Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Paul Parkison receives Berger Faculty Community Service Award
Dr. Paul T. Parkinson is the recipient of the 2010 Berger Faculty Community Service Award.
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Betty Vawter Senior Editor, News & Information Services 812/480-1873 The award is presented annually to a University of Southern Indiana faculty member to recognize distinguished community service. Parkison was recognized Wednesday during the Honors program for the Bower-Suhrheinrich College of Education and Human Services. Dr. Julie H. Edmister, dean of the college, said, “Paul has multiple community partners and brings innovative curricular experiences to local students and community stakeholders." Parkison instructs teacher education courses on site at Helfrich Park Middle School. As part of this experience, prospective teachers spend approximately 100 hours in classrooms, working with teachers and students. Parkison extends his service to Helfrich Park by serving on the school's committee to develop a school improvement plan. He focuses on professional development opportunities for faculty and curricular reforms to benefit students. Dr. Jeff A. Thomas, interim chair of the Department of Teacher Education, said the Helfrich Park affiliation has been so successful that it has led to an additional connection with USI a partnership between the middle school and the Pott College of Science and Engineering's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiative. Students from Helfrich Park visit USI for lessons taught by Pott College faculty. Parkison facilitated the development of this program, which provides an innovative curricular experience to improve math and science proficiency for Helfrich Park students. Parkison originated the annual Multicultural Education Conference hosted by the Bower-Suhrheinrich College of Education and Human Services. The event brings top scholars in the areas of critical pedagogy and multicultural education to campus to provide professional development opportunities for area teachers and preservice teachers. The fifth annual conference was held in February. Parkison is a member of the advisory board for the Indiana Middle Level Education Association. He shares his expertise with area educational organizations and schools as a consultant on professional development and grant writing. In addition to serving as assistant professor of education, Parkison is director of University Core Curriculum Assessment and director of undergraduate programs in teacher education. He joined the University in 2004. The Board of Trustees has approved his promotion to associate professor of education effective August 23. Parkison earned a bachelor's degree at Wabash College, master's degree at Vanderbilt University, and teacher certification in secondary social studies at Belmont University. He completed a Doctor of Education degree at the University of Memphis. The Sydney and Sadelle Berger Faculty Community Service Award is made possible by the Bergers' son Charles and his wife Leslie. |
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