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May 6, 2022
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Dr. Nick Werse Honored by Baylor [05/06/2022]

Nick Werse and Linda Livingstone

Dr. Nick Werse received Outstanding Staff Award from Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone on April 12.

Baylor University honored the School of Education’s Dr. Nick Werse with an Outstanding Staff Award this spring in a presentation at Truett Seminary. Werse is director of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction’s Ed.D. Writing Center, which serves hundreds of students in the SOE’s online Ed.D. in Learning and Organizational Change (EdD-LOC). The center offers comprehensive support, including writing development support, writing webinars, writing resources for faculty, course development recommendations, dissertation formatting support, and individualized student writing consultations via Zoom, employing a staff of seven including Werse. During the fall of 2021, the EdD Writing Center provided feedback on over 950 documents, which included more than 480 writing consultations, and written feedback to guide the development of more than 470 dissertation chapters.

Werse holds a Ph.D. in New Testament from Baylor, graduating in 2018, and a 2012 M.Div. from Truett Theological Seminary in Biblical and Theological Studies. He earned his B.A. from Palm Beach Atlantic University. He published a book on Old Testament prophets in 2019 and has another in the works on the prophets in the age of ecological crisis, and he is competent in eight research languages. Continue Reading →

October 30, 2021
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Former Teachers Go All Out for Halloween [10/30/2021]

Boo!Some intense “teacher” vibes emanated from the second floor of Marrs McLean Science Building on the Baylor campus to celebrate Halloween. Faculty and staff in the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) decided to decorate doors along the hallway and host trick-or-treaters at Baylor’s traditional event.

Dr. Sandi Cooper

Dr. Sandi Cooper and her first-place door, which featured candy tagged with QR links to math activities (see links in the story).

And when former K12 classroom teachers gain access to butcher and construction paper, amazing designs are bound to happen! Many enlisted the help of their own children in designing their doors, and some had help from Baylor teacher-education students (particularly from 1312 and 3380 courses) — providing great training for decking out their future classrooms and bulletin boards.

The idea to go all out for Halloween came from doctoral student Ashleigh Maldonado, said graduate program director Dr. Lakia Scott. “It started as a decorating contest, and then we wanted to share it with more people, and faculty were eager to pass out treats, so we arranged to be a site for Baylor’s Treat Night for children of employees,” Scott said. “It was a lot of fun and showed the great community we have in the C&I department — especially because a student suggested this, and then everybody jumped on board.” Continue Reading →

July 27, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Ryan Erck Named Baylor’s “Student Advocate of the Year” [07/27/2020]

Ryan ErckRyan Erck, Program Director of the Impact Living-Learning Center (LLC), received the Student Advocate of the Year Award from the Baylor Division of Student Life. Impact LLC is a residential learning community located in South Russell Hall and founded by the School of Education in 2015 in partnership with Campus Living and Learning. As a Baylor SOE staff member collaborating with Campus Living and Learning, Erck is responsible for the recruitment, marketing, admissions, and programming for Impact LLC.

According to the 2020 Baylor Student Life Staff Awards virtual ceremony, the Student Advocate Award recognizes “a staff or faculty member who works outside the Division of Student Life but who helps us significantly accomplish our work in students’ lives.” Erck received the award after his first year in Impact LLC.

“Each year, we identify those staff members who have served so well, above and beyond what they’ve been called to do,” said Dr. Kevin Jackson, Vice President for Baylor Student Life in announcing the award, noting that Erck was nominated with “glowing recommendations.” Continue Reading →

May 7, 2020
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Cece Lively Receives Baylor Outstanding Staff Award [05/07/2020]

Cece LivelyBaylor University honored the School of Education’s Cece Lively with an Outstanding Staff Award this spring. Lively is the Assistant Program Director for the EdD in Learning and Organizational Change, which is offered online by the SOE’s Department of Curriculum & Instruction and is the university’s largest graduate program. In that role, she coordinates and oversees program development and execution for almost 300 students and 25 faculty and staff. When the program reaches full capacity, it will serve more than 600.

Baylor’s announcement said, “Cece has proven to be an exceptional leader, innovative thinker, creative problem solver, student advocate, and collaborative colleague on campus. . . . The EdD students and faculty love working with Cece. She has a calm and caring demeanor and genuine concern for students.” Continue Reading →

August 21, 2019
by Baylor Instant Impact
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Impact LLC Welcomes New Program Director [08/21/2019]

Ryan W. Erck, new Program Director for Impact Living-Learning Center (LLC), wants to make sure that students in the LLC have the kind of community experience that he missed out on when he was a college freshman. Impact LLC, which is a partner of the School of Education, is located in South Russell Hall and is home to 240 Baylor students, both male and female.

Erck said, “Impact LLC creates cohesive spaces for students to have very meaningful interactions with faculty, staff and peers. Residential learning communities embody an experience that provides many campus amenities in one place. Impact LLC reflects the larger campus culture, but on a micro-scale — encompassing things like study areas, fitness spaces, technology areas and classrooms.”

As a college freshman, Erck chose to hold down a job while attending school and didn’t take advantage of a residential community, he said. He earned his BS in Leadership and Development and his MS in Educational Human Resource Development, both from Texas A&M University. Erck is now a doctoral candidate pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Studies and Leadership in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership. Despite these obvious accomplishments, Erck said that his chances for success would have been better if he had lived in an intentional community during his early college experience, and he suggests that students look for this kind of experience when exploring housing options during the college application process. Continue Reading →

August 8, 2018
by Baylor Instant Impact
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SOE Center for Christian Education Welcomes Executive Director [08/08/2018]

Dr. Matt Thomas joined the Baylor School of Education (SOE) on Aug. 1 as executive director of the SOE’s Center for Christian Education. Founded in 1985, the CCE is dedicated to advancing evidence-based approaches to educational improvement and values-driven leadership through a range of programming and resources.

SOE Interim Dean Dr. Terrill Saxon said the center will undergo an expansion as the result of a significant gift to the SOE from Lynda, BSEd ’79 (MA ’85 in education from Texas Wesleyan College), and Robert, BBA ’80, MPA ’81, Copple of Frisco, and this appointment is an important first step in realizing an ambitious agenda for the center’s future.

“Matt’s background in Christian education and his commitment to the training of strong Christian leaders make him a perfect fit for the expanded role of the SOE’s Center for Christian Education,” Saxon said. “His expertise will launch a new era for the center and help shape its future.”

Thomas comes to Baylor from a position in California, where he served as executive director of a national radio ministry broadcasting on more than 600 stations. For more than 20 years, he has served in various roles within Christian schools, seminaries and Christian higher education institutions. His experience includes a stint as head principal of a diverse Christian school in Southern California. Continue Reading →

October 10, 2017
by Baylor Instant Impact
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School of Education’s Darlene Kyser Marks 50 Years at Baylor [10-10-2017]

On her first day of work at Baylor University’s School of Education (SOE), Darlene Kyser sat in a small, musty room on the third floor of Pat Neff Hall, surrounded by old books, typing up permanent record cards on an electric typewriter.

“I went home and told my husband, Don, I just did not think it was going to work out,” Kyser reminisces with a soft laugh. “But Don said, ‘Why don’t you give it a couple of days?’ So I did, and here I am 50 years later.”

Now Kyser sits tall in a black chair at a wooden desk in her spacious office in Marrs McLean Science — a shift from the closet room where she worked decades ago. Kyser, assistant to the dean of Baylor’s School of Education, manages the day-to-day meetings, conferences and schedule of the dean. She also assists with faculty search committees, communicates university-wide policies and procedures to SOE faculty and staff, and hosts annual dean events. In September 2017, Kyser celebrated 50 years in the SOE, and at the end of October, she will retire. Continue Reading →

July 21, 2017
by Baylor Instant Impact
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New Advisor to Students Joins Baylor School of Education [07/21/2017]

Baylor University School of Education (SOE) is excited to welcome home Baylor graduate Tamara Roznos, BSEd ’92, as the new SOE undergraduate advisor to students. Roznos joins the SOE staff with 25 years of experience in the public school system.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to build relationships with students and help them meet their professional goals for the future,” Roznos said. “I’m excited to be part of the Baylor family again.”

Roznos is available to meet with incoming, returning and transfer undergraduate students year-round on the first floor of the SOE, office number 113. Academic advisors help students select and register for classes, plan their schedules, and set long-term goals. The SOE advising staff — led by Dr. Joel Porter, assistant dean for undergraduate programs — guides education students during their entire four years in the SOE. Continue Reading →

May 1, 2015
by Baylor Instant Impact
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SOE Hosts Retirement Reception for Dean Jon Engelhardt [05/01/2015]

--EngelhardtRec-Cain-BLOG

Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Bonny Cain and SOE Dean Dr. Jon Engelhardt

The Baylor School of Education (SOE) and the Baylor Provost’s Office hosted a great crowd at the retirement reception for SOE Dean Dr. Jon Engelhardt on April 28. The event was in the Great Hall of Truett Seminary on the Baylor campus.

Guest speakers included Baylor Provost Dr. David Garland; Dr. Bonny Cain, Waco ISD superintendent, representing the Greater Waco Area Superintendent group; Donell Teaff, representing the Dean’s Advisory Council; Dr. Larry Browning, representing the SOE faculty; and SOE Associate Dean Dr. Doug Rogers.

Click the Facebook Album to see photos of the event.