2021 was another challenging year, but we have a lot to be grateful for as move ahead to 2022 and spring semester. Here are five of our top highlights from the CU Ā鶹¹ŁĶų School of Educationās past year, asĀ we look forward to positivity and new possibilities in the coming year.
We hosted an all faculty and staff retreat in August where we were able to come together in person (finally!), learn from youth leaders fromĀ Project Voyce, shared stories from the old Education Building, explored land acknowledgements,Ā paint stones to lay a foundation for our year in the Fleming Building, and more. In November, all alumni and supporters were invited to our first open house during Homecoming Week.Ā Learn more about the multiple phases of the Fleming renovations and fundraising initiative.
Our students are at the center of our work. This was a banner year for our School of Education graduates, including theĀ inaugural cohorts of bachelorās graduatesĀ in Leadership & Community Engagement and Elementary Education, 14 impressiveĀ outstanding graduate awardees, and theĀ first graduate of the new online Masterās in Teacher Leadership program.
We welcomedĀ Noreen Naseem RodriguezĀ as a new faculty member. Several faculty recieved national honors, for exampleĀ Elizabeth MeyerĀ received 2021 AERA award for excellence in gender equity in education research.Ā Valerie OteroĀ named a 2021 American Physical Society fellow, andĀ Michele MosesĀ appointed as the president-elect for the Philosophy of Education Society.Ā Several faculty members retired, and we sent well wishes toĀ Julie Andrew, Bridget Dalton, Kathy Escamilla,Ā Bill McGinely, and Jeffrey Writer, who areĀ still engaged withĀ our community and intertwined with our studentsāĀ legacies. Many faculty published new books, withĀ several new titles newly releasedĀ or set to publish soon.
Despite its many challenges, this year brought many occasions to convene and support educators in both in-person and hybird online ways.Ā The 17thĀ Annual Teachers of Color and Allies Summit (TOCA) moved to a virtual format in February to featureĀ BIPOC Teacher Panel and Affinity Group Discussions fostering community building and knowledge sharing. In July, A Queer Endeavor hosted theĀ Educator Institute for Equity and Justice, engaging more than 500 educators in-person and online. In August and September, a graduate and emeritus faculty member hosted a newĀ Climate Change Learning SeriesĀ examining justice, emotion, and action through a series of webinars and a two-day conference. In October, our Teacher Leadership students, whoĀ are helping co-design and improve the compassion and dignity certificate program, also had an opportunity to learn from and, for some,Ā interviewĀ His Holiness the Dalai LamaĀ about dignity and compassionĀ in our schools.Ā Our virtualĀ Childrenās Book FestivalĀ engaged more than 450 childrenās literature enthusiasts and distributed more than 500 books toĀ K-12 classes and teachers over several days in November.
Our ever-popularĀ Ed TalksĀ series painted a beautifully reimagined picture of what our world and futureĀ could be with talks like, āThe Queer Imaginings of a Hopeful Romantic,ā āKeeping Language Arts On The Low: A Low-Key Rap Verse,ā āTransforming Learning in an Era of āFake News,āā āIndigenous Pathways for Equity and Justice,ā and so much more.Ā Ed Talks helpĀ us envision a more beautiful and just world, and 2021's nineĀ amazing talks are available for inspiration any timeĀ online.
It's been a roller coaster year andĀ a challenging time for so many, and yet we look back with gratitude for all we were able to accomplish together. We look forward to a new year of new possibilities.