Tuesday, February 9/ 7:00 PM / Bird Center for Legislative Studies

Dr. Virginia Hicks

Dr. Virginia Hicks is the Dean of Education and Professional Studies at Shepherd University .   Prior to coming to Shepherd University (fall of 2006) she has work experience in three states.   

She has served as department chair in all three states at a variety of levels: high school ( Iowa ), one community college ( New Mexico ) and two universities ( New Mexico and Wisconsin ). Just prior to coming to West Virginia she was a department chair in the College of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for five years.   She has the leadership style of finding individuals’ strengths to work toward identified goals.  She helps people to reach their potential. 

She has been active in her professional organizations and has held leadership roles at the local, state and national level.  In New Mexico she was the State President for the Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.  While at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater she served a two year term as the Coordinator of the Global Access Project (GAP) for the partnership between the American Association of State Colleges and  universities(AASCU) and the U.S. Department of State.  In Iowa she was selected as the State Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.  

During the last few years she has been very active with International Work.  Just recently she and two co-workers where successful with acquiring a grant to develop International Teaching Practicum experiences in Jamaica .  Dr. Hicks is also a wellness advocate as she has extensive experience with initiating and directing wellness programs. She is currently co-facilitation the new Wellness Strategic Plan for Shepherd University .   An avid cyclist she has biked across Iowa many times and once across the country. 

Project Director:               Dr. Virginia Hicks  

Management Team:            Ms. Ann Henriksson, Study Abroad Director at Shepherd University

Dr. Laura Renninger, Dean of Teaching and Learning at Shepherd University

Dr. James B. Tuttle, Assistant Professor of Education at Shepherd University

Grant supported by the West Virginia Higher Education Commission  

An International Teaching Practicum Experience in Jamaica

A grant proposal was submitted to the  West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (WV HEPC)  last March. The grant was funded by WV HEPC to develop an International teaching practicum experience for Shepherd University students to  broaden their perspectives and meet the ever-increasing requirements for global understanding and experience.  The course was developed and received approval from the Department of Education.  Students enrolled in the class and attended  seminars to prepare for their trip to experience a teaching practicum in Jamaica and to learn about the culture. 

A collaborative agreement was established with Knox College (High School) and Knox Junior School in Spalding , Jamaica .  Two faculty members accompanied their students on a two-week trip to Jamaica from January 2^nd to January 16^th to have the opportunity to participate in a teaching practicum at Knox High School and/or at Knox Junior School in Spalding , Jamaica . 

The following goals & objectives were developed for this project and they were all successfully completed.   

1.  To develop an international experience through which Shepherd students will be able to grow as reflective problem solvers in a multicultural setting.

2. To create opportunities for our students to become part of a global community. 

3.  To have a wider perspective to their own classroom teaching in West Virginia .  

4. To bring in consultants to provide guidance to establish a program in Jamaica . 

5. To develop a syllabi with well defined goals and measureable outcome based objectives that reflect the INTASC standards. Assessments and Evaluation of the course will be developed and implemented. 

6. To develop a plan of action and finalize a letter of agreement with both Knox High School and Knox Junior School . 

7. Students will spend two weeks in Jamaica teaching in the primary and/or secondary classrooms and complete all of the program assessment tools.

8. Two Shepherd University Professors will accompany the students to Jamaica .  One Professor will supervise the program and the other will observe and assist so that he or she will be able to supervise the program or similar programs in the future. 

9. Students in the International Teaching Practicum will hold a fund- raiser, “A Night in Jamaica ”, with Jamaican food and music. 

10. Students will present their experiences in Jamaica upon returning. (to be completed February 19, 2008 at the Research Forum at Shepherd University .