Academics
Education Faculty
Mary Beth Doyle
Department Chair
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., M.Ed. State University College of New York at Buffalo; Ph.D. University of Minnesota
Courses Taught: At the undergraduate level - Cognition and Individual Differences; at the graduate level - Designing Programs for Student with Disabilities; Implementing and Evaluating Programs for Students with Disabilities
Areas of Expertise: Inclusive education; effective utilization of paraprofessionals; curriculum design and adaptation for students with moderate and severe disabilities
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Doyle presents and writes extensively on the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals in public schools. She is co-author of The Paraprofessional's Guide to the Inclusive Classroom: Working as a Team (Brookes Publishing, April 2008). She also co-wrote the article "Paraprofessionals: The Sous-Chefs of literary instruction" in Teaching Exceptional Children (2007).
On Teaching and Research: Dr. Doyle's research typically takes her beyond the Saint Michael's community. As she learns new information about the education of students with moderate and severe disabilities, there are always practical implications for teachers. Because her role on campus is to prepare new teachers, she finds this to be a perfect match.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Doyle enjoys skiing, biking, and gardening.
Learn more about Dr. Doyle in her faculty spotlight.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 314
Phone: 802.654.2279
Box 281
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Aostre Johnson
Professor of Education
A.B. Harvard University; M.Ed. Harvard Graduate School of Education;
Ed.D. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Dr. Johnson's areas of specialization are curriculum and pedagogy, lifespan development, early childhood education and ethical, religious and spiritual dimensions of education. She teaches courses in both the graduate and the undergraduate education departments, coordinates the graduate curriculum concentration and elementary licensure program and also directs the program on spirituality and education. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a major in social relations and received her master’s degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She then founded and taught in innovative university laboratory schools and other schools for a number of years before earning her doctorate in education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a focus on curriculum and foundations. She has published a number of articles relating to creative, ethical, religious and spiritual dimensions of development and education.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund’s Hall 322A
Phone: 802.654.2436
Box 281
E-mail: ajohnson@smcvt.edu
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Valerie Bang-Jensen
Associate Professor of Education
A.B. Smith College; M.A., Ed.M., Ed.D. Teachers College, Columbia University
Courses Taught: Children's Literature; Teaching Reading and Language Arts; Nonfiction in the Elementary Classroom (graduate level); Supervision of Student Teaching Internship
Areas of Expertise: Literacy; Children's Literature; the Teaching Gardens of Saint Michael's College; the role of first-hand experiences in reading, literacy and museum education
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Bang-Jensen serves on the editorial review board for Language Arts, a national peer-reviewed journal about literacy research, theory and practice (2006-present). In two consecutive years, (2006-07) Dr. Bang-Jensen received $2,000 grants from the Vermont Reading Initiative to align her curriculum with current reading research on fluency and phonemic awareness.
On Teaching and Research: Dr. Bang-Jensen teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary literacy and supervises student teachers in local schools. Dr. Bang-Jensen and Saint Michael's Biology Professor Mark Lubkowitz develop The Teaching Gardens of Saint Michael's College - a collection of three gardens: an arboretum, a children's literature garden named Books in Bloom, and The Native Plants of Vermont Garden. Before coming to Saint Michael's Dr. Bang-Jensen taught at Teachers College, Columbia University. She also taught kindergarten through grade 6 in public and independent schools and served as a literacy and assessment consultant for schools, districts and museums.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Bang-Jensen enjoys reading and gardening.
Learn more about Dr. Bang-Jensen in her faculty spotlight.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund’s Hall 320
Phone: 802.654.2822
Box 281
E-mail: vbang-jensen@smcvt.edu
Project Site: The Teaching Gardens of Saint Michael's College
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Laima Ruoff
Associate Professor of Education
B.A. University of Rochester; M.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison;
Ph.D. University of Washington-Seattle
Dr. Ruoff joined the education department in 1981. She teaches child development to both undergraduate and graduate students in the elementary licensure programs and supervises student teachers in local elementary schools. Areas of professional interest include child development, supervision/mentoring of student teachers, effective teacher preparation and English as a second language. Dr. Ruoff enjoys engaging in a variety of outdoor activities with her husband and two grown children.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 335
Phone: 802.654.2278
Box 281
E-mail: lruoff@smcvt.edu
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Jonathan Silverman
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., M.S., Ed.D. University of Vermont
Coordinator of the Arts in Education program, Dr. Silverman's areas of interest are arts education, aesthetic perspectives on education, interdisciplinary curriculum, creativity and foundation. He strives to help students become “more imaginative, resourceful and critically reflective practitioners.” His philosophy is that the arts offer members of society a viable way to become knowledgeable, literate and morally responsible. His courses include Aesthetic Perspectives on Culture and Education, Arts: The Creative Process, Educator as Artist, and Student Teaching Seminar.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 308
Phone: 802.654.2306
Box 281
E-mail: jsilverman@smcvt.edu
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Tim Whiteford
Associate Professor of Education
Ph.D. University of Illinois
Courses Taught: At the undergraduate level - Teaching Elementary School Math and Science; Portfolio Development; Student Teaching (Elementary); at the graduate level - Mathematics in the K-8 Classroom; Math and Diversity; Teaching K-8 Science and Design Technology
Areas of Expertise: The role of language in mathematics; the multicultural aspects of math; and the dynamics of teaching math to students from disadvantaged homes.
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Whiteford published a book chapter titled "Making Math Meaningful for students with Special Needs" in Quick Guides to Inclusion: Ideas for Educating Students with Disabilities (April 2007). He was also awarded a faculty development grant to conduct a seminar on teaching math to students with diverse needs
On Teaching and Research: Dr. Whiteford's research informs his teaching through the inclusion of new things he discovers about how children learn math when he works with teachers/children in public schools. His students experience similar opportunities. In Dr. Whiteford's math education classes, students complete a unique field experience in a public school classroom with children of immigrants from all over the world. Dr. Whiteford says it is exciting for his students to teach a child from Somalia how to count in English or a student from Bosnia how to multiply.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Whiteford enjoys playing Celtic music with his band, the Highland Weavers. He also collects diecast model Volkswagen Beetles.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 316
Phone: 802.654.2744
Box 281
E-mail: twhiteford@smcvt.edu
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Kristin M. Gehsmann
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S., M.S. Central Connecticut State University; Ed.D. University of Vermont
Courses Taught: Literacy Methods and Assessment
Areas of Expertise: Literacy education; professional development; closing the literacy achievement gap in high-poverty communities; school improvement
Recent Scholarly Achievements: Dr. Gehsmann was named to the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Literacy Research, a scholarly publication of the National Reading Conference. She also co-authored the article "Peeling Back the Layers of Policy and School Reform: Revealing the Structural and Social Complexities Within" for The International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (May 2008).
On Teaching and Research: A specialist in literacy development and assessment, Dr. Gehsmann extends her expertise beyond Saint Michael's, serving as an educational consultant of Gehsmann Educational Consulting. She maintains consulting relationships with schools throughout Vermont. At Saint Michael's, she teaches literacy courses to education majors and oversees graduate students seeking the reading specialist endorsement in a practicum course. She also coordinates the graduate program in reading education.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 322B
Phone: 802.654.2412
Box 281
E-mail: kgehsmann@smcvt.edu
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James Nagle
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A. Georgetown University; M.A., Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, J.D. Suffolk University Law School
View Dr. Nagle's Curriculum Vitae
Courses Taught: Schools and Society; Secondary Education; Reflective Practices; Supervision of Student Teaching in Secondary Schools; Senior Seminar of Student Teaching in Secondary Schools; Professional Learning Communities: Teaming in Middle Grades, Educational Research
Areas of Expertise: Teacher learning; professional learning communities; professional development; teacher collaboration for instruction of English language learners
On Teaching and Research: Dr. Nagle was the co-principal investigator with Saint Michael's professors Susan Jenkins and Elizabeth O'Dowd on a five-year, $900,000 grant received from the U.S. Department of Education No Child Left Behind Act. The grant is for Project CREATE (Curriculum Reform for the Education of All Teachers of English Language Learners). He has published articles in pre-service teacher learning and professional learning communities.
Academic Life: Dr. Nagle's research and teaching are closely intertwined. Much of his research focuses on teacher collaborative learning. Before joining the Saint Michael’s faculty in 2004, he taught science education courses to pre-service teachers at University of California, Berkeley and professional development courses to middle and high school teachers. He has taught biology, ecology, chemistry and physics in public and independent schools and served as a science and assessment consultant for schools.
Outside Saint Michael's: Dr. Nagle enjoys backcountry telemark skiing, mountain biking and hiking. He also enjoys growing fruits and vegetables and raising chickens and goats on his Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm - Leap Frog Farm.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 302
Phone: 802.654.2636
Box 281
E-mail: jnagle2@smcvt.edu
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Claudine R. Bedell
Assistant Professor of Education
B.S. Purdue University; M.Ed. Saint Michael's College; Ed.D. Indiana University
Dr. Bedell teaches Adolescent Development for undergraduates, and The Decision to Teach, Classroom Assessment Design and Practice, and the Student Teaching Seminar for graduate students. She also supervises student teachers in the field. Her doctorate is from Indiana University in Bloomington, in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Her dissertation is titled, “A Qualitative Study of Teacher Interpretation and Instructional Decision-Making in Response to Student Voice." Dr. Bedell co-authored a teacher’s guide, “Using Standards in Your Classroom: A Teacher Resource Guide,” for the Vermont Department of Education, and she made conference presentations with colleagues titled “Teacher Quality Enhancement” and “Middle Frame for School Improvement.” She is particularly interested in personalized learning and the concept of teacher dispositions.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 304
Phone: 802.654.2741
Box 281
E-mail: cbedell@smcvt.edu
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Amy Saks Pavese
Assistant Professor of Education
B.A., M.Ed. University of Notre Dame; Ph.D. University of Colorado, Boulder
Dr. Saks Pavese joined the education faculty at Saint Michael’s College in August of 2007. She teaches Schools and Society for undergraduates and The Decision to Teach for graduate students. Her dissertation research is on teacher identity formation and the preparation of teachers to work with students from culturally diverse backgrounds. Dr. Saks Pavese’s interest in these areas stemmed from her own experiences as a classroom teacher in urban and culturally diverse schools and her work with the College Assistance Migrant Program, a scholarship program for first-generation college freshmen from migrant backgrounds. Before joining the Saint Michael’s faculty, she taught social foundations of education and supervised student teachers at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 318
Phone: 802.654.2648
Box 281
E-mail: asakspavese@smcvt.edu
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Anne Judson
Instructor of Education
B.A. Rutgers University; M.Ed. Tufts University; Ed.D. University of Vermont
Dr. Judson is director of the graduate programs in education and coordinator of the technology in education program. Her master’s and doctoral concentrations were in child development and educational administration respectively. Her areas of interest are the impact of technology on learning, professional development (pre-service and in-service) and the impact of the 2002 “No Child Left Behind” law on K-12 schools. Among the courses she teaches are Integrating Technology into the Curriculum, Introduction to Educational Research, Capstone Seminar and Student Teaching Seminar. She enjoys hiking, yoga and drawing.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 310
Phone: 802.654.2611
Box 281
E-mail: ajudson@smcvt.edu
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Karen Donovan
Licensing/Special Education Coordinator
B.S. Keene State College; M.Ed. University of Vermont
View Ms. Donovan's Curriculum Vitae
Courses Taught: Special Education Practicum
Areas of Expertise: Special education, co-teaching
On Teaching and Research: Ms. Donovan is responsible for advising students and teaching graduate courses in the area of Special Education. She also interviews graduate students and places student teachers for the Education Department. She worked as a Special Educator for 12 years in Chittenden East Supervisory Union prior to coming to the college. Ms. Donovan has also taught in Costa Rica and in the Eckerd Wilderness System.
Outside Saint Michael's: Ms. Donovan enjoys nordic skiing and hiking. She has two children and her husband is a forester.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 306
Phone: 802.654.2826
Box 281
E-mail: kdonovan@smcvt.edu
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Elizabeth Peterson
Visiting Instructor of Education
B.S., University of Delaware; M.Ed. Saint Michael’s College
Courses Taught: At the undergraduate level - Individual Differences in Learners; at the graduate level - Teaching in the Inclusive Classroom K-12; Legal and Professional Issues in Special Education; Differentiated Curriculum in the K-12 Classroom
Areas of Expertise: Learning disabilities; teaching phonics; special education leadership
On Teaching and Research: Ms. Peterson has taught or administered programs for students with special needs for more than 20 years in public, private and clinical settings. She has extensive experience working with school districts on literacy, differentiating instruction and special education issues across the northeast. Ms. Peterson often reads and discusses research in her classes, and finds that what inspires her students is the opportunity for them to work directly with younger students and/or families in lab or case study situations.
Outside Saint Michael's: Ms. Peterson enjoys reading, gardening and cooking.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund’s Hall 325
Phone: 802.654.2718
Box 281
E-mail: epeterson@smcvt.edu
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Rebecca Wigglesworth
Visiting Instructor of Education
B.A. Stanford University; M.A.T. Brown University
Ms. Wigglesworth has taught in the Education Department since 1999, when she began teaching Content Area Literacy for the graduate program. She is a part-time instructor teaching both graduate and undergraduate students. Ms. Wigglesworth is particularly interested in literacy at the middle and secondary levels. She began her career as a secondary English teacher, most recently at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont. She coordinates placements at CVU and other schools in the area.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 335
Phone: 802.654.2495
Box 281
E-mail: bwigglesworth@smcvt.edu
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Brian O'Regan
Instrutor of Education, School Leadership Coordinator
B.A. Fairfield University; M.Ed. Teachers College, Columbia University; M.Ed., C.A.S. and
Ed.D. University of Vermont
Dr. O'Regan has served as a special educator, principal and superintendent of schools over a 32 year career. O'Regan also served as the deputy commissioner of education for the state of Vermont before joining Saint Michael's College full-time in 2009. Instructional responsibilities include Legal and Financial Management of Schools and the Leadership Practicum at the graduate level and Schools and Society at the undergraduate level. Dr. O'Regan coordinates the School Leadership component of the Graduate Education Program including off-site, contracted courses.
O'Regan specializes in systems thinking, strategic planning and school organizational and leadership development. He is a staunch advocate of student-centered leadership.
Outside Saint Michael's: The veteran educator enjoys photography, outdoor activities, travel and the new addition of grandchildren in his life.
Campus Office
Saint Edmund's Hall 312
Phone: 802.654.2362
Box 281
E-mail: boregan@smcvt.edu