About us

Department Mission Statement

The mission of the Childhood/Early Childhood Education Department is to provide future educators with a set of unique experiences in the construction of pedagogical content knowledge, in the development and practice of educational leadership skills and in critical analyses of the structures and functions of schools and programs in American society. Department programs prepare teachers to provide effective child-centered, developmentally-appropriate learning environments and to advocate for children from birth to grade six, in cooperation with families and communities. Our future teachers and caregivers are prepared to transform their profession in response to the needs of children and families in an increasingly diverse and global society.

Department Core Values

Core Value: Effective Leadership

The Department is committed to developing educators to assume positions in schools, universities, and community, business/industry, government, and private/public organizations whose primary purpose is the delivery of care and educational services to children.

Core Value: Policy Formulation

The Department is committed to its role informing and influencing public policy related to children and families and care and educational practice.

Core Value: Inquiry

The Department is committed to the notion that inquiry under girds all our activities, including our understanding of professional preparation programs, the interrelationship of practice and theory which informs the profession, and the way knowledge is generated and best transmitted.

Core Value: Equity and Eco-justice

The Department is committed to the notion that respect for all people and the environment under girds our understandings of professional preparation programs. The Department is committed to developing educators who understand and teach to the diverse needs of all children and who promote understanding and respect for difference in all children. The Department is committed to developing educators who teach and advocate for a clean environment and ecologically sustainable life for all people.

Core Value: Collaboration

The Department is committed to developing educators who have effective skills for collaboration with peers, families, community members and professional constituencies in the best interests of children.

 

We have an award winning faculty and staff:

2007

Beth Shiner Klein, Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Outreach Award, SUNY Cortland

Andrea Lachance, Excellence in Research, Scholarship, and Outreach Award, SUNY Cortland

 

2006

Heather Bridge, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, SUNY Cortland

Emilie Kudela, Civic Engagement Leader Award for Outstanding Service to the Community.

 

2005

Tom Lickona, President's Award in Funded Research, SUNY Cortland

Tom Lickona, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, SUNY Cortland

 

2004

Cynthia Benton, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, SUNY Cortland

Beth Shiner Klein, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, SUNY Cortland

Emilie Kudela, Excellence in Teaching Award: Incorporation of Service-learning in Teaching, SUNY Cortland

Andrea Lachance, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, SUNY Cortland

Gail Tooker, Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award, SUNY Cortland

 

2003

Susana Davidenko, Excellence in Research Award, SUNY Cortland

Dan Farsarci, Excellence in Teaching Award: Incorporation of Non-technological Innovation, SUNY Cortland

Beth Shiner Klein, Excellence in Teaching Award: Incorporation of Technology Innovations, SUNY Cortland

Beth Shiner Klein, Excellence in Teaching Award: Incorporation of Non-technological Innovation, SUNY Cortland

Emilie Kudela, Excellence in Research Award, SUNY Cortland

Andrea Lachance, Excellence in Teaching Award: Incorporation of Non-technological Innovation, SUNY Cortland

Thomas Lickona, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Research Recognition

Thomas Lickona, Distinguished Service Award, Academy for Character Education, Hudson Valley Community College

Judith Schillo, Excellence in Teaching Award: Incorporation of Non-technological Innovation, SUNY Cortland

 

2002

Beth Shiner Klein, Excellence in Research Award, SUNY Cortland

 

2001

Thomas Lickona, Sandy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education, Character Education Partnership

 

A selection of recent publications by our faculty, staff and students:

Books:

Lickona, T. (February 2004). Character matters: How to help our children develop good judgment, integrity, and other essential virtues. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Lickona, T. and Davidson, M. (2004). Character quotations: Activities that build character and community. San Clemente, CA: Kagan.

Lickona. T., Lickona, J. and W. Boudreau, M.D. (2003). Sex, love and you: Making the right decision. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2nd edition.

Mosher. J ., Holt, D., & Larson, L. (2005). Becoming a teacher in florida. Belmont, CA: Wadworth Publishing.

Mosher. J . & Larson, L. (2003). Becoming a teacher in new york state. Belmont, CA: Wadworth Publishing.

 

Videos:

Lickona, T. (1998). Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education. National Professional Resources.

 

Reports:

Lickona, T. and Davidson, M. (2005). Smart and good high schools: Integrating excellence and ethics for success in school, work, and beyond. Available: http://www.cortland.edu/character/highschool

Editor:

Mosher, J. (1993-Present). Yellow Brick Road Bi-monthly Children's Literature Newsletter - Editor and Publisher.

 

Journal Articles:

Bridge, H. (Spring 2004) Rediscovering problem solving in the early childhood curriculum. JThe Language and Literacy Spectrum 14. 93.

Klein, B.S. (Fall 2005) Applications of the guidelines for effective elementary science teacher inservice education. Journal of Elementary Science Education.

Klein, B.S., Weaver, S.D., Klein, K., Slekar, T.S., Lachance, A., Jampole, E. (2005) Two models of integrating environmental education into elementary preservice programs. In D. Simmons (ed.) North American Association for Enviromental Education Monograph Series.

Klein, B.S. (Fall 2001) Guidelines for effective elementary science teacher inservice education. Journal of Elementary Science Education 13. (2) 29-40.

Klein, B.S., Matkins, J.J., and Weaver, S.D. (September 2001). Continuation of a collaborative approach for elementary science methods courses: Teaching across collaborative highways. Electronic Journal of Science Education 6 (1) [Online]. Available: http://unr.edu/homepage/crowter/ejse/ejsev6n1.html

Lachance, A. (2002) Connecting chidren's literature and mathematics: An overview of ideas, sources and resources. Language and Literacy Spectrum 12. 13-22.

Lachance, A. and Confrey, J. (2002). Helping students build a path of understanding from ratio and proportion to decimal notation. Journal of Mathematical Behavior 20. 506-528.

Lachance, A. and Confrey, J. (2003). Interconneting content and community: a qualitative studey of secondary mathematics teachers. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education 6. 107-137.

Slekar, T. D., Lachance, A., Klein, B.S., and Klein, K.W. (2003). The environmental thematic methods block: A model for technology immersion. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education [Online Serial], 3 (1). Available: http://www.citejournal.org/vol3/iss1/science/article1.cfm.

Shi, S., Mishra, P., Bonk, C.J., Tan, S. and Zhoa (2006). Thread theory" A Framwork applied to cntent analysis of synchronous computer mediated communication data. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, 3 (3). Available: http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Mar_06/index.htm.

Wagner, M. and Lachance, A. (2004). Mathematical adventures with harry potter. Teaching Children Mathematics, 10 (5). 274-27.

 

Our faculty are involved in grant programs to better education for all:

Bridge, H. (2006-2008) The Cortland Area Early Childhood Professional Development Service. New York State Office of Family and Children Services.

Lachance, A., Benton, C., and Klein, B.S. (2003-2008) Teacher Leader Quality Partnership Grant. New York State Department of Education.

Lickona, T. (2002-2005). Smart & Good High Schools: Integrating Excellence and Ethoics for Success in School, Work, and Beyond. Major funding provided by the John Templeton Foundation.

Please see our OUTREACH page for how we connect with the local schools, early childhood settings, and the community!