In 2014, the Baylor School of Education began chronicling events, announcements, awards and accomplishments online through the news blog Instant Impact  and a new SOE Facebook page in addition to the SOE website. We continued keeping in touch with alumni through the Impact newsletter sent via mail, but now in a new and larger format. The Impact newsletter has a new website, too.

In addition, of course, you have read about the SOE in publications including Baylor Magazine, Baylor Proud, the university’s social media outlets, and through various independent news sources.

Looking back, it’s clear that 2014 was an exciting and news-filled year for the SOE! Here’s a glance at some major headlines:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Education Living Learning Center to Open in August 2015 (July) You can learn more about the LLC here: Education Living Learning Center

Dean Engelhardt Announces Retirement (June)

New College of Health and Human Sciences to include the SOE’s HHPR Dept. (May)

Two new PDS Schools Added (April)

Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities Created with SOE Leadership (April)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

A Perfect Score on Certification Exams for BU candidates in 2013-14 (December)

Senior Sasha Wells Wins statewide Scholarship (October)

Two math education Students Win statewide Scholarships (August)

AWARDS:

Dean Wins Lifetime Achievement Award (November)

Doctoral Grad Dr. Jessica Meehan Wins Dissertation Award (October)

Dr. Joel Porter, director of advising and enrollment management, named Baylor Football Legend (September) Photos of this event, along with some of Dr. Porter during his playing days, were Facebook favorites, so you might want to check out the PHOTOS.

Quest for Quality Awards: In spring and then again in the fall, SOE students and programs were recognized by a statewide group that honors outstanding teacher candidates and teacher-education programs. Two were honored in August, and several students and programs were honored in the spring, including the Dean’s Superintendent Group.

Michael McFarland, Superintendent of Lancaster ISD, Named Regional Superintendent of the Year (July)

Dr. Susan Johnsen Wins National Award from the Council for Exceptional Children (May) and a statewide award too (March).

This year’s Collins Professor Came from the SOE, Dr. Paul LaBounty (May)

SOE Grad Marty Crawford, then Superintendent of West ISD, was Finalist for a National Award and also featured in a Baylor Magazine profile story.

Dr. Tony Talbert Honored by National Organization for Qualitative Research (February)

(Alumni, if you win an award, please let us know at BaylorImpact@baylor.edu.)

EVENTS:

SOE Hosts Distinguished Scholars Day for High-Achieving High School Seniors (November)

Second Annual Homecoming Tailgate a Big Success (November)

Speakers Hosted by the SOE included Cooper Aerobics CEO Tyler Cooper (October), Journalist and Author Ron Berler, (March) and John Dewey expert Dr. William Schubert (February).

SOE Departments Sponsored Successful Events including the Celebrating Exceptionalities Gala (May) Administrator Appreciation Day,  (October), Baylor Autism Camp (June), three successful weeks of University for Young People (June), both on Baylor Campus and at local elementary schools, and iCivics Camp (August).

The SOE Also Played Host to Conferences for State Groups, including the Fall Conference of the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (October), State Mathematics Educators (October), and the Texas Private Schools Conference (July).

The SOE’s Annual Events hit high notes also:

Action Research Symposium (April) Some of those seniors were invited to present at the annual statewide CSOTTE (Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education) conference in Austin (October).

Scholarship Reception Honors Generosity of SOE Scholarship Donors (October)

Annual Honors for Seniors (April)

Graduation photos on Facebook have been a favorite, so here’s the December batch, featuring newly minted SOE master’s grad and BU quarterback Bryce Petty.

And just click to see all of our Facebook albums.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Keep up with the SOE in 2014 through frequent visits to our website, Baylor.edu/SOE, by signing up for an email subscription to the Instant Impact blog, and by clicking “like” on our Facebook page. We hope to see you often in 2015!