School of Education Leads Innovative Degree Apprenticeship Program to Address Teacher Shortage
Notre Dame of Maryland’s School of Education continues to play a central role in helping address teacher shortages across the state, with a new grant of $249,553 providing an innovative pathway for paraprofessionals to earn a bachelor’s degree and special education certification through a degree apprenticeship program – the first of its kind in Maryland.
NDMU’s Elevates program, made possible through a grant awarded by the Maryland State Department of Education, will be implemented through partnerships with John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore and the Harbour School in Annapolis. Five paraprofessionals at each institution will be selected to participate in the 60-credit pilot initiative. After completing all requirements for degree completion and certification, participants will be required to teach in their sponsoring school system for a minimum of two years.
“The School of Education is proud to have this opportunity to increase access to higher education for paraprofessionals in our partner schools who may not otherwise have the resources to move forward as a certified teacher,” said Dr. Kathryn Doherty, dean of NDMU’s School of Education. “NDMU Elevates is an innovative program that builds on the rigor of the School of Education curriculum, while recognizing the extensive on-the-job experience that paraprofessionals and support staff bring to their work every day. It is a nontraditional pathway to transform lives, and places us at the forefront of new models of education to serve diverse communities.”
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Honors Students Present Research at Statewide Conference
Five students from the Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program attended the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council Conference last month, and two of them presented their research. Julie Asbury, a Sister Alma Scholar, presented her research entitled, “Poly-GR leads to neuronal loss and behavioral deficits in a mouse model.” Averee Radonovich also presented her research, "Examining Burnout in Critical Care Nurses After the COVID-19 Pandemic." The other students who attended the conference are Jensen Armstrong, vice-president of the Executive Board; Erin Shaw, admissions Representative, Executive Board; and Victoria Wong, living-learning community and mentor Coordinator, Executive Board. Led by Dr. Evelyn Spratt, all of the students participated in scholarly seminars during the conference. NDMU is set to host the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council Conference in February 2024.
Student/Faculty/Staff Updates
School of Education
Ryan Schaaf, associate professor of Educational Technology, has been nominated for the Maryland Society of Educational Technology’s Outstanding Higher Education Technology award. This award recognizes an educator in higher education who has made exemplary contributions to the implementation of technology in Maryland schools. It supports the organization’s mission to advance excellence in learning and teaching through innovative and effective uses of technology.
School of Pharmacy
Drs. Sharon Park, assistant dean for academic affairs, and Nicole Culhane, assistant dean for experiential education, represented the School of Pharmacy in presentations at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Interim Meeting last month. Dr. Park was the speaker for the Faculty Workload Reimagined Joint Task Force session. In that session, the task force co-chairs presented their findings after a critical evaluation of the literature in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and higher education, as well as collected examples of workload tools and policies from many programs. The presenters focused on each of the primary workload components of teaching, research, service, and practice, as well as a review recent surveys of leadership and faculty regarding perceptions of workload equity. Dr. Culhane was a presenter for a debate session with the 2022-23 Academic Leadership Fellows on the topic "Online Certificates and Digital Badges will positively disrupt pharmacy education.
Congratulations to Sherry Moore M’20, who was recognized this week by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) as an Invisible Superhero! The award was presented by the APhA-Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management Immunizing Pharmacists Special Interest Group. Moore serves as an assistant director of experiential education in the School of Pharmacy. She has worked extensively with outside preceptors to develop vaccination clinics in Baltimore, giving NDMU students countless training opportunities while providing vital healthcare support to local community members.
Conference and Auxiliary Services
