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Master’s Programs Guide, a website dedicated to helping students find the best graduate degree, recently ranked Stephen F. Austin State University among its 50 best schools in the nation for its online master’s degree in special education.

Site editors, who ranked SFA No. 21, evaluated institutions based on publicly available resources about student accommodation, accreditation, learning outcomes and affordability. Dr. Paige Mask, graduate advisor for SFA’s master’s in special education program, said this ranking is an honor.

“This recognition provides meaningful validation that program instructors are successfully working to provide a quality program that meets the needs of its professional students,” Mask said.

At SFA, there are four options for students seeking a Master of Education or certification in special education online. Students can select either a non-teacher certification (for those who are already teacher certified) or an initial teacher certification. Both options prepare students for disability awareness, instructional strategies, formal and informal assessment, and law. The initial teacher certification also qualifies individuals to teach special education in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Texas public or private schools.

Additionally, students can choose to pursue an education diagnostician certification that offers two tracks — one for those who have a master’s degree and one for those who do not.

“Offering our graduate program online has increased the program’s student diversity, and in turn, it has enriched the experiences of all students and program instructors,” Mask said.

Graduate students are provided with real-world experiences in utilizing publisher scoring and individualized education program-management systems. SFA students can engage in hands-on learning experiences through a web-hosted service, which includes online meetings, desktop sharing and video conferencing software that enables the user to meet with others via the internet.

“Our program is unique due to the diverse teaching experiences and expertise of the program instructors,” Mask said. “Also, in continuing our commitment to quality, the program instructors spend a significant amount of time online meeting with students individually and in groups to practice applying concepts and skills using discussions and software programs utilized in the field of special education and assessment.”

For more information about the program, visit sfasu.edu/humanservices/124.asp.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Preston Turnage and Madeline Reina will serve as SFA’s 2017 Homecoming Children of the Court.[/caption]Preston Turnage, of Nacogdoches, and Madeline Reina, of Whitehouse, will serve as children of the court during Stephen F. Austin State University’s Homecoming celebrations Oct. 20 and 21.

Preston Aaron Turnage is the 11-year-old son of Craig, a 2000 and 2005 SFA graduate, and Tonya, a 1999 SFA alumna. The Turnages are lifetime members of the Alumni Association.

Preston is in the sixth grade at Central Heights Middle School and plays soccer for the Blue Diamonds. He enjoys playing on his iPad and outdoor sports. Preston is a regular at SFA athletic events where he strives to make an appearance on the dance cam at each game. During a January 2017 basketball game, Preston showcased his dancing skills and won the evening’s dance competition. He loves SFA and hopes to follow the family tradition of becoming a Lumberjack in 2024. Preston has an older brother, Brandon, who is a freshman at Central Heights High School. Brandon served as the 2013 SFA Homecoming crown bearer.

Madeline Carys Reina is the 9-year-old daughter of Laura Reina and Jason and Kinnie Reina. Laura, a 2005 graduate of SFA and former Homecoming queen nominee, resides in Tyler. Jason is a 2003 and 2017 SFA alumnus, and Kinnie graduated in 1999. They reside in Nacogdoches.

Madeline’s grandparents are Bob and Gail Hammontree of Schulenburg and Tommy and Terri Grogan of Alto. Madeline recently became a big sister when Jason and Kinnie welcomed Evan Michael Reina in April. Madeline is a fourth grader at Stanton-Smith Elementary School in Whitehouse where her favorite subjects are reading, music and science. She also attends Tyler Music Academy.

In her free time, she enjoys singing, reading, playing Minecraft and Roblox with her friends, and doting on her dog, Buster. Madeline aspires to — in no particular order — be the first female president of the United States, a veterinarian and host her own YouTube channel when she grows up.

Preston and Madeline will ride in the Homecoming parade and participate in the crowning of the SFA Homecoming queen during halftime of the SFA versus Houston Baptist University football game, which begins at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at Homer Bryce Stadium on the SFA campus.

The Choral Union and Women’s Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the program “Dancing and Singing” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The concert theme was chosen because of the many emotions and musical styles that dancing and singing can invoke, according to Dr. Tod Fish, assistant professor in the SFA School of Music and associate director of choral activities at SFA.

“This theme also led to program selections that give us the opportunity to collaborate with School of Music faculty and campus and community organizations,” Fish said.

The Lufkin High School mixed choir, the Kantori, directed by SFA alumna Laura Hoelewyn, will open the concert. The Kantori will join the Choral Union to perform two pieces that are part of the 2017-18 All-State Choir audition process: “To Thee, Cherubim and Seraphim,” by G. F. Handel, and “I Am Loved” by Matthew Christopher. Hoelewyn will conduct the Handel piece.

“This is the first time we have invited a local choral program to perform on one of our concerts,” Fish said. “We are thrilled to have them with us.”

SFA’s Topics in World Dance class, led by instructor and choreographer Sarah Sanchez, will also perform to Ron Nelson’s composition on a text by Thomas E. Ahlburn, “Early May.”

“This text is a celebration of nature and the enjoyment of life in nature,” Fish said. “Professor Sanchez has choreographed a vibrant dance that encourages us to, ‘Join hands and dance across these slipping floors once more.’ We are excited to be collaborating with them.”

The SFA Women’s Choir will sing a wide variety of music stemming from the rousing setting of Stephen Paulus’ “I Cannot Dance, O Lord” (which discusses the Lord leading people to love, knowledge and fulfilled life through dancing and singing). The choir will perform Eric Whitacre’s “Seal Lullaby,” originally a solo song that was written for a movie concept (that never opened in theaters because DreamWorks chose “Kung Fu Panda”), and Zoltan Kodally’s traditional Hungarian folk song, “Dancing – Song,” Fish explained.

In addition, the SFA Choral Union will perform two compositions by contemporary composers, including “Flight Song,” by Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen; and Blake Henson’s simple, yet poignant musical arrangement of Robert Herrick’s text “My Flight for Heaven.”

The program will showcase the talents of the School of Music’s new coordinator of music education, Dr. Kristin Lyman, along with student members of the percussion studio performing on the Nelson piece. Lyman will accompany the choir on the marimba.

Two of SFA’s choral conducting graduate students will also have roles in the concert. Emily Bulling of Katy will conduct “Zigeunerleben” by Robert Schumann, as performed by the Choral Union. Her colleague, Evelyn Shaffer of Barbers Hill, will conduct “Herbstlied,” also by Schumann, as performed by the Women’s Choir.

“We are proud of these two young conductors and look forward to them sharing their talents with our community,” Fish said.

Barry Martin, percussion major, will also join the Women’s Choir to accompany them on Moses Hogan’s “Ride on King Jesus.” Martin performed with the women’s choir two years ago, “and we are eager to welcome him back,” Fish added. “It is going to be an exciting evening of music making!”

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.