COE ranked number six on The Best School's "25 Best Online Master in Education in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs." Rankings for the article were determined by several weighted factors including academic excellence, course offerings, faculty strengths and overall reputation. TheBestSchools.org is a

Assistant Professor Katie Brkich is program coordinator for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education.

leading resource for prospective students seeking a college or university degree.

  "We strive for excellence in all our educator and educator leader programs in whatever platform they're offered," commented Thomas R. Koballa, Jr., dean and professor of COE. "We're pleased that our graduate degree in early childhood education has earned a top ranking. The degree gives educators the opportunity to take the next steps in becoming an expert in meeting the diverse needs of students from Pre-K through fifth grade," he continued.

  The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is 100 percent online. COE offers graduate degrees in a traditional face-to-face format, completely online and in a hybrid, or executive, model. "Today's students, whether in-service educators or those working in other professional settings, need the flexibility our programs offer while being guaranteed the most rigorous and highest quality educational experience," Koballa continued.

The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is designed for individuals who currently hold a Professional Level Four Certificate or equivalent in early childhood education. The M.Ed. can be completed in one year.

  Sen. Jack Hill (Reidsville), made a surprise visit to the opening of the annual K-12 art exhibit at COE earlier this month. Hill, chair of  the Appropriations Committee, found time during the busy legislative session to travel to Statesboro to greet a room full of excited K-12 students and their families and teachers. A strong supporter of the arts in schools, Sen. Hill said "I believe art and music have such a positive effect on students and not just in developing talent but in the rest of their lives."

  Southern's Art Extravaganza: A Georgia Southern and P-12 Partnership has showcased hundreds of young artists for the past eleven years.  Featured artists in the show were selected by a certified art teacher. Their art is framed and hangs on the second floor of the COE classroom building where it will remain for a year. Click here for more on the event. 

  With at least 50 percent of their students living at or below poverty level and with a highly diverse student body, the three high achieving schools will be honored during the 26th Annual National Youth-At-Risk Conference, March 1 - 4, 2015, in Savannah, Georgia. The winning schools are Louisville Middle School, Jefferson County; Kendrick High School, Muscogee County; and Fowler Drive Elementary, Clark County. They were chosen for their achievements in attaining academic success, community collaboration, citizenship development and democratic education, according to COE Professor Dan Rea, co-director of the NYAR Center. 

  The conference draws educators, counselors, social workers, criminal justice professionals and community leaders, with substantial participation nationally and internationally.

  NYAR also announced the launch of its journal.The journal is an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal that publishes educational articles on how to reduce harmful risk conditions and promote the well-being of all youth, especially vulnerable youth in schools, families and communities.The journal is edited by COE Professor Cordelia Zinskie.