of Cities. Over the years, he has placed and hosted in his home more than 1,500 student interns. Honors include: Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce “Riverside Hero Award,” WETIP “National Award,” Mayor of the Year, League of California Cities “Lifetime Achievement Award,” National League of Cities “President’s Award/Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Dr. and Mrs. Jerome and Adleane Hunter

McKnight, Gary

Teacher and Coach, Mater Dei High School

Gary McKnight is a 1976 biology graduate of Cal State Fullerton and has been a teacher and coach at Mater Dei High School for 33 years. Coach McKnight is the winningest coach in the history of California, with a 1024-90 record and a 92% winning percentage. He has not only taught, mentored and encouraged his students to be outstanding campus leaders, he has displayed what a quality boys basketball program should exemplify with a record 11 state championships, 16 Southern California regional titles, 22 CIF championships, averaging 31 wins per season, 32 league titles in 33 years, and the 2014 national high school championship. Gary has been the recipient of the following national and regional recognition: Morgan Wooten Award for lifetime achievement in coaching high school basketball by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; Naismith Boys National Coach of the Year; Max Preps National Coach of the Year for ALL Sports; Max Preps Coach of the Year; National High School Coaches Assoc. National Boys Basketball Coach of the Year; CIF State Coach of the Year; CIF-SS Open Division Coach of the Year; and the Southern California Broadcasters Assoc. as Coach of the Year. Coach McKnight’s lifelong dedication to teaching student-athletes is worthy of this highest honor.

Larry & Theresa Rovira

Myck-Wayne, Dr. Janice

Associate Professor, CSUF College of Education

A practical visionary, Dr. Myck-Wayne has spearheaded successful teacher training programs such as “I DREEAM” and “Project STAR”, which have resulted in the career advancement for many of her students and allowed many to “Dare to Dream”! These programs have been responsible for empowering many students to achieve their ultimate goal: a teaching credential. Her students are not only living and pursuing their dreams, but also integrating all the skills they acquired during their training into their own classrooms. Through her teaching, Dr. Myck-Wayne conveys her passion for the field of early childhood education, specifically the importance of early intervention and its far reaching consequences. Dr. Myck-Wayne provides a motivating and engaging teaching environment with multiple opportunities for her students to access valuable educational resources and to acquire the skills and foundational knowledge required to become effective teachers. Her educational expertise is particularly helpful for teachers to prepare for the diversity, learning differences and disabilities they will encounter during their teaching careers. With her support and guidance, Dr. Myck-Wayne’s students become better equipped to face these challenges. Dr. Myck-Wayne’s progressive ideas on effective educational practices, child advocacy, stimulating learning environments for the students, individual learning needs and providing inclusive environments for all children make her an even more outstanding educational practitioner. Dr. Myck-Wayne is definitely an “instrument of change” in the field of education.

Rehana Amer, Kimberly Ellis, Rachael Gilbert, and Maria Ellie Torres

Nagel, Greta

Professor Emerita of Teacher Education, Cal State Long Beach

Greta spent her entire career involved in Education. She was an elementary school teacher and principal for many years. After earning her Ph.D., she opted to take a position as an Associate Professor of Teacher Education at CSULB. She finished her teaching career there and transitioned to her next career which was founder and leader of the nonprofit Museum of Teaching and Learning (MOTAL). She remains active and vital and contributing to education and educators and those lucky enough to cross her path.

Pat Irot, former Principal of Rio Vista School and Terry Kristiansen, former teacher PUSD

Park, Chu Ho (Sarah)

Biology/Senior Seminar/ Academic Support Teacher, Cesar E. Chavez Continuation High School

Sarah earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a teacher credential from UC Irvine and a Masters in School Counseling from the University of La Verne. In her 28 years in working with students in alternative education she has also taught math and chemistry at Cesar E Chavez High School and served as the Department Leader. In addition, she taught science, math, and health for several years at the Phoenix House in Santa Ana. In addition to providing critical high quality STEM education at the junior high and high school levels to underserved populations, Sarah has motivated and inspired numerous and diverse students who had lost hope that they could ever succeed in school to pursue careers in science. She has been honored as Teacher of the Year in 2008 and 2014 at her high school and has been very active as a Mentor Teacher in developing curriculum. She has been the recipient of numerous education grants for research and field trips for students from FEDCO, the Education Foundation, and Target. These field trips have exposed her students to “hands on” science at places that include the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Newport Back Bay Science Center, and the Bolsa Chica Wetland. She has been an active participant in the NSF GK12 Program with UC Irvine that brought Ph.D. students into high schools to help teach science labs as well as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Program at CSUF where she worked in the biochemistry lab of Christopher R Meyer and mentored high school and community college students engaged in an agricultural biotechnology project. She did an outstanding job in helping to organize and run an HHMI Research Weekend Workshop at CSUF in Fall 2014.

Dr. Chris Meyers and the CSUF College of Natural Science and Mathematics

Price-Flores, Deborah

Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Santa Ana Unified School District

Deborah Price-Flores is a teacher, mentor, cooperating teacher and leader at Mitchell Child Development Center for Santa Ana Unified. She has supported CSUF Early Childhood Special Education candidates for over 10 years as a cooperating teacher. Graduates of the credential program, who had the pleasure of completing their field work in her classroom, rave about her support, knowledge and caring heart. Our credential students are better prepared after completing their fieldwork in her classroom. Deborah never says, ''no'' when we ask her to take more student teachers. In addition, Deborah serves formally and informally as an effective mentor to many new teachers.

Dr. Janice Myck-Wayne

Priest, Dr. Michelle

Dean of Arts, Math, Sciences and Disabled Students Programs, Coastline College, N.B. Center

Dr. Michelle Priest has been a model for STEM Education before STEM was a popular acronym. She has inspired countless students to pursue and succeed in STEM careers. Dr. Priest is a taskmaster known for her commitment to rigor and excellence. She is the Dean of Arts, Math, Sciences and Disabled Students Programs and Services, Coastline College, Newport Beach Center. She received her B.S from the University of California, Los Angeles (organismal biology), her M.A. from California State University, Fullerton (marine biology) and her Ed.D. from the University of Southern California (science education). Dr. Priest has taught both majors and non-majors biology/oceanography since 1998.Prior to her current position as Dean, Dr. Priest was a tenured faculty member at El Camino College, Compton Center. She was the lead faculty in Biology and an Academic Senate Senator. She was also the SLO Coordinator at ECC, Compton Center. Further, Dr. Priest has been the Distance Education Coordinator at Los Angeles Valley College, where she oversaw a $1.7 million dollar STEM Grant. This grant focused on the recruitment and success of non-traditional STEM major students. Dr. Priest has also taught at multiple community colleges in the Orange County area. Dr. Priest is an enthusiastic sports fan, focusing on College Football/Basketball, Angles Baseball, and Ducks Hockey. She currently resides in Anaheim with her husband Kirk and their daughter Taryn. She credits her mother, Dorothea Haines, also an alumna of CSUF and her Dad, James Haines, for guiding her to excel in those endeavors that transformed her passion into a career. She credits her husband Kirk for being the supportive rock on which she balances home and work. We have watched Michelle grow through the years from an elementary school student who thought snails rocked into her current position as Dean. It is our pleasure to Honor her and acknowledge her commitment to education. We are so proud of Michelle and all she has accomplished. And by the way, we're pretty sure she still thinks snails rock.

Marilyn and Dale Leuer

Rodenhizer, Chris

Head of School, Westerly School of Long Beach

Chris Rodenhizer has been an educator for over 20 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree, teacher credential and a Master’s degree. During this time he has served as teacher, literacy specialist, program facilitator, assistant principal, and principal. He has taught graduate level courses to educators on school culture and instructional leadership, as well as collaborative and responsive leadership.

When asked about Mr. Rodenhizer, his students said that he truly cares about all of the students and made sure that every voice was heard. They feel he brought a diversity of activities and teachers to the school and it made them better students.

As the Head of Westerly School in Long Beach for 6 years, he has lead with compassion and creativity. He has helped a small school not only survive but thrive. But most importantly he has helped the school truly live its mission to educate the whole child.

The Marsh Family

Rodriguez-Kam, Tammy

Teacher, Buena Park High School

In addition to being an outstanding high school language arts teacher, Tammy has been instrumental in developing and delivering courses for the Early College program at Buena Park High School. She has spent countless hours collaborating with CSUF faculty and developing curriculum to blend college reading and critical thinking classes into her Language Arts classes. This has enabled her students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit. Her dedication and hard work will facilitate the successful high school completion and college matriculation for her predominantly first generation students.

CSUF Department of Reading Education

Romero, Ashley

Music Teaching Artist, Fullerton School District

Our daughter says Ashley ''teaches at my level in piano, and knows when to go fast and slow.'' Teacher Ashely shares her love and passion for music in multiple ways, inspiring everyone around her to learn and be through music. We are so proud to have Ashley as Acacia's music teacher, Fullerton School District's All the Arts instructor, and our daughter's piano teacher.

Drs. Drew and Sharon Chappell

Rovira, Ward

Fullerton School District

Ward Rovira is a CSUF alumni, having earned both his teaching credential and his MS Ed at the university. He in his 18th year of teaching in the Fullerton School District where he currently teaches STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to 7th and 8th graders. As a teacher he encourages his students to do their best in all that they do. Ward is also a career Army officer who served for 22 years in the United States Army, retiring in 2008 with a rank of Major.

Larry & Theresa Rovira

Rydbeck, Whitney

Pasadena City College

Whitney Rydbeck is a talented and dedicated teacher, actor, and director. After earning his Master's degree in Theater Arts at Cal State Fullerton, Whitney had a prolific career as an actor, having appeared in more than 50 television and motion picture titles, including notable appearances in Scrubs, Star Trek: Next Generation, Murder She Wrote, and Friday the 13th Part VI. His children's television show, Whitney and the Robot, ran on KNBC television in Los Angeles for 10 years.

Whitney's most enduring role has been as a teacher and mentor to students at Pasadena City College, where he has taught for the past 40 years. In addition to teaching acting, mime, and speech, Whitney has directed many outstanding theatrical productions at PCC including Compancy, Bus Stop, The Prime of Miss Jean Brody, and most recently, Young Frankenstein.

Whitney's passion for teaching and his dedication to student success are inspiring. He takes great pride in his students' performance. It's not unusual for him to spend a Sunday afternoon coaching a student actor in his current production or helping another student to prepare for an audition at a prestigious university.

Whitney credits his success as an actor and director to the preparation he received as a graduate student at Cal State Fullerton. As he embarks upon the next stage of his life and career, it's fitting that return to his alma mater for this recognition of his accomplishments as an educator.

Dean Claire Cavallaro

Shahadan, Dr. Azu

Lecturer, University of Malaya

Dr. Shahadan has shown a high level of commitment, collaborative sharing, and intellectual growth. Her Malaysian background enables her to share international experiences and diverse ways to approach educational leadership problems and scenarios which assist in broadening the insights and perspectives of fellow students and instructors.

The Williams Family

Shamassian, Silva

Teacher, Buena Park High School

In addition to being an outstanding high school language arts teacher, Silva has been instrumental in developing and delivering courses for the Early College program at Buena Park High School. She has spent countless hours collaborating with CSUF faculty and developing curriculum to blend college reading and critical thinking classes into her Language Arts classes. This has enabled her students to simultaneously earn high school and college credit. Her dedication and hard work will facilitate the successful high school completion and college matriculation for her predominantly first generation students.

CSUF Department of Reading Education

Stang, Dr. Kristin

Professor, CSUF College of Education

Dr. Stang was recently awarded the Emma Holmes fellowship to engage in a community partnership that will support a local school in aligning assessment to Common Core State Standards. This partnership will impact her teaching of the special education of both her methods courses and her assessment course. In addition, over the past 11 years, Dr. Stang has been highly rated by her students with regard to teaching.

Dr. Stang has published 19 peer-reviewed articles, a book, and multiple editorials and book reviews and is an active presenter at international and national conferences. Her research focuses on teacher preparation, special education at the middle and secondary level, faculty support, co-teaching, best practice in writing instruction, and online education. In addition, she serves as the Project Director for a $1.5 million, five-year federal improvement grant aimed at improving the mild/moderate education specialist credential program, producing highly qualified teachers, and providing support to early-career teachers to reduce turnover rates in the field of special education.

Finally, Dr. Stang strives to make an impact at the department, college and university level. She serves on professional advisory and editorial boards, and has served multiple terms on the Academic Senate, Faculty Development Center committee, and IT committees. She has served as the Director of the Accessible Technology Initiative and as the Interim Director of Academic Technology (Fall 2013). Currently, she is serving as Interim Director of the Faculty Development Center. In addition, she has served on University-level management search committees.

Dean Claire Cavallaro

Wilcox, Robert

6th grade teacher at Sunset Lane Elementary School

In memory of a wonderful educator, known for his practical jokes and excellent teaching skills.

Kay and Ed Krausman