Article by Dr. Lesley Sheek and Heather Waterhouse ‘17
Three members of Judson College’s Beta Rho chapter of Kappa Delta Epsilon made a presentation at a recent KDE regional meeting in Columbia, SC, from February 27 to March 1, 2015.
The three students, all teacher candidates, were Kimberly Carter of West Blocton, Ashlyn Lane of Sylacauga, and Heather Waterhouse of Geraldine, Ala. They presented a session entitled “Fantastic Four: Modern Day Superhero.” The presentation focused on role model and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
“The presenters shared four key leadership characteristics that define Yousafzai: bravery, positivity, honesty, and perseverance,” said Lesley Sheek, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Education at Judson College.
Following a reading of Malala: A Brave Girl from Pakistan by author Jeanette Winter, the teacher candidates provided participants with language arts materials crafted to support the text. Strategies ranged the language arts and included the following list: readers theater, current event article, map skills, quickwrite, mapping a leader, role-play, readers theater, character quilt, list-group-label, OPIN, and a cloze passage.
According to Sheek, the presentation provided an opportunity for the participants to explore leadership attributes, as well as to develop their own leadership abilities.
Ashlyn Lane, Beta Rho Chapter Vice President, stated, “Being able to present to fellow educators allowed us to learn new techniques in teaching. The follow-up conversations focused on how participants will use the multiple techniques discussed within the session.”
Kimberly Carter, Beta Rho member, commented, “I enjoyed receiving feedback from former teachers who appreciated the new reading strategies we shared. The audience willingly engaged in our activities. The KDE alumni members expressed their confidence in our ability to follow in their footsteps as we begin our teaching careers.”
The regional meeting provided teaching support and strategies for the participants that will inform their future teaching practices, said Sheek.
Of the teacher candidates’ experiences at the regional meeting, Sheek said, “Judson teacher candidates expressed how the experiences at the KDE Southeast Regional Meeting motivated them and helped them consider the impact that educators make on the lives of students. They were reminded of their call to teach, to inspire, and to lead.” Heather Waterhouse, Beta Rho Chapter President, agreed: “It was an honor to be invited to attend and present at the KDE Southeast Regional Meeting. The meeting speakers were motivational, inspiring and relatable. I am grateful to be able to be a part of such an informative experience.”
Kappa Delta Epsilon is an honorary professional education fraternity. KDE purposes include the following:
- To unite education career-bound students and professional educators in an honorary professional organization for campus and/or community service;
- To lead members to develop a high level of professional responsibilities;
- To encourage all members in support of and active participation in current educational endeavors.
The KDE organization was founded in 1933, in Washington, D.C., and Judson’s Beta Rho Chapter was founded in 1982. KDE has both collegiate and alumni chapters; its members include pre-service teachers, practicing teachers, and retired teachers.
Judson College boasts an active, service-oriented KDE chapter. Advisors for the group at Judson College are Dr. Lesley Sheek, who is also National Vice-President of KDE, and Dr. Robert Metty.
PHOTO: KDE members who presented at the regional meeting are, from left-to-right, Heather Waterhouse, Ashlyn Lane, and Kimberly Carter. Photo by Dr. Lesley Sheek.