In June,  we expect a report-card type of document to be issued by the National Council for Teacher Quality (NCTQ) and distributed through the U.S. News and World Report.  Niagara University did not participate in the survey,   but will be included in the ratings, nonetheless.  The Letter to the Field provides further information on our knowledge of this rating,  our commitment to academic excellence,  our steadfast contributions to the mission of Niagara University,  and the rigorous, research-based  accountability measures set forth by the profession.

We are proud to present evidence of accountability, high standards, and commitment to excellence  – evidence that is noted in the quality of our graduates,  their impact on student learning,  the contributions they make in serving those most in need in our community,  and our partnerships with the P-12 schools and agencies who serve children and youth.

Timothy Downs,  Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs

Debra A. Colley, Ph.D., Dean,  College of Education

To qualify for the honorary title, one must have attained the rank of full professor at the time of retirement, served 10 or more years as a full-time member of the faculty, achieved a record of meritorious service and made significant contributions to the university.

Dr. Pappalardo provided 28 years (1975-2003) of distinguished service as an employee of Niagara University’s College of Education. Within five years of joining the university, he was granted tenure, and was subsequently awarded the rank of full professor in May 1991.

Prior to retiring in 2003, Dr. Pappalardo twice held the position of department chair, served on more than 30 university committees and coordinated counseling programs during various periods of his career at Niagara.

Since retiring, Dr. Pappalardo has remained active within the College of Education. He has maintained his support of NU’s counselor training program by teaching a summer graduate course and mentoring faculty, staff and students. The Youngstown resident is still connected with numerous counseling agencies and centers, as well as statewide professional associations.

Last fall, Dr. Pappalardo was very active in the university’s Alumni Weekend activities, assisting the College of Education, the event’s affinity group. He has also chaired the college’s annual professional recognition dinner, an event that enhances the university’s esteemed legacy in education.

“We are most proud of the multitude of accomplishments and continuing commitment of Dr. Papparlardo to the profession and to our graduate students at Niagara University,” stated Dr. Debra Colley, dean of NU’s College of Education. “The need for counseling services for children and youth has never been greater. Dr. Pappalardo and our faculty bring passion, commitment and academic excellence to our graduates in the school counseling program. We are so proud to recognize Dr. Pappalardo with his honor.”

Throughout his time at Niagara, Dr. Pappalardo was also active in the Naval Reserve and retired with the rank of captain in 1985.

Since retiring from NU, Dr. Pappalardo has increased his involvement in a number of volunteer positions. With Niagara County Hospice, he trains all volunteers for Camp Hope, a bereavement camp for children, and also serves as counselor at the camp each year. He is a member of the board of directors for the Niagara County Girl Scouts and volunteers weekends during the summer at the Zoar Valley Girl Scout Camp.

Niagara University offers a master’s degree program and professional certification in school counseling, with opportunities to bridge this credential with licensing requirements for mental health counseling. The school counseling program includes comprehensive clinical experience wherein candidates have mentored experiences across a spectrum of school districts, programs providing family and community support, and  summer camps that focus on career and college readiness.

To learn more about Niagara University’s undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in education, please call 716.286.8560 or visit www.niagara.edu/education.

The Rev. John Gouldrick, C.M., associate vice president for mission and director of the Vincentian Scholars Program, and Dr. Thomas Chambers, director of the master’s program in interdisciplinary studies and chair of the history department, were also welcomed into Kappa Gamma Pi as honorary inductees.

The purpose of Kappa Gamma Pi is to strive for a high standard of personal Christian excellence, service and scholarship among members; to encourage individual and group initiative and participation in local and national church and secular affairs; and to awaken a spirit of Christian leadership among the undergraduates of Kappa affiliated colleges and universities.

“Let that be our prayer, to go out together and to serve those most in need,” said the Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, NU president, during his remarks.

Father Levesque has made community service a focal point of his presidency at Niagara University, which will conclude this summer after 13 years.

Congratulations to the inductees:

• Kristy Barrett (Kenmore, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Special Education
• Kelly Byrne (Lewiston, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• David Cheung (Calendon, Ontario)
  • Master of Science/Education 5-12
• Christianna Chiavetta (Amherst, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Education 5-12
• Andrea Fazio (Toronto, Ontario)
  • Master of Science/Education 5-12
• Elona Finlay (Guelph, Ontario)
  • Master of Science/Education 5-12
• Stefanie Fortunato (Woodbridge, Ontario)
  • Master of Science/School Psychology
• Jordan Goldstein (Amherst, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Mental Health Counseling
• Nathan Johnson (Grand Island, N.Y.)
  • Master of Business Administration
• Gloria Kordasiewicz (Lakeview, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Criminal Justice Administration
• Kristin Lundy (Spencerport, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Criminal Justice Administration
• Lori Majewski (Cheektowaga, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Education B-6
• Brittany McMahon (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/School Counseling
• Brittany Miles (East Amherst, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Education B-6
• Emily Oleyourryk (Oswego, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Literacy Instruction
• Kyle Phillips (Akron, N.Y.)
  • Master of Business Administration
• Kathryn Potter (Honeoye Falls, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Literacy Instruction
• Sean Patrick Repman (Buffalo, N.Y.)
  • Master of Business Administration
• Kirsten Rodgers (Wilson, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Education B-6
• Christopher Russell (Youngstown, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/School Counseling
• Laurice Russell (Ransomville, N.Y.)
  • Master of Arts/Interdisciplinary Studies
• Katelyn Schober (Amherst, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/School Psychology
• Jennifer Cardamone Schultz (Lewiston, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/School Counseling
• Ashley Serwon (Cheektowaga, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Literacy Instruction, B-6
• Kayla Snell (Lockport, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/Education B-6
• Latrell Sturdivant (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
  • Master of Science/School Psychology
• Olivia Wells (Stoney Creek, Ontario)
  • Master of Science/Education B-6
• Jamie Lynn Whiffing (Hamilton, Ontario)
  • Master of Science/Education B-6

Kappa, gamma and pi are the initial letters of the Greek phrase that means “Catholic Women Leaders.” The original name has been retained because of its importance in the society’s history. However, both non-Catholics and men are welcomed to the membership of Kappa Gamma Pi each year.

Membership in Kappa Gamma Pi is a promise for the future, to continue in service to church and community. Members are chosen because they have already demonstrated this commitment, and are expected to continue in this leadership role after graduation.

Additional photos from the event are posted on Niagara University’s Facebook page.

To learn more about the graduate programs offered at Niagara University, please call 716.286.8769 or visit www.niagara.edu/graduate.

On April 25, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) unveiled the program, which also includes similar initiatives at City University of New York institutions and at State University of New York campuses.

The project will provide professional development for faculty in education, and arts and sciences in order to deepen understanding and fully implement the many changes in the areas of teacher and school leader certification, teacher and principal performance evaluations, data-driven instruction, clinically-rich teacher and leader preparation, and the Common Core State Standards. Included in the initiative is the development and implementation of new certification examinations for initially certified teachers, including the teacher performance assessment that stems from the research of Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University. Dr. Darlington is a leading researcher in the field of education.

Partnerships with P-12 schools are also central to the changes in pre-service programs and certification regulations and will, therefore, be included in the professional development strategy.

cIcu has been allocated $3 million to support its members’ efforts, with all related activities to take place before June 30, 2014. The funds were awarded by the Office of the State Comptroller.

Dr. Debra Colley, dean of Niagara University’s College of Education, has been appointed to the program’s expert advisory panel, making her one of only six deans from independent institutions to sit on the panel.

“I am delighted to participate on this panel with so many well-respected leaders in higher education,” Dr. Colley said. “To be selected for this role by cIcu is another testament to the exceptional high quality of Niagara University’s programs in teacher and leader education.”

Furthermore, NU’s College of Education has been confirmed as the facilitating institution for the Western New York/Finger Lakes Region, coordinating regional communication and organization of the professional development activities within the project’s framework proposed by cIcu and approved by the New York State Education Department.

“University-based, comprehensive programs have been directly involved in discussions of the continuum of ongoing professional learning,” added Dr. Colley. “This statewide opportunity to elevate the impact of programs offered through the independent colleges and universities is most important as we know that our comprehensive and coordinated approach to high-quality teaching and learning has a clear impact on student growth, achievement and college and career readiness.”

Additional information on the initiative is available at www.isnetworked.org.

To learn more about Niagara University’s undergraduate and graduate programs in education, please visit www.niagara.edu/education.

The honor is given to “a person involved in literacy education who has made a significant contribution to promoting literacy in the community.”

Dr. McGrath was presented with the award during the council’s spring conference, which was held at Niagara University on March 16.

“We are so pleased that Kathleen’s passion for increasing literacy awareness in the Western New York community is being acknowledged,” commented Dr. Debra Colley, dean of NU’s accredited College of Education. “By coordinating the programs in our Family Literacy Center, she has impacted many populations, enabling teacher candidates to be the best literacy teachers they can be, as well as sharing the love of reading with students and families.”

Dr. McGrath joined the Niagara University faculty in the fall of 2010. She teaches in the College of Education’s master’s program in literacy instruction and oversees the Family Literacy Center, which offers diagnostic and intervention services to struggling readers of varying ages. According to Dr. Colley, Dr. McGrath has gone above and beyond her role as an instructor to ensure that programs in the Family Literacy Center are well-designed, managed by prepared teacher candidates, and beneficial to the children and families served. Her organizational skills and knowledge of literacy content and pedagogy are invaluable to the success of increasing awareness of literacy in our community through this venue.

Similarly, Dr. McGrath recently designed a professional development project in which pre-service teachers, under her supervision, planned and organized a family literacy event in several Niagara County schools. This project was developed in light of the challenge for teacher candidates to meet the requirements of the International Reading Association’s standard for leadership in professional development.

As Dr. McGrath noted, the project enabled “candidates to have critical leadership experiences in working collaboratively with families, to celebrate literacy and share easy, fun ways that literacy activities can be incorporated into family life.”

Outside of the university setting, Dr. McGrath regularly provides professional development opportunities for area Catholic Schools. She serves as an advisory board member for St. Peter Roman Catholic School in Lewiston, counseling the school on curricular matters, especially in literacy. She also provides individual literacy evaluations for struggling readers in the community.

For more information about Niagara University’s education programs, visit www.niagara.edu/education or call 716.286.8560.

Niagara Frontier Reading Council

The mission of the Niagara Frontier Reading Council is to promote literacy education, encourage professional development and provide community service that fosters literacy within Western New York. We hope to instill a passion for lifelong learning and to encourage readers to build a vision of the future.

The free event begins at 9:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be offered to all attendees.

Graduate School Open House is an excellent opportunity for prospective students and their families to learn more about NU’s accredited graduate degree programs in business administration, sport management, criminal justice administration, teacher education, counseling, educational leadership and interdisciplinary studies as well as Niagara’s Ph.D. program in leadership and policy.

Attendees will be able to speak individually with university faculty and staff members about course offerings while representatives from Niagara offices of financial aid, career development and other student services will also be present to answer questions. In addition, current NU graduate students will be on hand to talk about life on campus.

To request more information and/or register, please contact Niagara University’s Office of Graduate Admissions at 716.286.8700, 800.462.2111 or log on to www.niagara.edu/april.

Stuart Auty, the founding president of the Canadian Safe School Network, a nonprofit organization mandated to help make Canadian schools and neighborhoods safer places to learn and live, delivered the commencement address and received the university’s Caritas Medal.

The Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., president of Niagara University, presided at commencement ceremonies and conferred the degree of Bachelor of Professional Studies in Education on graduates.

Two students who have achieved the highest grade-point average in their respective fields of study received gold medals. They were Amanda Tania Di Domizio for the primary-junior program, and Lisa Fusco for the intermediate-senior program. In addition, Jeffrey Kirby (primary-junior) and Eric Mattei (intermediate-senior) were honored with Excellence in Teacher Preparation awards, as determined by faculty members.

Since Auty founded the Canadian Safe School Network in 1997, it has been very active in developing safe school resources, administering research and hosting professional development events for educators and administrators. In fact, CSSN is among the largest safe school professional development providers in Canada, and its resources are distributed across North America.

The organization – and Auty in particular – is recognized by print, television and radio media as a primary source for information and expertise on the youth violence issues of the day. Auty’s commentary has been featured in such prominent media outlets as The Toronto Star, CBC News, CTV and Reader’s Digest.

Niagara University offers a bachelor’s degree in teacher education, with programs in primary-junior and intermediate-senior teacher preparation, at sites in Toronto and York. The university, founded in 1856, has written consent from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer its programs, which are accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers. It has offered education programs in Ontario for more than 30 years.

Further information on Niagara University and its program in Ontario is available at www.niagara.edu/ontario-teacher-s-college.

The project, “Building a Pipeline of Teaching Excellence,” capitalizes on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards’ (National Board) unique repository of case studies of accomplished teaching, including videos of Board-certified teachers paired with reflective analyses describing instructional decision-making and teaching strategies. The cases will be housed in an online resource called Accomplished Teaching, Learning, and Schools (ATLAS).

Through the i3 grant, the National Board and its partners will pilot ATLAS cases in six teacher preparation programs and seven local education agencies (LEAs). The project will help embed National Board standards and exemplars of accomplished teaching in pre-service and induction in participating institutions of higher education and LEAs.

The National Board will oversee this project, convening partners to develop new instructional approaches that are high-impact, cost-effective and scalable. Ultimately, ATLAS will expand across all 25 National Board certificate areas, including thousands of cases addressing all areas of the curriculum and every developmental level of pre-K-12 education.

Dr. Debra Colley, dean of Niagara University’s College of Education, noted that the project addresses a need in teacher preparation by providing pre-service programs with up-to-date tools so as to strengthen the preparation provided to teachers and extend that preparation through their early years in teaching. “National Board standards are the DNA of accomplished teaching,” she said. “By embedding them at the heart of pre-service and induction, we will ensure that new teachers in STEM fields will be ready for the Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.”

Partners in this project include Stanford University’s Teacher Performance Assessment Consortium (edTPA); the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education; the Council of Chief State School Officers; TeachingWorks at the University of Michigan; and the project’s evaluation partner, the American Institutes for Research. The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers are in-kind partners in the project.

Along with the Niagara Falls City School District, other partners include Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Tenn.; Jackson Madison County Schools, Tenn.; Tipton County, Tenn.; Yakima Schools, Wash.; Seattle Public Schools, Wash.; West Valley School District, Wash.; University Educational Service District 105, Wash., Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, University of Memphis, University of Washington and Central Washington.

Over the course of the grant, the free training in early childhood learning is expected to benefit about 1,500 area teachers and impact 35,000 schoolchildren.

“As a district, we are already very committed to advancing the skills of our teachers, which has proven to be one of the most effective ways of enhancing student achievement,” stated Cynthia Bianco, superintendent of the Niagara Falls City School District. “We consider ourselves fortunate to be chosen for this program and look forward to enhancing the quality of education and innovation in our schools.”

Niagara University’s College of Education brings a strong commitment to working in partnership with P-12 schools to enhance student learning; and prepare teachers, educational leaders and school counselors from pre-service to ongoing professional learning. The strength of these mutually beneficial partnerships – with the Niagara Falls City School District, in this case – and the quality of NU graduates has once again been recognized by the college’s involvement in this prestigious project with the National Board.

Dr. Ron Thorpe, president and C.E.O. of the National Board, hailed the grant as an important building block in shaping a true professional continuum of teacher development and excellence. “The work undertaken with our partners will directly raise student achievement in STEM fields by strengthening the way we prepare and induct teachers into the profession.”

The National Board and its partners will widely disseminate findings from this project through research and policy briefs, presentations to their memberships, research monographs, postings on websites and social media. The primary role of organizational partners will be to facilitate the dissemination of information and research gleaned from this initiative. Findings will be broadly disseminated to all of the nation’s schools, colleges and departments of education; state education agencies; and the National Board’s network of 100,000 accomplished teachers and policy partners.

The mission of the National Board is to advance student learning and achievement by establishing the definitive standards and systems for certifying accomplished educators, providing programs and advocating policies that support excellence in teaching and leading, and engaging National Board certified teachers and leaders in that process.

For more information on Niagara University’s College of Education, please call 716.286.8560 or visit www.niagara.edu/education.

Scratch that. Sarah Page is a published Niagara University sophomore.

The Amulet, a novel that Page began writing during her freshman year at Frontier Central High School in Hamburg, hit bookshelves in late July. It is described by Page as a historical fantasy novel with “a little bit of romance.” It’s about a young girl named Fala, who lives in a corrupt Egyptian town. When she becomes tangled up in the lives of two gods, they discover that she is mistakenly in the possession of a divine item that’s been missing for nearly 50 years. Fala has to accompany the two back to the realm of the gods to find the amulet’s rightful owner before it’s too late.

“I got the idea from actual Egyptian mythology and, in a way, one of my best friends, Amanda,” said Page, who plans to teach history at the high school or collegiate level. “I had just finished reading a book about the pharaoh Tutankhamen, and we were having a discussion about curses. The idea just kind of sprang from that. It’s something I’ve always had a passion for; I honestly can’t remember when it first sparked my interest. Writing has always been a hobby, too, so I guess it’s only natural that the two collided eventually.”

Western New York-based No Frills Buffalo published The Amulet, which is available for $14.95 at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and other popular websites.

Page said that she is considering publishing a second book, a collection of short stories.

However, this year, the college will hold its annual professional recognition awards ceremony as part of the university’s fall Alumni Weekend festivities. The 2012 event takes place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Castellani Art Museum.

This year’s award recipients are as follows:

Educational Leaders of the Year

• Dr. Michael Wendt
  Superintendent, Wilson Central School District
• William “Rusty” Hick
  Director of Education, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board

Counselors of the Year

• Dr. Dianna Bruno
  Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapy Associates of Niagara
• Dr. Joseph M. Rizzo
  Retired Psychologist and Professor, Mohawk College

Teachers of the Year

• Summer Chapman
  Lewiston-Porter Primary Education Center, Lewiston-Porter Central School District
• Kyle Rufrano
  Mary Ward Catholic Elementary School, Niagara Catholic District School Board

Community Leaders of the Year

• Judy Conte-Villani
  Director of Volunteer Programs, Niagara Fall Memorial Medical Center

Tickets for the public event are $25.

This year’s award recipients are alumni of Niagara University and the award categories represent some of the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral courses and programs offered by the College of Education on both sides of the American-Canadian border. To best prepare students, the college partners with community leaders to place degree candidates in internships and clinical practice situations.

“We count on these extraordinary mentors to extend the influence of the university and to assist new graduates as they navigate their careers,” commented Dr. Debra Colley, dean of the college. “Their contributions to the profession and to the communities they serve speak highly to the mission of Niagara University and the excellence of our graduates. It is an honor to celebrate these accomplishments during this year’s Alumni Weekend.”

For luncheon information and tickets, please call Mary Kinney at 716.286.8560 or email ude.aragainnull@yennikm.