Southern Wesleyan University School of Education

Southern Wesleyan University's education department partnered with The Palmetto State Teachers Association to create a PSTA SWU Chapter. Dr. Janice Young serves as the chapter advisor and Dr. Trez Flemings serves as the co-advisor.

Meet the Chapter Officers:

Lana Pitts, President, majoring in special education. She stated, “I love the more complicated challenges regarding the upbringing of children, and I also love and have a passion for watching children grow and flourish.” One random fact about Lana is she helped coach JV girl's basketball at Walhalla High School.

Isaac Padgett, Vice President, majoring in elementary education and early childhood education. He stated, “I feel like I have always had a heart for kids and watching them grow in learning.” One random fact about Isaac is he also serves as the Vice President for the Call Me MISTER program at SWU.

Emilee Westmoreland, Secretary/Treasurer, is a double major in early childhood and elementary education. She noted, “I have always had a passion for kids and helping them grow! Fun fact: At SWU, I am also a presidential ambassador and love the SWU community!”

Pictured below are the officers with their advisors signing the SWU Chapter Constitution.

Dr. Janice Young is featured with her MIL and local artist, Judy Aiken Young. The Mill Village Artist

Judy came out of retirement for a special opportunity to paint Dr. Young’s new office window just in time for the new semester!

Dr. Janice Young, an esteemed member of our academic community, has recently earned the distinction of being promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor of Education at SWU. We celebrate her achievement and look forward to her continued success in guiding future generations of educators.

🔷 Break-out sessions with professors in the education department kicked off Meet My Major with energetic icebreaker games, allowing students to connect and build relationships.

🔶Isaac Padgett, Early Childhood/Elementary Major spoke to the group on Call Me Mister and the SWU Chapter of PSTA to showcase the programs available. This was a blessed Saturday Welcoming in our Warriors!

Rusty Chappell, SGA President & PE major and Dr. Atrez Flemings, Assistant Professor of Education, sat on the 'My Professor Wants What?' panel to discuss the successful transition from high school to college during part of our Welcoming Warriors Weakend.

🔷The School of Education and Music Studies is now under the leadership of Dr. Nathan Street as Chair. Congratulations, Dr. Street! SWU is privileged and blessed to have you!

🔷Help us in congratulating Dr. Street on his new role.

Southern Wesleyan University's School of Education and Music Studies bids farewell to Dr. Michael Hylen, Chair of the department, as he begins a new chapter in his life. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

🔹”You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with your joy and your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

Dr. Janice Young had day two of orientation with her clinical student teachers. The day held using AI in Education along with The Ethical Educator training. This group of student teachers is ready to start full time in the classrooms next week.

Summer is over and student teachers reported back to campus for day one of orientation with Dr. Janice Young. As orientation was underway multiple speakers were invited to share on Professionalism, FERPA, Data, and Expectations.

Southern Wesleyan University held Summer Residency, hosting candidates seeking their doctorate (Ed.D.) in curriculum and assessment this week. Congratulations to this dedicated group!

Christina O’Grady successfully defended her dissertation! Congratulations, Dr. O’Grady!

🔹Meet Selina Harley Blue, currently in the EdD Curriculum and Assessment program with Southern Wesleyan University.

🔹Selina has completed 27 years in the educational field. She is a mom of 4 children: 30, 24, and 17-year-old twins.

🔹She currently accepted a position with the SCDE as a Transformation Coach. Her goal is to continue to work in education as an educational coach with a goal to become an educational consultant.

🔹Her dissertation topic is Investigating the Accuracy of Math Report Card Grades, Ability to Predict NWEA MAP results.

🔹Meet Christina O'Grady, a current candidate in the EdD Curriculum and Assessment program at Southern Wesleyan University.

🔹Christina has been married for 18 years. Her current role is a Curriculum Coordinator at an online public charter school in Maine.

🔹Upon graduation, her goal is to remain in her current role and potentially write and publish in her area of research, gender, specifically the experiences of gender nonconforming students.

Kati Begen successfully defended her dissertation. Congratulations, Dr. Begen!

https://www.swu.edu/article/swu-announces-spring-2024-deans-list/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3YloCdSlTi85uFjAteB4xItKUDsUWQpWEi0kErKOC_iAd2RnacKN1-_i8_aem_ARrTC5eyX2pDfDQ3k4pq0r_f1HX_SoaBF-9FrOU-OqObsy4yx2E4v5C54YtPZjO2oY8JM31kaDPuYa_QVUWYh3Ta

SWU Announces Spring 2024 Dean’s List CENTRAL, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan University is pleased to present our Spring 2024 Dean’s List. The...

Tammy Lee Misanko completed her dissertation defense. Congratulations, Dr. Misanko!

Miranda Humphries successfully defended her dissertation! Congratulations, Dr. Humpries!

Dr. Janice Young would like to congratulate Mr. Harvey Choplin on his retirement from SWU. Mr. Choplin has served as a Clinical University Supervisor for 15+ years overseeing many student teachers in their final semester of college. He has graciously taken on anything requested of him and worked hard to help student teachers achieve their goals. Help me congratulate this wonderful educator! If he ever served as your supervisor feel free to share below as well. Happy Retirement, Mr. Choplin! You’ve left a beautiful legacy behind at SWU!

The School of Education and Music marked the end of the academic year with a professional development session and celebration. As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, each educator was gifted a bucket of treats to recognize their dedication and commitment to shaping the next generation of teacher educators. Thank you all for what you do!

What a beautiful group of graduates! The world is blessed with more exceptional Christian educators! Way to go Class of 2024!

Congratulations to this group of Doctors who graduated today! Class of 2024!

The countdown to graduation is on! 3 days until our seniors walk across the stage!

Dr. Donivan Edwards's Foundations class completed their presentations on integrating InTASC standards and their educational philosophies.

The countdown to graduation is on! Dr. Janice Young’s clinical student teachers graduate in 5 days! Many of them already have signed teaching contracts. Way to go future educators!

Dr. Flemings’s Methods of Early Childhood Science students conducted science experiments. Teacher candidates had a chance to share hands-on experiments. Experiments included making ice cream, Melting Skittles, snowstorm in a jar, and Walking Water.

Dr. Janice Young would like to announce the Student Teacher of The Year (STOY). Kalie Brown an Early Childhood Education major was named this year's STOY! She was honored with a teacher basket and bag full of goodies. Congratulations, Ms. Brown.

🔹The education department's semester division chapel was a blessed fun event, featuring Senior Mady Oliveri on the piano and leading worship alongside Dr. Janice Young and Dr. Nathan Street. 🔹Rev. Richard Smith delivered a powerful message on Running Your Race and Running it Well, inspiring us all to pursue excellence in our journey to become future educators.

Dr. Edwards Cornerstone class completed their subject area presentations. The students had to create an activity that included participation by their classmates.

Meet Rusty Chappell your newly elected 24-25 SGA President. Rusty is from Calhoun Falls, SC, and graduated from Abbeville High School in 2022. He is currently a sophomore majoring in physical education. He comes from a family of teachers and wants to continue the family legacy by becoming a PE teacher and coaching baseball upon graduating from SWU.