The Paula and Rick Short Endowed Fellowship in Education was established in the spring of 2023 and Department of Counseling and Educational Development doctoral student Alex Cammarano has been named the first recipient of the award.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented children and their caregivers with a myriad of challenges. One of these is a long pause on public events, including Storytime at the library. Libraries have nimbly added many virtual offerings, but nothing can replace the treasured experience of being read to in person, from a book that a young child can reach out and touch, with related activities available to support early literacy.
The Book Club, collaboratively created with the 4th grade teachers, focuses on books by African-American authors with African-American characters.
This initiative was created to address a sharp increase in students’ struggles, in large part due to high rates of poverty and trauma; a report that only 52% of teachers thought they were doing enough for students in the area of social and emotional support; and a consensus among the leadership team that they had “a moral obligation to do something.”
Many Latinx clients experience stigma when grappling with a mental health concern and are unsure how to talk about what they are experiencing. The Latinx Mental Health Kit is a box full of culturally sensitive mental health resources for Latinx clients which serves as a launch pad for discussing their experiences and concerns.
Some 5th grade female students showed deficits in their social and vocabulary skills. This project involved creation of a book club to address both issues.
This rural area lacks widespread Internet access and there is no Wi-Fi. 15% of the population is below 15K in annual income. Students without home Internet access have lower assessment scores in reading, math and science. To address these issues, this project aims provide Wi-Fi in this area’s local community center.
High school students who will graduate soon and do not have financial and travel resources to visit college campuses for on-site tours miss an opportunity to “see” the school and have experience of feeling whether they feel a fit with the school. It’s difficult to make a decision about attending a college you’ve never visited.
Health literacy is a person’s capacity to understand and utilize health information. This is both a national and local community issue. In Gwinnett County near Atlanta, Ga., heart disease and mental illness are the leading causes of death. This project involves developing a partnership with the local health department and hospitals to bring medical professionals into the library for heart health literacy workshops.
The Interactive Student Conflict Resolution Mat (ISCRM) is a conflict resolution tool intended for use by elementary school students. Many students experience disagreements with a peer, and these disagreements can cause classroom disruptions when students seek teacher assistance for conflict resolution.