College’s Competitive Outreach Grant projects target physical, environmental and educational challenges
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| Dr. Peter Hastie |
Auburn University Competitive Outreach Grants will enable five College of Education faculty members to pursue projects focusing on physical education, sustainability and at-risk students. The grants will provide support for the following work:
“Health-Enhancing Physical Education Initiative – Butler County Schools”
Peter Hastie, Wayne T. Smith distinguished professor of pedagogy in the Department of Kinesiology, submitted a proposal aimed at enhancing the physical education program offered by the Butler County (Ala.) School System during the 2012-13 school year.
In 2011, the Voice of Alabama Children advocacy group rated Butler County 53rd out of 67 state counties in the category of children’s well-being. Poverty levels, graduate rates, single-parent families, low weight births and the prevalence of children being born to unmarried teens were accounted for in the rankings.
Hastie’s plan will provide for three graduate students from the Department of Kinesiology to work at high schools and middle schools in Butler County. The Auburn University students will introduce new methods of physical education while continuing to take courses online as they complete master’s degree work. Hastie will visit Butler County each month to provide professional development for teachers, observe physical education classes and assess the need for new materials.
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| Dr. Amanda Evans |
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| Dr. Jamie Carney |
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| Dr. Lisa Kensler |
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| Dr. Lynne Patrick |
“Developing Career and College Competencies: Preparing At-Risk Students to be Successful in Career and College Opportunities”
Two faculty members in the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling – assistant professor and community agency counseling master’s program coordinator Amanda Evans and professor and counselor education and supervision coordinator Jamie Carney – will work with at-risk students from Notasulga School.
Evans said school counseling doctoral students will work with middle and high school students and encourage career and college exploration.
“A focus of our profession is social justice and advocacy,” she said. “Fortunately, programs like this allow us to bring it to the classroom. All of this will help our [doctoral] students to be great counselor-educators as well.”
Evans said she hopes the Notasulga career and college competency program will serve as a launching point for others to be developed around the state.
“Green Teams: Leading Green and Saving Green in Four Alabama Public Schools”
A report compiled by Energy Star revealed that American public schools collectively spend more than $6 billion each year on energy. Educational leadership assistant professor Lisa Kensler and associate clinical professor and instructional leadership program Lynn Patrick, both faculty members in the Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, will help four Alabama schools identify potential cost-savings while also educating administrators, teachers and students about sustainability practices and the nation’s emerging “green economy.”
Kensler and Patrick’s project outlines ways for schools to increase student learning while also addressing energy and water conservation and waste reduction.
A graduate student will work with Opelika Middle School, Notasulga High School, Fairhope High School and J. Larry Newton School through June 2013 on a variety of initiatives. In addition to coordinating a “Go Green-Save Green Workshop,” the student will meet with schools’ “green teams” once a month throughout the school year to help develop and distribute curriculum and program materials.
Last Updated: Jul 19, 2012
