2008 Woodie Awards
LEAD: Teaching Acceptance in Classroom
Michelle Wood: Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Features
While Leading Educator Advocates for Diversity (LEAD) may not be well- known on campus, its members are trying to change that.
Pamela Gruber, senior social studies and secondary education major and president of LEAD, said the main reason for the small size of the group is due to losing graduated members.
"This year is a starting over process; we're trying to build it back up," Gruber said. "I would like to see us grow."
LEAD's purpose is to promote diversity in the field of education and to encourage those who are underrepresented in this field, such as men, non-traditional students, students with disabilities and students of various races, cultures and ethnicities, to become involved.
Deborah Yoder, a junior middle school education major, said it is important to remember that diversity is a wide field.
"LEAD opens other elements of diversity other than race," Yoder said.
Dawna Lisa Butterfield, professor in literacy education in the department of curriculum and instruction and LEAD faculty advisor, began LEAD seven years ago with a student from Ghana, who wanted students to become more proactive about diversity. Butterfield said it is important to know about the wide range of diversity.
"LEAD emphasizes the fact that diversity isn't just about skin color," Butterfield said.
Members of LEAD also discuss how to deal with diversity in the classroom, as all teachers will encounter it. LEAD said that regardless of the background, culture, race, gender or circumstance, all "true" teachers seek to be advocates for all of the children they serve.
Abby Copeland, senior elementary education major, said she will take an important lesson from LEAD.
"I'm learning how to be more open and I'm learning a lot on how to be a better teacher," Copeland said.
Corie Crow, a senior middle school education major, agreed.
"It [LEAD] has shown me how to be more open to diversity and how it will affect my teaching," Crow said.
Pamela Gruber, senior social studies and secondary education major and president of LEAD, said the main reason for the small size of the group is due to losing graduated members.
"This year is a starting over process; we're trying to build it back up," Gruber said. "I would like to see us grow."
LEAD's purpose is to promote diversity in the field of education and to encourage those who are underrepresented in this field, such as men, non-traditional students, students with disabilities and students of various races, cultures and ethnicities, to become involved.
Deborah Yoder, a junior middle school education major, said it is important to remember that diversity is a wide field.
"LEAD opens other elements of diversity other than race," Yoder said.
Dawna Lisa Butterfield, professor in literacy education in the department of curriculum and instruction and LEAD faculty advisor, began LEAD seven years ago with a student from Ghana, who wanted students to become more proactive about diversity. Butterfield said it is important to know about the wide range of diversity.
"LEAD emphasizes the fact that diversity isn't just about skin color," Butterfield said.
Members of LEAD also discuss how to deal with diversity in the classroom, as all teachers will encounter it. LEAD said that regardless of the background, culture, race, gender or circumstance, all "true" teachers seek to be advocates for all of the children they serve.
Abby Copeland, senior elementary education major, said she will take an important lesson from LEAD.
"I'm learning how to be more open and I'm learning a lot on how to be a better teacher," Copeland said.
Corie Crow, a senior middle school education major, agreed.
"It [LEAD] has shown me how to be more open to diversity and how it will affect my teaching," Crow said.
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