Hardin-Simmons University Irvin School of Education

05/16/2024

Congratulations to one of our May 2024 education graduates, Kathleen Moore, for receiving the Julius Nelson Olsen Medal.

Dr. and Mrs. Julius Olsen established the Julius Nelson Olsen Medal in 1914 in memory of their son. It is perpetuated through a bequest by Dean Julius Olsen, who was Professor of Physics at Hardin-Simmons University from 1902-1942 and Dean of the University during much of that time. This medal is awarded annually at spring commencement to the graduate who has the highest grade average, has exemplified the highest scholarly achievement, and has completed at least 90 semester credits of residence credit at Hardin-Simmons University including international study work taken through HSU.

05/13/2024

The Irvin SOE faculty members are proud of Natalie Gordillo Cadena for achieving the Teacher of the Year in AISD Purcell Elementary School and for completing a Master’s degree.

05/08/2024

Way to go, Sarah Rebman. The Irvin SOE faculty members celebrate your accomplishments as an innovative faculty member within the Ingram Independent School District.

This week Ingram Independent School District features a Chemistry Teacher at ITM, Sarah Rebmann, who recently leveled up or earned a Teacher Incentive Allotment.

This allotment is a bonus of either $6K, $12K, or $23K annually for 5 years. Teachers earn this bonus through excellent teaching practices that increase student success.

Sarah earned the Recognized Teacher allotment.

We asked her to share a few things about herself!

How long have you been in education?
“5 years”

What is your current teaching position?
“Chemistry, OnRamps Chemistry, and Dual Credit Chemistry I & II Instructor at Tom Moore High School”

Why are you an Educator?
“I am an educator because I want to be used by the Lord in the lives of my students. I desire for each student to leave my classroom having grown as an individual, feeling and knowing that they are loved, and to have moments that brought a smile to their face--hopefully through learning something cool, but it may also be from making fun of my corny jokes."

Why is Ingram ISD a great place to work?
“The students are some of the best, and the staff is some of the most knowledgeable and caring people you will ever meet. I am humbled to be surrounded by the amazing people at this school.”

A Quote About her:
“Ms. Rebmann has a heart of gold. Her genuine care for her students shines through in every lesson, making science not just a subject, but an experience filled with warmth and encouragement.”
Brandie Guzman, Assistant Principal
Ingram Tom Moore High School

04/26/2024

As our education majors complete the teacher preparation program, our faculty members always share the many possible stepping stones in a teacher’s career. Taylor Roy, one of our Irvin SOE alumni, has truly advanced in various educational roles since graduating from HSU. We are so proud of Taylor Laing.

Ector County ISD
Congratulations to these leaders, unanimously approved by our Board of Trustees Tuesday night.

Taylor Roy as executive director of guidance, counseling, and wellness. Taylor is currently the director of guidance and counseling for ECISD. She has 10 years of public education experience with four years as a counselor serving both elementary and middle school in ECISD. She also has five years of elementary and middle school teaching experience prior to joining ECISD.

04/25/2024

Way to go Education Majors! So proud of your involvement with the 42nd Annual Western Heritage Day at HSU. We saw you reading to students, branding wood, moving through the stations in full costume, and enjoying the beautiful day with over 3,900 students from the Big Country area.

04/24/2024

The Irvin SOE faculty members are proud to announce the recipient of the 2024 Education Deans of Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas Award for Pre-Service Educator of the Year, Kathleen Moore. Katie is graduating May 2024 with a BSHS Interdisciplinary Generalist (EC-6) and Communication Science Disorders minor. She has demonstrated excellence and professionalism throughout her teacher preparation program at HSU.

04/24/2024

The Irvin SOE faculty members are proud to announce the recipient of the 2024 Dr. and Mrs. W. B. Irvin Award for Outstanding Student Teacher, Adrian Gonzales. Adrian is graduating May 2024 with a BSHS English Language Arts & Reading for 7-12 grades. He exhibits all of the characteristics of a quality teacher.

This award was established to assist a teacher education graduate as he/she begins a teaching career. The recipient should intend to teach, demonstrate high levels of scholarship, and possess the attitude and personality essential to a quality teacher.

04/19/2024

The Irvin SOE Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society members and sponsor, alongside with McMurry University students, prepared meal sacks for youth in the Big Country area at a local ministry for the homeless, Love & Care Ministries. Peyten, Ray, Leah, and Mrs. Prentice were blessed by the collaborative service opportunity.

04/12/2024

Kappa Delta Pi, XI Sigma Chapter at HSU is collecting plastic bags for a community project.

04/09/2024

A group of education majors and faculty member, Dr. Renee Collins, participated in leading literacy stations, leading HSU cheers, and teaching how to rope a bale of hay during the first Ortiz Elementary School "Spring into Health" Health Fair, Thursday, April 4th. There were lots of families in attendance rotating through the 20 stations or more of activities. The evening was packed with food, fun, and numerous prizes with all of the Ortiz Elementary School students, HSU College of Health Professions and Irvin SOE representatives.

04/09/2024

A group of education majors and faculty member, Mrs. Amber Prentice, from the Irvin School of Education participated in the 4th Annual Spectrum Connection Autism Walk on Saturday, April 6, at Redbud Park. What a great time to come together with other local groups in Abilene to "raise awareness and create opportunities for meaningful connections while celebrating the unique strengths of every individual" (BCSC, mission statement).

03/05/2024

Dr. Emily Dean provides numerous opportunities for the SOE's EC-6 majors to apply current research based reading strategies for local elementary children. What a great application time for the EC-6 majors as well as fun literacy experiences for young children.

02/03/2024

The Irvin SOE is proud of Jaime Aleman, for the recent Region XIV Counselor Award.

Congratulations to Jaime Aleman for being named the Counselor of the Year for Region 14, Elementary K-12.

We are proud to call her ours as she does outstanding work for our staff and students here at Dyess Elementary. Please help us congratulate her on this huge recognition!

02/02/2024

Irvin SOE Kappa Delta Pi is collecting Coats and Clothes for Love & Care Ministries. Please bring your donations to Johnson Building Room 315, the office of Mrs. Amber Prentice, no later than Feb. 29th. Remember to only bring items gently used and clean.

01/20/2024

The Irvin School of Education faculty are proud of Hillary Hernandez’s accomplishment as Assistant Principal at Dyess Elementary School. Congratulations!

Congratulations to Dyess Assistant Principal, Hillary Hernandez, for being named Region 14 Assistant Principal of the Year! We are so lucky to have Mrs. Hernandez as a part of Team Dyess✈️❤️

12/09/2023

What an outstanding Honors Capstone Project presentation, Innovations in the High School Mathematics Classroom, by one of our SOE 7-12 Math Education Honors students, Clare Porter. Thank you, Dr. Tom Copeland, Director of the Julius Olsen Honors Program at HSU, for your continued enrichment opportunities for the honors students. The faculty of the SOE appreciate the continued collaboration and partnership with the Math Department chair, Dr. Andrew Potter, and faculty, Ms. Jessica Rieger. We all enjoy observing our students grow and excel.

12/06/2023

What a great night listening to the HSU Jazz Ensemble play Christmas songs and big band classics. It was great to hear the entire jazz ensemble directed by Dr. Jeff Cottrell, Associate Dean of the School of Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts. We always enjoy listening to Dr. Robert Tucker, Dean of Kelley College of Business & Professional Studies, Andrew Whitworth, a current education major, along with an education alumnus, Diehlman Estes, play our favorite songs during the Christmas season.

The audience enjoyed listening to the two talented vocalists, Colton Bosang and Maddox Carr. What a fun evening reminiscing favorite songs by Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Jimmy Dorsey to name a few.

12/05/2023

Congratulations to the HSU Choirs, Chorale and Concert Choir, along with their director, Dr. Dee Romines, for a wonderful concert.

We celebrate two senior education majors, Kayleigh Watkins and Nathan Beard, in their last HSU Fall Choral Showcase. Excellent performance.

We are also proud of HSU alum, Christian Fortner, for composing one of the songs for tonight’s performance, I Will Sing. What an amazing song!

10/12/2023

The EC-6 Science Methods class had a special presenter, Jaxson P., about a family pet, Mojave, a ball python. Way to go, Jaxson!

09/22/2023

The faculty members of the Irvin School of Education are proud of Kaylynn Reyna, a junior mathematics education major with a minor in honors. Read more about Kaylynn Reyna in the September 15, 2023 edition of HSU News.

Kaylynn Reyna Embodies the Cowboy Spirit September 15, 2023 Charis Ochu Share: Kaylynn Reyna is the second rider on the left. In the spirit of National Day of the Cowgirl, meet Kaylynn Reyna, a junior mathematics education major with a minor in honors. Kaylynn is also a rider for the Six White Horse...

09/22/2023

Kappa Delta Pi, XI Sigma Chapter at HSU is sponsoring a Food Drive benefiting HSU's Food Pantry ran by the Speech-Language Pathology Department. There are decorated boxes located in Johnson Building 206, 209, and 212 along with a box in the HSU Richardson Library. Please consider donating to those in need. Dates to donate: September 25 - December 13, 2023.

09/15/2023

On behalf of the faculty of the Irvin SOE, congratulations to the following 13 new members of the Kappa Delta Pi, XI Sigma Chapter: Attaysia Allon, Caitlyn Conwell, MacKenzie Corum, Rosalie Flores, Grace Ganus, Rayito Herrera, Congetta Little, Katleyn Pharris, Hailey Powers, Sydney Smith, Jade Spangler, Kayleigh Watkins, and Ren Wilson.

We are eager to see you all in action with the current officers: Katie Moore, Leah Northcut, Nathan Beard, Peyten Castillo, Devon Petty, and sponsor, Mrs. Amber Prentice.

09/05/2023

Congratulations to Sydney Bemrick Griffiths, one of our education alumni at HSU.

Here is what Sydney shared.

“Next up on the list of things I forgot to tell people: I earned the TIA Designation of Exemplary! This accomplishment is noted on my teaching certificate for 5 years and comes with a bonus at the end of each of those 5 years!”

08/31/2023

Great opportunity to enjoy fellowship with our education majors at our first Coke Float Celebration for beginning of Fall.

08/23/2023

New academic year just started and one of our Irvin SOE alumni was highlighted in her science class. Way to go Becca Desrochers! We are proud of you.

06/07/2023

We are heartbroken for one of our Irvin School of Education alumni, CJ Danser, and his wife, Shelley. They are experiencing the unthinkable, the loss of a child. Please be in prayer for this sweet, young family as they celebrate David’s life and live each day without him here. May God’s mercy, strength, and peace envelop family and friends connected to David.

They currently live in Tallahassee, Florida. CJ is teaching and coaching at one of the high schools. Here is a short news clip showing how CJ’s football family responded.

CJ and Shelley Danser have deep ties to the Tallahassee community. On Monday night, the Dansers lost their oldest son David in a tragic accident, and now many have stepped up to show their support.

05/03/2023

The faculty and staff members of the Irvin School of Education are happy to announce two special student teaching awards for 2023. Cooperating teachers for the two recipients, supervising professors, and faculty agreed on the two recipients of the awards.

The recipient for the 2023 Education Deans of Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas Award for Pre-Service Educator of the Year and a $930 cash award is Kendalyn Jarrett. Kendalyn is a 7-12 Math Education and Computer Science senior. The 2023 EDICUT Award was based upon intent to teach, scholarship, attitude, and distinguishing herself or himself throughout the Hardin-Simmons University teacher preparation program.

The recipient for the 2023 Dr. and Mrs. W.B. Irvin Award for Outstanding Pre-Service Educator and a $930 cash award is Elizabeth Meyer. Elizabeth is a 7-12 Life Science Composite Education senior. The 2023 Irvin Award was established for those students who intend to teach, demonstrate high levels of scholarship, and possess the attitude and personality essential to be a quality teacher.

Congratulations, Kendalyn & Elizabeth, as you prepare to enter a noble and challenging profession.

04/27/2023

The Irvin SOE enjoyed the 41st annual Western Heritage Day at our Reading Station. It was fun to do Read Alouds with the young kiddos from the Big Country Area. Our education majors had fun interacting with the kiddos as well as seeing our alumni with their classes.

Then, some of the education majors met the new faculty member and Certification Officer, Dr. David Tompkins, who begins this fall. Welcome, Dr. Tompkins.

04/27/2023

Irvin School of Education (SOE) hosted the Kappa Delta Pi Mix and Mingle with education majors and alumni on April 20, 2023. It was great to hear from Katie Ventura, Ben and Kirby Shaw, Crystal Boudreaux, Cody Herrera, Hillary Brown, Katie Arellano, CJ Danser, and Tim Maskill. How exciting to cross state and international lines through Zoom - Arkansas, Florida, the Metroplex area, and Japan - along with HSU in Abilene. The alumni offered serious, inspirational, and humorous advice to the current education majors.