Everything Nac

Why is math important?

Stephen F. Austin State University early childhood through sixth grade elementary education online teacher candidates recently hosted a Math Career Carnival at Raguet Elementary School to help answer this question.

Through a variety of interactive booths, SFA students showcased math skills and connected those skills to careers such as aerospace engineering, managing a bakery, landscaping and working as a veterinarian.

Drs. Paula Griffin and Mark Montgomery, assistant professors in SFA’s Department of Elementary Education, orchestrated the Math Career Carnival as a way to engage online teacher candidates in a real-world teaching experience.

“SFA online students live all over Texas. Unless they are paraprofessionals in a school district, our online students have limited access to students in public school classrooms,” Griffin said. “Participating in the carnival is beneficial for them on many levels. SFA online students have the opportunity to plan and develop a mathematics lesson or activity that truly answers questions many elementary students pose, ‘Why is math important?’ and ‘When am I ever going to use it?’”

More than 40 SFA students participated in the event this semester. SFA students created and implemented activities for their booths, which served approximately 200 fourth and fifth-grade students at Raguet Elementary School.

“One of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills teachers struggle with is making connections to the real-world. This event helps our students and Raguet teachers see that connections are everywhere and can easily be made for students,” Montgomery said. “One SFA student prepared for her booth by visiting her local airport and talking with pilots. By simply seeking out that real-world connection, she was able to design her activities and now has a partnership with the local airport for her future students.”

In another booth, SFA students created an activity where participants explored the career of a baker who must use decimals and fractions to correctly portion and serve cake. Students also built another booth where participants discovered how engineers use multiplication of decimals to design and build various aviation and space-flight apparatuses.

“Actual facilitation of the activity at the carnival provided multiple scenarios for SFA students to quickly monitor and adjust instruction to fit the needs of individual learners because fourth and fifth-graders rotated in and out of the booths constantly during the two-hour carnival,” Griffin said.

Rangers, Astros and Lumberjack fans alike can double up on team pride in June when Stephen F. Austin State University is featured during the Texas Ranger’s University Night when the team plays the Houston Astros at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

“The Texas Rangers’ University Night is great exposure for the SFA brand on a regional, state and national level,” said Samantha Mora, director of alumni events and engagement with SFA’s Alumni Association. “It’s a great way for potential students, current students, friends and alumni to all be together and celebrate the Lumberjack spirit while cheering on their MLB team.”

Specialty purple Rangers hats with an SFA logo on the side were made for the event. The first 1,000 fans to purchase tickets through the following link will be eligible for the hat giveaway: texasrangers.com/sfa.

Alumni-related events organized by the SFA Alumni Association have been held at both the Astros’ Minute Maid Park and Rangers’ Globe Life Stadium. This is the first year, however, that the Rangers “reached out to us to see if we were interested in being featured during University Night,” Mora said. “We are excited about this game because we have both Texas teams represented.”

For more information or to purchase 20 or more tickets, contact Jeremy Christopher at (817) 273-5173 or jchristopher@texasrangers.com.

Registration is underway for the annual Summer Art Academy offered by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art for the two-week camp that will meet June 5 through 16 on the SFA campus.

Students going into kindergarten through sixth grade may enroll in classes that include drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics.

“Art Academy is an exciting opportunity for local youth to work with SFA graduate and undergraduate art students to create original projects using a variety of materials.” said Dr. Cala Coats, SFA art instructor and director of the academy.

Classes will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Art Building on Wilson Drive. An exhibition of the students’ work will be at 5 p.m. Friday, June 16, in the Art Building. Afterward, the students may take their work home.

The registration fee on or before June 1 is $185 and includes all art supplies, exhibition expenses and daily refreshments. Late registration after June 1 is $200. Registration information is available at http://www.art.sfasu.edu/artacademy or in person at the School of Art.

For additional information, contact Coats at (936) 468-4264 or by email at coatsc@sfasu.edu

Maggie Wright of Flower Mound has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve as student regent on Stephen F. Austin State University’s Board of Regents during the 2017-18 academic year.

Wright, who will graduate from SFA this month with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, will immediately begin pursuing a master’s degree in public administration beginning this summer.

“Being chosen as student regent is a great honor,” Wright said. “I look forward to being able to share the student body’s perspective with the Board of Regents. I hope to make the most of my time as student regent by attending as many events as possible and attempt to make my mark on SFA.”

During her four years at SFA, Wright has been a Traditions Council member and both a Jack Camp counselor and student director. She is currently Traditions Council president and has served as vice president and member relations officer in years past.

“As student regent, I want to learn about the different university policies and procedures; being a CJ major has made me very interested in all of the behind-the-scenes aspects of things. I love this school and the people here so I hope to be a role model and lead by the SFA Way. I want to make the school the best it can be.”

Wright’s first official duty will be attending the quarterly meeting of the SFA Board of Regents July 24-25.

Skillfully carved into a fishhook, the Hei Matau bone necklace dangles around his neck making a simple yet profound statement. At first glance, it seems out of place — a natural artifact juxtaposed against his business attire — but after a quick conversation with Dr. Tim Clipson, professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, the meaning of the symbolic ornament is revealed.

“I wear this necklace to represent the fact that I’m hooked. I’m hooked on my faith, family, friends, fun, food and being fearless,” Clipson said.

While presenting research in Hawaii two years ago, Clipson discovered the hook necklace in a store and asked a local what it symbolized.

“He said if you wear it, you’ll catch a lot of fish. I don’t fish much, but I love the water,” Clipson said. “I researched it more and found the Hei Matau had a deeper meaning.”

Hei Matau originated from the Māori of New Zealand and represents strength, good luck and safe travel over water. Being a sailor, Clipson adopted the necklace as part of his wardrobe and decided to name his sailboat Matau.

At the end of May, Clipson will be spending more time on the open water as he enters his retirement after 36 years of service to SFA.

“I often say being a university professor is by far one of the best jobs anyone could have. It has allowed me to fulfill what I believe I was called to do,” Clipson said. “My personal mission is to do as much good for as many people as I possibly can in my life. Teaching became the vehicle to live my mission. Whether in public school, at the university or in corporate training, I have been blessed to help others during my life as a teacher.”

Prior to joining SFA in 1981, Clipson taught public school at the junior high and high school levels. He also is president of a corporate leadership company, Leadership Is For Everyone (LIFE!).

During his tenure at SFA, Clipson has held the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor in the Rusche College of Business’ Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies where he teaches specialized courses on executive leadership. Recently, Clipson was named professor emeritus for the Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies.

“Dr. Clipson’s innovative undergraduate and graduate courses on executive leadership have been highly sought after and widely acclaimed by current and former students,” said Dr. Marsha Bayless, chair of the Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies at SFA. “Successful alumni serving on our department and college advisory councils comment on the courses’ value to their careers and inspiration to their personal lives.”

Clipson developed many of the courses he has taught at SFA as well as the training development course and leadership courses for the College of Business. He views his classrooms as non-threatening learning laboratories where students aren’t afraid to make mistakes.

“I believe the more students enjoy the learning experience the more they tend to take away from the classroom,” Clipson said. “The toughest thing about retirement is thinking about leaving the classroom.”

Clipson may be embarking on a new journey, but his contributions to SFA will have a lasting impact on future generations.

Since 1998, Clipson has served as the SFA 101 Freshman Success coordinator. SFA 101 is a specially designed course introducing new students to life at SFA. With approximately 75 sections offered a year, SFA 101 has served thousands of students and is proven to raise GPA and college retention.

“An outstanding experience for me was helping build the SFA 101 program and seeing how it has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of young people. I’ve also enjoyed working with the program instructors and staff members,” Clipson said.

Additionally, Clipson has served as chapter president of the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma for 16 years and is currently the Alpha Tau Omega national president.

His accolades include the Meada Gibbs Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award for the Association for Business Communication, Outstanding Educator Award in 2016 for the Federation of Business Disciplines, Distinguished Paper Award for the Association for Business Communication-Southwestern United States, Teaching Innovation Award from the Rusche College of Business, Marlin C. Young Teaching Excellence Award, SFA Teaching Excellence Award and Distinguished Professor.

“Dr. Clipson is the epitome of sincere dedication to his students, colleagues, SFA, the profession and all who come in contact with him,” Bayless said. “His impact has been and is tremendous, and his profound influence enduring.”

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Mast Arboretum was buzzing with activity recently as thousands of elementary school students participated in the 20th annual Bugs, Bees, Butterflies and Blossoms program on the university’s campus.

From learning about the life cycle of trees to holding decomposers, more than 3,000 elementary school students from across East Texas participated in this collaborative program in which SFA elementary education students teach environmental science through hands-on activities.

“SFA students have gained a tremendous amount from this hands-on experience, including confidence for teaching environmental science,” said Dr. Alan Sowards, co-founder of the BBBB program and professor in SFA’s Department of Elementary Education. “Students learn the importance of collaboration and classroom management, as well as the importance of seeking community partners and resources to assist them in their classroom teaching, regardless of the subject area.”

The benefits of the BBBB program are twofold. Sowards said the participating school districts gain a great resource to help engage their students in science activities in the outdoors and also gain a greater appreciation for the beauty of nature firsthand.

There were daily morning and afternoon sessions. To help celebrate the program’s 20th year, SFA hosted a luncheon and reception for representatives from various state and local agencies, organizations, and university administrators and local teachers in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building in the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Following the luncheon, teachers had the opportunity to attend a Project Learning Tree professional development workshop where Misty Bowie, Texas coordinator for PLT, and John Boyette of Texas A&M Forest Service delivered a presentation.

“This training helped teachers learn how to facilitate environmental education lessons in their classroom,” Sowards said. “Each teacher received a PLT activity manual and certificate.”

Sowards recalled how this event began as an idea between him and Dr. Cheryl Boyette, education consultant, in 1997.

“We developed and implemented this program together from the very beginning,” Sowards said. “We have collected research about this program, published articles from our research, and presented at state, national and international conferences.”

Additionally, John Boyette has assisted in training SFA students in the Project Learning Tree curriculum, and Elyce Rodewald, SFA Gardens environmental education coordinator, has assisted in many ways, including scheduling schools to attend, serving as a liaison with the public/private schools, and providing resources and training. Dr. Paula Griffin, coordinator of SFA’s online completer’s program, has added another dimension to the program by involving SFA online students.

“The past 20 years have gone by so fast. I am most proud of the quality of students I have been blessed to work with through the years,” Sowards said. “SFA has the best education program and students in the state. They have met my highest expectations as future teachers and will do well in wherever they teach.”

The BBBB program originally ran for two days; however, due to high demand, BBBB has grown into a weeklong event.

“I am thankful for the many partners and colleagues who have worked with us,” Sowards said. “I’ve observed first-grade elementary students participate in BBBB 20 years ago, and then had those same students enroll at SFA and teach at BBBB while in college. Now, those SFA students have become teachers in the area and bring their own students to BBBB. The program has come full circle.”

Event sponsors included Project Learning Tree, Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful, Texas A&M Forest Service, SFA’s Department of Elementary Education, the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, and SFA Gardens.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Government will hold a panel and roundtable discussion at 7 p.m. May 2 in Dugas Liberal Arts North Room 102. The panel is titled “Civic Education in the 21st Century: Implications for Democracy, Representation and Liberty.”

The panel will feature Dr. Chapman Rackaway, professor of political science and interim dean of the Graduate School at Fort Hays University, and Dr. Matthew Newton, assistant professor of government at Lone Star College-Kingwood. Dr. Donald Gooch, assistant professor in SFA’s department of government, and Dr. Steve Galatas, associate professor of government, will also join the roundtable discussion.

“The panel will discuss civic education in America,” Gooch said. “We’ll be touching on the general state of civic knowledge, civic efficacy and civic participation in America, explanations why these essential characteristics of citizens in a democratic republic are so lacking in America today and possible advancements and solutions for the future.”

Both Gooch and Rackaway recently published books on civic education in America. Rackaway’s 2017 book Civic Failure and its Threat to Democracy: Operator Error discusses the problematic nature of the relationship between American citizens and their government.

Civic Education in the 21st Century: A Multidimensional Inquiry, a collection edited by Gooch and Michael T. Rogers that features essays from Rackaway, Galatas and others, introduces problems inherent in civic education in America and possible ways to help improve civic education and engagement.

“We hope the panel provides a number of opposing viewpoints about civic education and citizenship,” Gooch said. “Including how we, as educators, can help promote an environment of civic engagement and provide our students with the skills to actively participate in a representative democracy.”

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, email Gooch at goochdm@sfasu.edu