With the shortage of teachers in California, especially in special education, mathematics, and science, there’s never been a better time to consider a career in education. As a teacher, you can give back to your community and make a difference in the lives of children. Whether you’re exploring a possible career in teaching or are
The leadership teams from a three-year, donor-funded public school initiative joined Chapman University faculty for a virtual panel discussion to share lessons learned and unexpected benefits. The panel participants were part of Chapman’s first ePrize (Education Prize) project on parent engagement in K-12 public schools. Panel co-moderators Dr. Michelle Samura (Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Angalina Maldonado (BA ’23) found her passion for special education working in Garden Grove School District as an instructional aide. After first working with middle school special education students, five years ago she transferred into an elementary classroom with students with moderate to severe support needs, such as autism and Down Syndrome, and everything clicked.
While studying at Chapman University, Maya Yesharim (BA ’21 and MA ’22) gained fieldwork experience and became passionate about building community in Orange County. While still an undergraduate student at Chapman, Maya founded a tutoring company called Students Help Students that combines her passions of teaching and giving back to the community. Now in its
Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI) has been awarded a new $3.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With the new funding, TPI will operate the California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative (CalEPIC), one of only two such educator preparation transformation centers in California. In alignment with the missions of both TPI
CHOC’s Thompson Autism Center has added Transition Planning to its suite of Families, Agencies, and Schools Together (FAST) services. According to FAST@CHOC Program Director Elissa Green Kaustinen, the model being implemented at the Thompson Autism Center is focused on person-driven planning, which seeks to help people with disabilities plan for their future. J. Thomas Megerian,
Activist and entrepreneur Megan Bomgaars said schools should place students with disabilities in general education settings. In the keynote address at the Thompson Policy Institute on Disability’s 2021 Virtual Summit on DisAbility and Inclusion, Bomgaars said schools and communities need to encourage all students to follow their dreams, to be anything they want without limits.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union has generously awarded $15,000 to support Chapman University’s new Community Math Learning Program. Embedded within the Attallah College of Educational Studies’ Teacher Education program, the Chapman Community Math Learning Center, which integrates teacher education training and community math enrichment, was launched in Spring 2021. Cathery Yeh, Ph.D., the faculty director of the
Whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, one of the best ways to prepare for your dream job is to gain experience in your field, such as through a part-time job or internship. Future teachers, school counselors, and school psychologists should look no further than local schools for work experience. Nearly all public school districts
The William S. and Nancy E. Thompson Family Foundation has awarded an additional $500,000 to Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI), continuing its support of TPI’s mission to reduce the barriers that limit access to learning, living, and working for individuals with disabilities. The Thompson Family Foundation is a national leader in autism-related