spring 2013 - Framingham State University

12
University Opens New
Community Education Center
by kathleen mcdonough ’13
Framingham State sophomore Thierry
Aka ’15 came to the United States unable
to speak a word of English and uncertain
about how he was going to succeed here.
Knowing he wouldn’t make it far without
being able to speak English, the Ivory
Coast native enrolled in FSU’s English
as a Second Language course offered
through the University’s Community
Education Program.
After a year in the course, Aka fully
enrolled at Framingham State as an
undergraduate economics major.
Aka shared his success story during a
ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate
the opening of Framingham State’s new
Community Education Center in the
historic Jonathan Maynard Building,
across from the University on Route 9.
The center will house a variety of
professional development and workshop
opportunities for the community, in
addition to the University’s four English
language programs.
Aka, who is now treasurer of the student
Culture Club at FSU, says he hopes
to use his degree to help fight poverty in
his native Africa. He and all the other
international students at FSU are grateful
to the teachers and peers who are helping
them to achieve success. “If you are
helping us, you are helping our countries.
By helping me, you are helping Africa.”
FraMinghaM State UniverSity spring 2013
Jeanne M. Canelli
Child Development Lab
Celebrates 50th Anniversary
No matter how much you learn in the
classroom, in any profession there is no
substitute for on-site, practical experience.
In the case of aspiring teachers, this means
working in a classroom where young children
get firsthand opportunities to read, write, listen,
solve problems and play.
“We get to observe them teaching
in the field, putting theory and
new knowledge into practice.”
For 50 years, Framingham State Early
Childhood Education students have had
the opportunity to teach and observe young
children here on campus. “The Jeanne M.
Canelli Child Development Lab is a learning
environment in which children from the area
come and spend their morning or afternoon,”
says Professor Emerita Dr. Cathleen Buydoso,
a member of the Education Department at FSU
for 30 years. “Students observe and interact
with children, create lessons and write a case
study after following the growth and development
of one child during the 16-week semester.
All of this is done under the supervision of
the lab director and teachers.”
Dr. Buydoso was among those honored in
March during a rededication of the lab to
celebrate its 50th anniversary. The lab is named
in memory of former FSU Professor Dr. Jeanne
M. Canelli ’70, who was director for 18 years
and passed away in 2006. “Dr. Canelli was so
active in early childhood organizations and
issues throughout the state,” says Valerie
Hytholt ’07, the current director of the lab.
“I still run into people all the time who sorely
miss her.”
Child Development Lab Instructor
Joni Theodoss ’07 says she and Hytholt
continually discuss Dr. Canelli today, and
keep her guidance and instruction in mind
as they plan lessons for the children and
work with current students. “Working with
Dr. Canelli was a great experience, because she
had so much knowledge and expertise and was
just so genuine with the kids,” Theodoss says.