Graduate School Education Faculty

Dr. Mariann W. Tillery

Dean, School of Education
Professor of Education
mtillery@highpoint.edu

 

 

 

 

Dr. Barbara B. Leonard

Associate Dean, School of Education
Professor of Education
bleonard@highpoint.edu

Organizations: National Science Teachers Association [NSTA], N.C. Science Teachers Association, Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development [ASCD] and the NCASCD, NCACTE [NC Association of Colleges of Teacher Education], Phi Delta Kappa,  Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, National and NC Association of Community College Trustee.

Research: Science education at the elementary education level [STEM]; Student(pupil) success of recent HPU teacher education graduates.

Dr. Jane C. Bowser

Assistant Professor of Education
jbowser@highpoint.edu

Organizations: AACE. ASCD

Research: Instructional Technology in Teacher Education

Personal Quote: Instructional Technology is a tool that can enable educators to work smarter instead of harder both in and out of the classroom.  We focus on how to help our graduate students maximize the benefits of technology for their particular situation.

 

Dr. Leslie Cavendish

Assistant Professor of Education
lcavendi@highpoint.edu

Organizations: Literacy Research Association (LRA), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), International Reading Association (IRA), American Research Education Association (AERA)

Research: International educator: Global life and lessons,  Narratives of an international educator: Agency and identity in literacy practices. International teachers: Understanding being a cultural agent through  narrative.

Personal Quote: We can understand our identities, teaching and how we make sense of the world through the stories we tell.

Dr. Shirley A. Disseler

Assistant Professor of Education
sdissele@highpoint.edu

Organizations: NCAEE, NCTM, NSTA, ASCD, DKG

Research:  Transitioning to Middle School,  Academically Gifted and Learning Styles, Integrated Curriculum, STEM in the Classroom

Personal Quote: The “why and the how” are much more important than the” what” in teaching.

 

VFarrington_rs_2

Dr. Vernon T. Farrington

Educational Leadership Graduate Program Coordinator
Associate Professor of Education
vfarring@highpoint.edu

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kelly J. Grillo

Assistant Professor of Education
kgrillo@highpoint.edu

Organizations: Learning Disabilities Association of America, Council for Exceptional Children, Learning Disabilities Association, Council for Exceptional Education, Teacher Education Division,
National Science Teachers Association, Council for Exceptional Children,
Florida Council for Exceptional Children

Research: Vocabulary Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities in Biology,  Reality of Inclusive STEM Education: Co-teaching in Science and Mathematics. Teaching Exceptional Children, What is the role of the special education teacher in middle school science?,  Tips for Using Interactive Whiteboards in the Inclusive Setting.Perspectives of novice high school co-teachers on co-planning, co-teaching and co-assessing. New technologies and virtual learning: The impact of a summer camp on gifted students interested in STEM careers.

Personal Quote: It is an exciting time in education and I’m looking forward to opportunities that technology embedded learning and coaching brings.

 

 

Dr. Robert T. Harger

Department Chair, Mathematics
Professor of Mathematics
rharger@highpoint.edu

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Beth Holder

Associate Professor of Special Education
bholder@highpoint.edu

Organizations:  ARC of High Point, Council for Exceptional Children, Learning Disabilities Association, North Carolina Association of Colleges and Teachers Educators, North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented, North Carolina Consortium of Academically/Intellectually Gifted, Phi Delta Kappa International, Toastmasters International, Competent Leader, Competent Communicator, Competent Communicator Bronze, Friendly Toastmasters

Research:  There’s An App For That”  North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Exceptional Children’s State Conference (October 31, 2011), “Engaging Students through Service Learning”  National Social Science Association (October 10, 2011),   “Students in Poverty:  Implications for Gifted Education,”  Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools Annual Conference (March 28, 2011)

Personal Quote: Every child’s education should be SPECIAL

 

Dr. Lisa C. Horne

Associate Professor of Education
lhorne@highpoint.edu

Organizations: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD); Phi Delta Kappan (PDK); National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP); North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA), North Carolina Association Elementary Educators (NCAEE).

Research:  Teacher Leadership, Principal Leadership, Data Driven Decision Making, Action Research, Integrated Instruction, School Law and Ethics

Personal Quote: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”  Mahatma Gandhi

Dr. Dustin N. Johnson

Chair, Department of Educational Leadership
Assistant Professor of Education
djohnson@highpoint.edu

Organizations: National Council of Professors of Educational Administration, Association for Middle Level Education, North Carolina Middle School Association, North Carolina Professors of Middle Level Education

Research: Teachers’ Perceptions of Working Conditions in Middle Schools, The Effect of Principal Leadership on Student Academic Achievement at the Middle Level, Comparing Student Academic Achievement in Middle and K-8 Schools, The Impact of Leadership on the Culture of Middle Schools

Personal Quote: We must do more than simply teach our future school leaders how to manage a building; in order for our schools to achieve at the highest level, we must have servant leaders who are committed to nurturing, mentoring, and collaborating in a reflective manner with those around them.

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Dr. Barbara Mallory

Associate Professor of Education
bmallory@highpoint.edu

 

Organizations: North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA); Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration (SRCEA); International Society for Educational Planning (ISEP); National Council for Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA); American Education Research Association (AERA).

Research: Dispositions of leaders; counselor-principal relationships; international school leadership; performance-based leadership and coaching; school renewal in an era of cultural diversity; and democracy-centered schools.

Personal Quote: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” –John F. Kennedy

 

 

Dr. Alisa R. McLean

Instructor of Education
amclean@highpoint.edu

Organizations: Board of Directors- NC Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development (NCASCD), Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development (ASCD), NC Association of School Administrators (NCASA),  Alumni Association member: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Elizabeth City State University   Member: Psi Gamma Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Research: Principal Leadership and School Leadership

Personal Quote: “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

 

Dr. Sarah F. Vess

Assistant Professor of Education
svess@highpoint.edu

Organizations: National Association of School Psychologists, North Carolina School Psychology Association,

Research: Interrater Reliability on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale, Generic (ADOS-G), Efficacy of a Program Pairing School Psychologists with Education Majors, Impact of Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) on Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders