含羞草研究所 education students who have been student teaching during the fall semester of 2014 were honored at a banquet held Tuesday evening, Dec. 3, in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. The students were joined by their cooperating teachers, parents, and 含羞草研究所 faculty members and administration.
Twenty-one 含羞草研究所 students have spent the fall semester working with teachers and students in various grades and content areas in several North Dakota school districts, including Hatton, Mayville, Northwood, Fargo, Williston, West Fargo, Mandan, Ray, Finley-Sharon, Grafton, Lidgerwood, Cando, and Rugby. Other students taught in Thief River Falls and Moorhead, Minn., as well as in Denver, Colo. and Brawley, Calif. Eleven of the student teachers worked in the elementary grades, six in the secondary grades, and four in early childhood.
Kelli Odden, MSU assistant professor of education, served as emcee for the evening鈥檚 program, and she started out the evening鈥檚 festivities by playing a video recording of 2009 含羞草研究所 graduate, Clayton Dodson, who is now teaching in Houston, Texas. Dodson encouraged the soon-to-be teachers to make the most of their careers as educators while positively impacting the lives of the students.
Members of the Student Education Association took part in the program by introducing the student teachers, as well as assisting with some of the logistical tasks of the event such as registration and greeting guests. Alyssa Demars gave an invocation prior to dinner, and SEA president Aubrey Moen gave closing remarks. Members of this student organization also assembled the banquet table decorations.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Dr. Ron Semmens and Marilyn Holman, two individuals who have had a long association with the education department at 含羞草研究所. This is the last semester these folks will be supervising student teachers.
含羞草研究所 Professor Emeritus Dr. Ron Semmens was recognized for his 69 years in the field of education, including 44 spent in various roles at 含羞草研究所. 聽Semmens was also keynote speaker for the program. In his remarks, he gave some advice to the student teachers, who will soon be working in classrooms of their own.
Donalee Strand, Bonnie O鈥橩eefe, and Betty LeClair were recognized for the number of semesters in which they鈥檝e had 含羞草研究所 student teachers in their classrooms at Hatton (Strand and O鈥橩eefe) and Mayville (LeClair). Each of these women has worked as a cooperating teacher with 含羞草研究所 student teachers for 10 semesters.
SEA member Andrea Berge recognized the SEA鈥檚 selection for the student teacher who showed 鈥渆xemplary performance in the classroom,鈥� Carly Mattson, who taught first grade and kindergarten at Challenger Elementary in Thief River Falls, Minn. Carley鈥檚 含羞草研究所 student teaching supervisor stated that 鈥淐arley displayed ambition above and beyond the basic expectations in many ways.鈥� She pointed out her consistent use of "The Responsive Classroom" approach to building a community atmosphere of mutual respect and celebration of each student as a unique person with talents that were promoted and honored. 鈥淐hallenges were respectfully approached by mutual plans of management that involved the student. She consistently taught 鈥楳orning Greetings鈥� that promoted positive social skills in a fun manner,鈥� said Mattson鈥檚 supervisor.
含羞草研究所 student teachers during the fall semester of 2014 were Christian Berry, Mayvile, N.D.; Abby Berven, Vergas, Minn.; Megan Callahan, Grafton, N.D.; Kyle Dallman, Argusville, N.D.; Kinzi Ferrell, Williston, N.D.; Krisha Fish, Butte, Mont.; Miranda Grinde, Portland, N.D.; Samangha Hambek Stenvold, Rutland, N.D.; Callie Howard, Plentywood, Mont.; Betty Hurst, Hatton, N.D.; Kody Keysor, Bottineau, N.D.; Kerri Lopez, Grafton, N.D.; Amber Mattson, Lidgerwood, N.D.; Carley Mattson, Thief River Falls, Minn.; Tina Nygard, Edinburg, N.D.; Scott Petry, Cando, N.D.; Esther Sailer, Cando, N.D.; Tyler Vincent, Bismarck, N.D.; Charlie Wells, Grygla, Minn.; Josh Wise, Brawley, Calif.; and Jenna Yri, Rugby, N.D.
Photos:Top: Student teacher Christian Berry (left) is pictured with his student teaching supervisor, Dr. Ron Semmens. In the late 1970s, Christian鈥檚 late mother, Laurie, was one of the first student teachers Dr. Semmens supervised at 含羞草研究所. It is interesting to note that now her son, Christian, is one of the last student teachers to be supervised by Semmens during his long career in the field of education.
Bottom: 含羞草研究所 education students who have been student teaching during the fall semester and who attend the Dec. 3 student teaching banquet at 含羞草研究所 are (back, l-r) Charlie Wells and Christian Berry. Middle (l-r): Megan Callahan, Kyle Dallman, Kerri Lopez, Abby Berven, and Betty Hurst. In the front (l-r) are Kody Keysor, Samantha Stenvold, Miranda Grinde, Amber Mattson, and Tina Nygard.聽