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SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
School of Education Honors Accomplishments
of Students, Faculty and Alumni
Stephanie Parker ’98, a kindergarten
teacher at Glen Iris Elementary
School, was named Birmingham City
Elementary Teacher of the Year. John
Mark Edwards ’08, a social studies teacher
at John Herbert Phillips Academy, was
named Birmingham City Secondary Teacher
of the Year. Taylor Ross ’06, ’13, was named
Jefferson County Teacher of the Year. Holly
Sutherland ’04, was named St. Clair County
Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Clara Gerhardt received the Certified
Family Life Educator [CFLE] Special
Recognition Award from the National
Council on Family Relations. The award
recognizes an individual who has demonstrated
exceptional effort in promoting the
CFLE designation or program.
Gerhardt, who has taught in the
education school since 1998, supports
student work by encouraging research, and
uses her writing and editing skills to mentor
them through the publication process.
Though Gerhardt is the recipient of the
award, she credits her students for their role
in this honor. “Our students turn us into
the professors we are,” she said. “I have
become more competent because my
students challenge me. They turned me into
a family life educator.”
Martha Ralls retires from Samford after
27 years of service in the teacher education
department. Prior to coming to Samford,
Ralls taught middle and high school English
in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts and
upstate New York. After earning her
doctorate at the University of Georgia, she
served as curriculum director in Georgia
schools, but continued to teach journalism
and serve as faculty adviser for the school
newspaper during her lunch hour, as she
said she could not bear to leave the classroom
entirely. See story on page 18. ◗
Martha Ralls
Clara Gerhardt
Alyssa Szymanski
Students Win National Council
on Family Relations Awards
Students from the human development and
family life education department won
several awards at the National Council on
Family Relations [NCFR] annual conference.
The theme of the conference was “Well-Being of
Children and Youth in Families and Communities,”
with more than 1,200 attendees.
A group of students in Dr. Celeste Hill’s
Family Life Education course submitted winning
entries for two of five possible categories, Best Fact
Sheet and Best Press Release.
Hill said her students were passionate about
this project because they believe in the purpose of
family life education as well as promoting professionalism
within the field. She said, “They
submitted quality, creative work that exemplifies
the pride they have in educating individuals and
families about the purpose of family life education.”
Under the direction of Associate Professor
Jonathan Davis, recent graduate Alyssa Szymanski
received the Outstanding Undergraduate Paper
Award for her research on dating violence, sexual
assault and bystander intervention on university
campuses. This is the second year in a row a
Samford student has won this prestigious award.
Dr. Kristie Chandler, chair of the department,
said the national and regional recognitions received
by faculty and students serve to confirm what is
strived for every day—providing opportunities for
exceptional educational experiences and training. ◗
28 • Seasons • June 2014 • School of Education Newsletter