Zeichner to analyze role of public education in society as Centennial Lecture Series/Ganders Lecturer, Oct. 26

Zeichner to analyze role of public education in society as Centennial Lecture Series/Ganders Lecturer, Oct. 26October 18, 2006Patrick Farrellpmfarrel@syr.edu

The School of Education will present Ken Zeichner, Hoefs-Bascom Professor of Teacher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as this year’s Harry S. and Elva K. Ganders Distinguished Lecturer. Zeichner’s appearance is co-sponsored by the School of Education Centennial Lecture Series. Zeichner’s presentation, “Preserving the Role of Public Education in Democratic Societies,” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. in room 304 A-C in the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Prior to the lecture, Zeichner will take part in a brown bag discussion on “What Makes A Good Teacher,” hosted by Mara Sapon-Shevin, professor of teaching and leadership programs. The lunch discussion will take place at noon in Ganders Lounge on the second floor of Huntington Hall and is open to the public.

Zeicher is a research team member of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Study and is co-chair of the Consensus Panel on Research in Teacher Education of the American Educational Research Association. Recent research projects include “Educating Teachers for the 21st Century through Collaborative Use of Technology,” funded by the University of Wisconsin System PK-16 Technology Grant. His international experience includes work as a consultant for the USAID master’s/Ph.D. program for the Namibian Ministry of Education Personnel and for the University of Umea Teacher Education Reform Project in Umea, Sweden.

Zeichner has been recognized for his research excellence as a recipient of the Margaret B. Lindsey Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research on Teacher Education from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (2002) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education Distinguished Achievement Award (2000). He earned his Ph.D. and master’s degree from SU’s School of Education.

For 18 years, the Ganders Lecture Series has celebrated the legacy of Harry S. Ganders, the first dean of the School of Education. Gander’s tenure as dean (1930-1952) is characterized as one of transition, growth and innovation that saw the creation of an all-University structure for the School of Education. The series is generously supported by alumni and other contributions to the Harry S. and Elva K. Ganders Memorial Fund.

The Centennial Lecture Series is part of the School of Education’s year-long centennial celebration and is precursor to the annual Landscape of Urban Education Lecture Series, which begins next year. Building on the success of this year’s series, the School of Education will continue to invite leading intellectuals in the field of education to engage with School of Education students and faculty members and the Syracuse community.

Established in 1906, Syracuse University’s School of Education is a national leader in improving and informing educational practice for diverse communities. The school is committed to the principle that diverse learning communities create the conditions that both enrich the educational experience and provide opportunities for all to realize their full potential. A pioneer in the inclusion movement in the United States, the School of Education is dedicated to finding new ways to make it possible for all learners to participate fully in mainstream classrooms and other inclusive learning environments.

For additional information about the Centennial Lecture Series, contact Stacey Hall at 443-5836, or e-mail smhall01@syr.edu, or visit http://soe.syr.edu/cego.