FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, (304) 696-7153
 

Teacher-Lecturer to make three presentations in November at MU

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marsha Dawson, lead literacy coach for the Cabell/Wayne Early Learning Opportunities Grant, has been named the Marshall University Teacher-Lecturer for fall 2005. The series is sponsored by Marshall’s College of Education and Human Services.

Dawson will draw upon her expertise as an early childhood educator to lecture on the long-term benefits of promoting diverse early care and education environments.  She will make three presentations during November, all free and open to the public.

The Teacher-Lecturer program’s aim is to foster diversity for pre-service teachers by allowing them to interact with diverse exemplary teachers.

“The Teacher-Lecturer series continues to be an extraordinary journey in understanding both the similarities and differences in human beings,” Dr. Jane McKee, associate dean for academic programs in the College of Education and Human Services, said. 

Dawson said her presentations will explore the subject of ethnicity as it relates to children’s social, emotional and academic development.  A major focus will be on creating classroom environments that are inclusive and enticing for all children.

She emphasized that this approach is especially designed to serve as a significant learning tool for students interested in working with children and families in the field of education, as well as for those interested in enhancing a multi-cultural perspective of human development.

“I’m trying to impart to students that diversity must be lived, rather than taught,” Dawson said.

She brings a wealth of experience to the Teacher-Lecturer series. Dawson is an instructor for the Apprenticeship for Child Development Specialist program, an adjunct professor at Marshall, and a former executive director of Children’s Place, Inc.  She also is a member of several professional education associations.

All presentations will be held on the Huntington campus.  The dates and topics are: Thursday. Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m., MAT Instructional Strategies, Jenkins Hall, room 235; Friday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m., Elementary Methods, Shawkey Room, Memorial Student Center; and Monday, Nov. 14, 4 p.m., Secondary Methods, Harris Hall, room 135.

For additional information on the Teacher-Lecturer program, persons may contact McKee at (304) 696-2859 or via e-mail at mckeej@marshall.edu.

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