Members of the Indiana State Board of Education had high praise for Trine University
and its teacher education programs during a regular board meeting held on the Trine
campus on May 1.
Prior to the meeting, board members toured Franks School of Education classrooms in
Shambaugh Hall and learned more about Trine’s teacher education programs.
BJ Watts, chair of the State Board of Education, said Trine’s education students “were
absolutely amazing ambassadors.”
“You made it very, very enjoyable, and it is a testament to the work you are doing
here in your school of (education),” he said.
Branden Turner, an elementary education major, took members through the newly renovated
Shambaugh 210 classroom in the Franks School of Education. The classroom features
six digital screens, screen-casting software, enhanced wireless capabilities, new
lighting, a large interactive screen, new seating options, new carpet and a new wall
color scheme.
Turner said he highlighted not only the technology, but the flexible seating options
and how the senior seminar class used the monitors on the wall to project value-added
websites they created.
“I talked about how we were able to give real-time feedback on each other’s websites
because of the streaming capabilities the tech provided,” he said.
“It was an incredible experience to not only be able to meet the State Board members,
but to be able to present a little bit about what the Franks School of Education is
all about,” he said. “I believe they were very impressed with our school and had a
lot of very kind words about our program.”
Following the tour, the board met in the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts. Trine
University President Earl D. Brooks II welcome board members and thanked them for
their commitment to education.
Board member Tony Walker commended both Brooks and Franks School of Education Dean
Tony Kline, Ph.D., for “some amazing cutting-edge innovation on teacher training.”
“I have seen so many great reasons for students interested in teaching to take a real
hard look at Trine University,” he said.
He also praised Trine’s Education One as “our most outstanding charter authorizer
in the state of Indiana.”
“I also want to say thank you to them for all the good work they do, and it’s a pleasure
being here,” he said.
Anthony Kline, Ph.D., dean of the Franks School of Education, said the board requested
to meet at Trine after hearing about the growth in Trine’s education programs and
the work Trine teacher candidates are doing in community schools.
"It was a true honor to host the Indiana State Board of Education meeting on our campus,”
he said.
Video of the complete meeting is online at youtube.com/watch?v=58bBStim0dI.
Photo: From left, Byron Ernest, Ph.D., of the Indiana State Board of Education and Anthony
Kline, Ph.D., dean of the Franks School of Education.