Creating a Caring Community in the Classroom

Character education is the objective to teach young people how to become responsible, caring and contributors to society. Character education is merely bringing out the best in kids. We believe a teacher’s first moral obligation is to provide excellent instruction. It is also teacher’s duty to help students explore humanity and to value it.

“Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring.” – GreatSchools.org

The Kremen School of Education and Human Development’s Bonner Center for Character Education and Citizenship supports educators throughout the Central Valley who provide wholesome environments for children. The Bonner Center promotes character education in the Central Valley through providing nationally recognized speakers for the Fresno area, forums on character education and professional ethics, materials and other professional resources for review, and coordination for a variety of character award programs.

Dr. Jacques Benniga, Director of the Bonner Center and 2012 Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, has dedicated his career to character education. Character.org stated “For more than 25 years, Dr. Benninga has been a major force in promoting quality character education in California and beyond… Dr. Benninga and his colleagues have done groundbreaking work to create professional development opportunities and materials that enable teachers to reflect together on the practical ethical dilemmas they face in their work with students.”

34th Annual Conference on Character and Civic Education

The Kremen School and the Bonner Center host the Annual Conference on Character and Civic Education. It is the longest running character education conference in the U.S. and is designed specifically for students in the teacher education credential programs at both Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University. This conference provides hundreds of student teachers with important concepts and considerations related to the ethical implications of what teachers do as professional educators.

The 34th annual conference was held on March 9 at the Fresno Convention Center. The conference helps reinforce the fact that our student teachers have a vital role in shaping a child’s character. Part of the conference every year is awarding local schools which are exemplary in character education. This year 33 elementary schools were awarded with the Virtues and Character Recognition Award.  

 

Central Unified School District

Sanger Unified School District

View all photos from the conference on Facebook.

William Saroyan Elementary

Recipient of the Virtues and Character Recognition Award, William Saroyan Elementary is an exemplary school which promotes character and civic education.

“It is the moral imperative that we prepare our students to be college, career, and community ready. This means that not only must we equip them with the academic skills to be successful, but we also must partner with our parents and community to provide them with character and civic virtues that will enable them to contribute back to their community and the world.” – William Saroyan Elementary

William Saroyan Elementary takes many steps to promoting character education. They have a slogan, Stallion Students are RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, READY, and SAFE! (Triple R-S), which is a series of expectations for the students. Students are aware of the Triple R-S because it is embedded into almost everything that they do. From signs throughout the school, to daily reminders on the morning announcements, all the way to staff embedding the concept of how to be a productive, contributing member of society in the lessons and daily interactions. The Triple R-S is a key tool for William Saroyan Elementary.

Peace Path

William Saroyan Elementary also provides a Peace Path for its students. “When students are not demonstrating respect we have the Peace Path for them to use. This Peace Path is a tool used for students to be able to express to another student what is upsetting them or how they feel. The students are both given an opportunity uninterrupted to express themselves and to solve the concerns.” – William Saroyan Elementary

Another key element to the elementary school’s successful promotion of character education is their involvement of parents and the community. They offer classes for the parents to learn about parenting skills and there is a Parent Faculty Club which organizes community events for the students and families to contribute to the community.

From their Triple R-S slogan, to the Peace Path to parent and community involvement, William Saroyan is a prime example of what a school can do to promote character education.

33 Elementary Schools Receive the Virtues and Character Recognition Award

Biola-Pershing Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Cedarwood Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Clay Elementary School
Clay Joint School District

Clovis Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Cole Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Dailey Elementary Charter School
Fresno Unified Board of Trustees

Eric White Elementary School
Selma Unified School District

Fairmont Elementary School
Sanger Unified School District

Frontier Elementary School
Pioneer Union Elementary School District

Gettysburg Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Hanh Phan Tilley Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Jackson Elementary School
Sanger Unified School District

James K. Polk Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Jefferson Elementary School
Sanger Unified School District

Liberty Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Lincoln Elementary School
Kingsburg Elementary Charter School District

Lincoln Elementary School
Sanger Unified School District

Lone Star Elementary School
Sanger Unified School District

Madison Elementary School
Sanger Unified School District

Madison Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Maple Creek Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

McKinley Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Pinedale Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Quail Lake Environmental Charter School
Sanger Unified School District

River Bluff Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Sanger Academy Charter School
Sanger Unified School District

Starr Elementary School
Fresno Unified School District

Sundale Elementary School
Sundale Union Elementary School District

Teague Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Valley Oak Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Virginia R. Boris Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

Weldon Elementary School
Clovis Unified School District

William Saroyan Elementary School
Central Unified School District

Four Job Offers in One Day

There are many reasons a person decides to go to college; increase their knowledge, become more financially stable, and to have more opportunity. But one of the main reasons people decide to continue their education is to further their career. People want to earn a degree that will get them a job and more importantly a career. Our goal, as the Kremen School of Education and Human Development, is to not only have our students graduate from college but to prepare them for their career.

Preparing for the Future

Every semester, the Kremen School hosts an Interview Panel Seminar for our last semester teaching credential students. The seminar was held on March 2nd, just one week before the Teacher Recruitment Fair on March 8th. This seminar helps prepare our teaching credential students for their future with career tips and a Q&A with school district personnel.

The Fresno State Career Development Center started off the seminar with a workshop on interview techniques, appropriate attire and resume tips. The workshop, hosted by Jody Burum, Career Counselor, provided our students with the tools they need to be successful in their future interviews. We want to make sure that our students are confident when they go into an interview. That our students have a positive attitude, portray a professional image and are prepared with the appropriate closing questions and comments for the interview.

Students can use the Career Development Center for the following resources:

• Preparing for interviews
• Developing a resume and cover letter
• Meet with a career counselor

The seminar concluded with a panel of District Superintendents and other executive personnel from the major Central Valley school districts. The district representatives provided our students with information about teaching in the districts. This is a unique opportunity for our students to get face-to-face time with potentially their future employers. The students asked the district representatives questions that are appropriate with current job trends and the world we live in today. The students asked questions such as: “Is it inappropriate to ask about the school’s safety procedures during the interview process?”, “What do you like to see in an interviewee’s ‘Teacher Portfolio’?” and “When interviewing with school districts as opposed to schools, how do you help applicants navigate which school would be the best fit?”.

The Interview Panel Seminar is a major tool in preparing our teacher credential students to be successful at the Teacher Recruitment Fair.

Landing the Job

On March 8th, the Kremen School of Education and Human Development hosted the 2018 Teacher Recruitment Fair. The fair is an opportunity for our teaching credential students and alumni to interview on the spot for current job openings. The fair was extremely successful, housing over 80 California school districts in attendance. The students and alumni in attendance needed to come prepared to the fair, ready for interviews and ready to sign job contracts. Brenda Alarcon, a Multiple Subject Credential student, made sure she came prepared. “The philosophy statement is what I prepared the most and fixing my resume. I already had letters of recommendation so that was the easy part.” Alarcon, receiving a job offer with Kings County School District, stating she “really appreciated that everyone was there and it makes you think for the future.”

Monica Sepulveda, also a Multiple Subject Credential student, was very successful at the Teacher Recruitment Fair and received four job offers and decided that she is going to start her career at West Fresno Elementary School. Sepulveda dedicates some of her success to being prepared but also knowing her audience. “They want to see what expertise or experience you have in education and that’s the first thing they look for.”

For any teachers or credential students who were not able to attend the fair, visit EDJOIN, the number one educational job site.

 

 

NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community’s 2018 Outstanding Faculty Award

Congratulations to Dr. Ignacio Hernández!

Dr. Hernández, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, received the Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding Faculty Award by NASPA.

Dr. Hernández received this award because he has contributed significant research and publication that promote the understanding of Latinx/as/os in higher education. He also has the desire to learn in graduate and professional development environments and has served as a role model to Latinx/as/os in the higher education community.

“The awards committee identified your nomination as exemplifying extraordinary contributions to the field of higher education through your leadership and service in NASPA and in the Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community.” – LKC Awards Committee

The NASPA Annual Conference, held in Philadelphia, PA from March 3-7, is the largest conference of its kind for student affairs professionals to learn about advancement, health, and sustainability for their profession. Dr. Hernández attended the conference with Dr. Susana Hernández, also from Department of Educational Leadership in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development. They attended the NASPA Annual Conference with graduate students from the Master of Arts in Education, Higher Education, Administration and Leadership (HEAL) pathway program.

Dr. Hernández was actively involved at the conference in many ways. He participated in the following educational sessions:

The Role of AANAPISIs in Advancing Hmong Student Success

Fresno State’s Ignacio Hernández, Ph.D., assistant professor, Susana Hernández, Ph.D., assistant professor, and John Yang, HEAL graduate student, presented on the role of AANAPISIs in advancing Hmong student success. It is anticipated that Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) college student enrollment will increase by 35% over the next ten years. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution’s (AANAPISI) are uniquely positioned to lead in advocating educational attainment for AAPI students.

Issues Impacting the Success of Latinx Student Affairs Professionals in Community College

Dr. Hernández, along with student affairs leaders from Suffolk County Community College (NY), Tarrant County College (TX) and Shoreline Community College (WA), spoke about the experiences of Latinx student affairs professionals’ experiences within community colleges. Latinx student enrollment is the second highest of all racial/ethnic groups and about half of Latinx students enroll in community colleges. Together the panel analyzed why Latinx professionals are crucial to our nation’s college completion goals and how practitioners can be transformational not only to student success, but to the academy.

Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions

Making the most of their trip, our Fresno State faculty and HEAL students visited the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions. CMSI director, Dr. Marybeth Gasman, along with Associate Directors Carolyn Nalewajko and Paola “Lola” Esmieu, graciously hosted Fresno State’s HEAL students. The visit included a tour of the center, a question and answer session, and was topped off by a pizza lunch! HEAL faculty and graduate students are very grateful to Dr. Gasman and her staff.