The great irony of research on family-school partnerships is that its scholars have yet to fully tap the potential of collaboration.
With this in mind, CYFS recently spearheaded a movement to forge ties and unify research among leaders in the field.
The Center catalyzed these efforts by hosting more than 20 family-school partnership researchers at a national meeting held September 19-21 in Omaha, Neb.
It takes years to develop the knowledge and expertise necessary to practice engineering. As Nebraska’s science and math teachers recently showed, however, it takes only a day to sow seeds of interest in the field.
The 2010 UNL Excellence in Engineering Education Institute, coordinated by CYFS and UNL’s Nebraska Transportation Center, gave dozens of Nebraska’s middle and high school students the chance to learn about the foundations and numerous applications of engineering. The mid-July retreats – held in Lincoln, Omaha, Lexington and Hastings, Neb. – were led by nearly 30 teachers who developed lesson plans during UNL’s Professional Development Math and Science Summer Technology Institute in June.
Dr. Lisa Knoche, research assistant professor with the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, was selected for the State Champion Award by the Region VII Head Start Association.
The State Champion Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment in the improvement of the lives of children, youth and families. Dr. Knoche will be honored at the opening session of the 2010 Region VII Head Start Association Annual Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Missouri on May 25th.
The first CYFS Summit on Research in Early Childhood was held April 14, 2010 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Lincoln. Approximately 100 early childhood researchers, practitioners and administrators, and policy representatives participated.
The day-long event was designed to communicate cutting edge research findings in early childhood emanating from CYFS; link early childhood research with ongoing efforts in the early childhood field of practice; and advance the science of early childhood education and development via connections between community partners, key stakeholders, early childhood practitioners and CYFS researchers.
The Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, along with the Family-School-Community Partnerships and the SIG/AERA Harvard Family Research Project (HFRP), are co-sponsoring the 15th International Roundtable on School, Family, and Community Partnerships on Friday, April 30, 2010, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado.
Congratulations to Susan Sheridan and Kimberly Espy, who received professorships at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s annual All University Honors Convocation April 18, 2010.
Susan Sheridan, director of CYFS and R2Ed, was awarded the George Holmes University Professorship, supported by the University of Nebraska Foundation from the estate of George Holmes, a prominent Lincoln businessman, civic leader and philanthropist of the 1920s. Recipients are faculty who demonstrate an extraordinary level of scholarly or creative achievement and clear potential for continuing major accomplishments that enhance the reputation of the University of Nebraska. Recipients also evidence excellence in teaching and outreach and extensive involvement and service in furthering the University’s missions, including leadership in national or international organizations in their field.
Congratulations to the following seven CYFS faculty affiliates who received awards at the College of Education and Human Sciences Awards Ceremony on April 16, 2010.
| Julia Torquati | Charmin Award |
| Helen Raikes | Distinguished Research/Creative Activity Award |
| Tiffany Hogan | Pre-Professorial Research/Creative Activity Award |
| Eric Buhs | College Distinguished Teaching Award |
| Ted Hamann | CEHS Donald & Mary Lee Swanson Distinguished Teaching Award |
| Marilyn Scheffler | PEARL Best Practices Award |
| John DeFrain | Distinguished Educational Service Award |
Congratulations to Drs. Susan M. Sheridan, Todd Glover, Gina Kunz and Jim Bovaird on their recent $3 million, four-year grant, “CBC in Rural Communities,” awarded in March 2010.
Amanda Witte is project manager. The grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES), will be housed jointly in the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools (CYFS) and the National Center for Research on Rural Education (R2Ed).