Archive Posts
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WATCH: Tommie Educators Knit Custom Hats for Students
People & CultureIn December fifth-grade teacher Emma Monson ’22 asked her class at Red Rock Elementary in Woodbury to design their own winter hats – on paper. The students had no idea that within a few weeks, she’d show up with a tote full of cold-weather gear, knitted to their precise specifications. “They were all shocked,” Monson…
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In the News: Chelda Smith Kondo on the National Report Card and Post-Pandemic Challenges in Education
In the NewsChelda Smith Kondo, associate professor of teacher education at the University of St. Thomas School of Education, recently joined KARE 11 to talk about test scores for schools in Minnesota and across the country. From the story: While many educators were hoping for better test scores this year, University of St. Thomas education professor Chelda… -
School of Education Equips Educators With New Mental Health and Well-Being Certificate
As child and adolescent mental health issues continue to rise, the School of Education at the University of St. Thomas is committed to preparing educators with the skills and knowledge needed to support their students' well-being through the new Mental Health and Well-Being for Educators certificate. “I am proud that the School of Education has… -
English Professor of Dougherty Family College to Publish Positive Columns on Modern Times
Professional NotesDr. Louis Porter II, a teaching professor of English at the University of St. Thomas' Dougherty Family College, has begun penning a monthly column called Towards Higher Ground, published in the Minneapolis-based newspaper Insight News. Porter, a former reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and advocate for equity, believes in the importance of making… -
Family Connection: Meet the Sisters Welcoming Future Tommies to Campus
Humans of St. ThomasIf you visit the admissions office at the University of St. Thomas, you’re likely to encounter genuine family hospitality. Two sisters from Brookfield, Wisconsin, Lauren and Lizzy Rusch, are often at the front desk, together, ready to offer prospective students and their families a warm, “Welcome to St. Thomas.” Lauren ’25, a senior admissions intern,… -
St. Thomas Alumna Supports Special Education Educators Through Her Start-Up
Health & EducationGrowing up, Elizabeth Orme ’15 EdS would describe herself as a child with a “busy brain.” “I was totally the third grader doing handstands against the wall,” the University of St. Thomas alumna recalled about her experience as a neurodivergent student. “My teacher figured out that I learned in different ways. So, naturally, I was… -
University of St. Thomas Dean Named to National Fellowship for Educator-Preparation Leaders
Professional NotesDr. Amy Smith, dean of the School of Education at University of St. Thomas, was recently named an Impact Academy fellow through national nonprofit organization Deans for Impact (DFI). Smith joins a cohort of leaders chosen for their commitment to improving educator preparation. Educator-preparation programs today face complex challenges as they recruit and prepare teachers… -
St. Thomas Receives $1.1M in Funding to Support Educating Diverse K-12 STEM Teachers
St. Thomas 2025 - Lead in STEAM EducationU.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith of Minnesota, as well as Congresswoman Betty McCollum from the state’s Fourth District, announced in June that they helped secure more than $1.1 million in federal funding for the School of Education and Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas and the South St. Paul School… -
Professor Emerita Edited Book Written by St. Thomas Faculty and Alumni
Professional NotesDr. Sarah Noonan, professor emerita from the University of St. Thomas School of Education, edited the book Pedagogies for Diverse Learners: Tools for Discovery and Development, published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. The book, written entirely by University of St. Thomas faculty and alumni, provides profiles of diverse learners and the specific learning and teaching… -
St. Thomas Names Dr. Amy Smith New School of Education Dean
University NewsThe University of St. Thomas has selected Dr. Amy Smith – a veteran educator who has helped the university drive several initiatives designed to grow Minnesota’s teacher pipeline and remove barriers to student success in the classrooms – as the next leader of its School of Education. Smith’s appointment as dean is effective immediately. She…