College of Education

Kirk Cameron’s Fall Commencement keynote address underlines the importance of perseverance. The former “Growing Pains” star and now prominent Christian actor addressed GCU’s most recent group of graduates with congratulations and a powerful message of overcoming fear, fulfilling their mission and finishing the race. “This was really exciting,” Cameron said. “I was a little nervous, I’ve never done it before … I knew with all these Christian families, it was just really a special blessing to be part of this day that they’ll remember for their whole life.”

Throwing offenders in prison or unruly children out of school is one way to handle conflict. But GCU education and justice students are being trained in another method: restorative justice. It’s a pilot program that matches GCU students with west Phoenix schoolchildren who are in a conflict to talk out a solution instead of authorities handing out punishment. “There is a growing recognition that the punishment system isn’t working as well as they would like,” said Kevin Walling, Chair of Justice Studies, Government and History at GCU.

The power is in the discussion for Katy Long. That’s her motto, and her College of Education students hear it over and over — and then regularly get to see just how powerful that talking can be. But Long is passionate about lots of other things in education and beyond, particularly the opportunity to pass on her knowledge. She also is quite the sports fan and was on a national championship team in college.

Dr. Kimberly LaPrade has turned the page on “Thunder’s Vision,” her first children’s book to feature Thunder, the campus’ beloved antelope mascot. But she hasn’t forgotten about him. Far from that. He’s the main character once again in her follow-up to “Thunder’s Vision,” “Thunder’s Herd.” The Dean of the College of Education introduced the new work at a book signing Thursday in the Jerry Colangelo Museum. LaPrade, who’s bachelor’s degree is in writing, said “Better readers make better writers. And better writers make better thinkers, so that’s the No. 1 goal.” This time around, LaPrade tells how Thunder finds his community in the spirit of GCU among the Cheer, Dance, Thundering Heard Pep Band and Havocs.

Dr. Joseph Hattrick, who received his doctoral degree from GCU earlier this year, will appear on “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday night. Interestingly, he said the pressure of defending his dissertation prepared him well for the stress of solving word puzzles on the popular game show.

Brian Clark loves sharing knowledge, so much so that his high school students used to have a funny little saying about what makes him tick. Now that he’s a member of the Online Full Time Faculty for the College of Education, he shares knowledge in a new way — through Loom videos. Check out how many he has done … and all the other interesting things in his background and his life.

The One Foundation Lunch and Learns, which began Friday, offer a perfect opportunity for faculty members to learn more about teaching from a Christian perspective. “It sustains a conversation that is necessary,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of the College of Theology. Five more one-hour sessions are scheduled during the academic year, and the first 100 people to sign up get a free lunch.

In a new GCU Today feature, Faculty Focus will highlight outstanding faculty at the University, both ground and online. The first installment is on College of Education Professor Dr. Meredith Critchfield, who has an unquenchable zest for education as well as some other interesting passions.

GCU’s College of Education leaders knew they had a department of skilled faculty and a rigorous and innovative curriculum. Others have agreed. COE was awarded the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) for seven years after reviewing the evidence collected through a process of self-study and peer review. Dr. Kimberly LaPrade, Dean of COE, said the national accreditation validates what she knew: “There are a lot of people that don’t have the depth of experience that our faculty has.”

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero and Enrique Lucha GCU News Bureau Thursday’s Welcome Week activities included socials for the Academic and Career Excellence (ACE) centers and transfer students, ROTC orientation and a welcome-back party for Worship Arts students.