COE Receives Approval for Graduate Degree Certificate Upgrades  

  Georgia Southern College of Education graduate programs meet new graduate degree program requirements mandated by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). To increase the probability that teachers make a strong impact on student achievement, the new GaPSC requirements ensure that graduate degrees in education are rigorous and directly relevant to student learning. All COE graduate degree programs meet PSC requirements; however, educators need to review the PSC certificate upgrade Rule 505-2-.41 to ensure selection of the appropriate degree program to qualify for an in-field upgrade or to upgrade by adding a new certification field. Students will have access to the same high quality education at Georgia Southern but may note degree name and minor curricular changes in some cases. If prospective students have any questions about COE graduate degree programs, they may also contact the COE's Graduate Academic Services Center for advice, (912) 478-1447 or  http://coe.georgiasouthern.edu/gasc.html  

  Graduate students in every area of COE now have a resource center and those in the Master's and Specialist programs in 

(l-r) Grad Center Director Lydia Cross, Grad Assistant Jonathan Olivarez, Dean Tom Koballa, Academic Advisor Theresa Duggar.

   "The college identified a need for a specialized graduate office," said Associate Dean for Graduate Education & Research Tracy Linderholm who points out that COE's graduate enrollment exceeds undergraduate numbers. "Our graduate programs, both on campus and on-line, are a vital part of our mission," she added. The center facilitates a comprehensive graduate experience from the time students enter their program of study through graduation.

   Another key component of the center's work is recruitment for all COE's graduate programs. "We're COE's official representative at all graduate recruitment events throughout the state and the region," said Lydia Cross, the center's director. Click here for more information on the graduate center or follow updates on the center's blog.    

   With the increasing diversity of American classrooms, new teachers need to be able to teach students whose first language is not English and to empathize and understand what it's like to be a member of a cultural minority. Four COE Early Childhood Education majors were able to have an experience in Taiwan fall semester that allowed them to do both. These soon-to-be teachers said what they learned will help them enormously in the classroom when they graduate.  

   The students were part of a pilot project guided by COE's Dr. Hsiu-Lien Lu and Dr. Lina Soares that enabled the students to experience a complete cultural immersion as they taught children in public school settings in Taiwan.

   The exchange was coordinated with National Taipei University of Education and placements were facilitated by the principal at Tainan Municipal Tu-Cheng High School. "Our students were so excited by the experience," said Dr. Lu. "They kept saying how much more they now understood about valuing and respecting different cultures, and how much better equipped they are to teach English language learners," she added. Click here for more information on the pilot project.    

Pollard, Royal Named to COE  

Board of Advisors

  COE is proud to announce the addition of two members to our Board of Advisors. Joseph Edward (Eddie) Pollard, Jr., and Mike Royal joined the board in November. "We're honored to have such outstanding members of the education and business community on our board," said Dr. Thomas Koballa, COE Dean. "The depth of experience Eddie and Mike bring to the college is critical as the board helps guide us into the future," Koballa continued.

Eddie Pollard       Mike Royal

  Pollard, a COE alumnus, is a life-long educator. Among his many honors, Pollard was named Georgia's 2011 National Distinguished Principal. He has been principal of Tyrone Elementary School since 1999, and also was principal of Flat Rock Middle School, Braelinn Elementary, and North Fayette Elementary. Two of these schools were named a Georgia School of Excellence under his leadership. In addition, Pollard is active in professional associations, including being on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Elementary School Principals from 2007-2010. Pollard received his Ed.S. and M.Ed. from West Georgia College, and his B.S.Ed. from Georgia Southern.

  In 2011, Royal was named to the Georgia State Board of Education from the Seventh Congressional District. A graduate of Georgia Southern's College of Business with a B.B.A. in Finance, Royal is a successful businessman. He helped establish BWT Risk Advisors, LLC, in 2004, where he currently works as an insurance and risk management consultant. In addition to his service work in the business arena, Royal is active in his community serving as chairman of the Gwinnet County Zoning Board of Appeals, as a board member of the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection and as a member of the Legislative Council of the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.