2004 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients Honored

We had six award winners this year. They were honored at a ceremony in Champaign on April 24.

Kathryn Hu-Pei Au
Jean Casey
Phares O'Daffer
Hallie Preskill
Susan Zola
Sunny McMurry

 

Kathryn Hu-Pei Au

Upon completion of her Ph.D. degree in educational psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Kathryn Hu-Pei Au returned to Hawaii and spent fifteen years as an educational psychologist for the Kamehameha Early Education Program. In 1995, she joined the faculty of the University of Hawaii , where she was named the inaugural recipient of the Dai Ho Chun Endowed Chair of Education. This chair was established to recognize individuals who had outstanding records as teachers and scholars, in addition to individuals appointed to the position to focus efforts on improving education in Hawaii .

As a scholar, Au is widely respected for her many contributions to our understanding of the literacy development of minority children. Notably, she is esteemed for her research on "culturally congruent" instruction: instruction that is adapted to the cognitive style and language patterns of minorities. "Her extensive knowledge of the field of literacy and her ability to interpret theory and research for students of literacy are evident in her many popular textbooks," writes Randy Hitz, Dean of the College of Education at the University of Hawaii.

The honors Au has received in recent years attest to the high esteem in which her peers throughout the nation hold her. She has been elected to the Reading Hall of Fame, received the Oscar Causey Award from the National Reading Conference for distinguished contributions to reading research, and the Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Educational Research Association for her contributions to the role and status of minorities in educational research and development.

Au holds an M.A. in psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu as well as a professional diploma in elementary education. Additionally, she graduated cum laude from Pembroke College at Brown University with an A.B. in European history.

Dr. Kathryn Au was nominated by Richard C. Anderson, a professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, who has known Dr. Au since her graduate school days.

 

Jean Casey

Jean Casey is a Professor with Reading/Language Arts/Technology at California State University at Long Beach , CA . Casey has conducted seventeen years of research on early literacy and how technology can make early reading and writing successful. She is known as a pioneer researcher in the United States on using the talking computer with young children for early literacy and then throughout elementary school for auditory feedback in learning.

In 1989, Casey created TeacherNet, the first use of on-line email communication between the university supervisor, a master teacher, and student teachers on the West Coast, which doubled the amount of coaching and feedback for students. Also, during this time, Charles B. Reed, Chancellor of the California State University system formed a 30-person team of faculty to create CalStateTEACH, a non-traditional program that allows working teachers to earn a credential without going to a university campus. Casey was a primary designer of the reading and technology components.

In 1998, Casey was named CSULB Chancellor's Distinguished Teacher Preparation Scholar. Her student evaluations and letters of support are abounding with glowing accolades of her expertise as program faculty and a university level teaching practitioner.

One of Casey's most recent publications, Early Literacy: The Empowerment of Technology, includes information about the latest technological classroom innovations available today, especially how to use the computer as an adjunct instructor to customize instruction for students. Julie M.T. Chan, Director of Literacy Instruction of California's Newport-Mesa Unified School District describes it as "required reading for all who have ever wondered about where technology will take our children."

Casey received her B.S. in Education at University of Illinois ; her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction at CSULB and her Ph.D. in C & I Linguistics and Instructional Technology at the University of Southern California . She graduated with honors with all three degrees.

Dr. Jean Casey was nominated by Diane Staes, (B.S. '60), a former classmate and longtime friend.

 

Phares O'Daffer

From the moment he entered teaching in the fall of 1956, Phares O'Daffer was enthralled with how students learned mathematics. He dedicated his career to working in classrooms with students, observing how they interacted with text, and then worked to write textbooks that presented high quality mathematics in student friendly and learnable ways.

At one point in the 1970's, nearly 60 % of the students in the United States K-6 classrooms were studying from a textbook that O'Daffer had a hand in writing. The Addison-Wesley mathematics series were the most widely used textbooks during that period because of their strong concept development and problem solving sections. Further, they were among the first to present the modeling of mathematics concepts, in textbooks, through concrete materials.

In Illinois , O'Daffer has been influential in his many roles in the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He chaired numerous committees and the governing board, and was elected by the state membership committee to serve as its President. Over the years O'Daffer's leadership and mentorship has led to the dissemination of a number of influential curriculum documents addressing important issues of the school mathematics curriculum.

Because of the respect he has won statewide through the Council, Phares has been awarded the Max Beberman Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education and has been give the Distinguished Life Membership Award for his significant impact on school mathematics instruction. To complement these awards, the Bloomington Kiwanis Club named O'Daffer as the Lay Person of the Year for his many significant contributions to education.

Dr. O'Daffer holds a Ph.D. in mathematics education from the University of Illinois , and a B.S. in mathematics and an M.S. in mathematics education, both from Illinois State University , where he was a faculty member for twenty years.

Dr. Phares O'Daffer was nominated by Dr. John Dossey (Ph.D. '71), former colleague of Dr. O'Daffer at Illinois State University . Dr. Dossey was a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2001.

 

Hallie Preskill

Hallie Preskill is Professor of Organizational Learning and Instructional Technologies (OLIT) in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico .

Preskill's research interests focus on program evaluation theory, methods and use, organizational learning, appreciative inquiry, and training design and delivery. Over the past twenty years she has written books, book chapters and numerous articles on evaluation methods and processes, and the role of evaluation in human resource development. She has also conducted program evaluations in education, business, healthcare, and the non-profit sector. Dr. Preskill has served on eight editorial boards and has chaired numerous committees for three national organizations.

In 2002, Dr. Preskill won the American Evaluation Association's (AEA) prestigious Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Award for Outstanding Professional Practice. She has been elected to the Board of Directors of the AEA and the Academy of Human Resource Development .

Michael Quinn Patton, professor at the Union Institute Graduate School and former president of the AEA, writes of Preskill, "She is one of the most sought-after respondents on AEA panels because of her breadth of knowledge, theoretical depth, and methodological astuteness. Her knowledge comes from extensive experience as an educational evaluator, in schools, working with educational leaders, parents and students. She has been especially important to the field in integrating scholarly perspectives about knowledge generation and organizational learning with political understandings about real world dynamics."

Dr. Preskill received her Ph.D. from the College of Education in 1984. Her bachelor's degree in Spanish is from California State University , Fullerton and her M.S. degree in Elementary and Special Education is from C.W. Post Center , Long Island University .

Dr. Hallie Preskill was nominated by Human Resource Education (HRE) Assistant Professor Steven R. Aragon and John C. Ory, director of the Office of Instructional Resources and professor in HRE. Dr. Aragon was a student of Dr. Preskill; Dr. Ory was a professor of hers during her studies at the College of Education .

 

Susan Zola

Dr. Susan Zola began her career at Champaign Unit School District 4 (CUSD#4) as principal of Dr. Howard Elementary School, where she successfully lead her staff in serving over 500 students, many of them receiving Title I services. Her efforts in working with at-risk populations were so outstanding that she was selected to serve the District as Director of Title I/Literacy. Through this position, she facilitated the adoption of District-wide Balanced Literacy Instruction and instituted the District's Literacy Center .

Dr. Zola was asked to expand her areas of responsibility to also include the role of Director of Choice for the District. Zola excelled in this role, implementing the District's Schools of Choice Program and establishing the Family Information Center , which serves as a site for elementary school choice. It was during this time that she was recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as a recipient of Those Who Excel Administrative Award.

In the fall of 2000, Dr. Zola was selected for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, where she continued to demonstrate her outstanding leadership skills. Her recent appointment as the Interim Principal of Jefferson Middle School is "simply another powerful example of her willingness and acceptance of 'stepping up to the plate' in times of need for the District," writes Dr. Carol Stack, Deputy Superintendent at Unit 4. Zola agreed to assume the responsibility to provide seasoned leadership and stability at this school when the former principal resigned late last summer.

Zola holds an Ed.D. in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois , and an M.S. in Educational Administration, and a B.S. in Elementary Education, both from Eastern Illinois University .

Jean Johnson , an adjunct lecturer and university supervisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, nominated Dr. Susan Zola. Mrs. Johnson has been a colleague and friend of Dr. Zola's for over 13 years.

 

Sunny McMurry

Sunny McMurry is a first grade teacher at Sangamon Elementary School in Mahomet , Illinois where she has proven herself a very dedicated and creative teacher during her young career. According to the school's principal, Mark Cabutti, "Sunny has displayed an outstanding work ethic as well as the ability to relate to, and educate children from a variety of backgrounds. Through Mrs. McMurry's hard work, creativity, and determination, she has provided her students with an educational program, and more specifically, a classroom literacy program that has been second to none."

In addition to her dedication to the classroom and membership on several Mahomet-Seymour School District committees, McMurry is also very dedicated to her community. She is an active member in the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana in which she currently serves as the Chair of their Festival of Trees special event. She is a member of the Illini Reading Council and the First United Methodist Church Education Ministry Team for whom she organized a Giving Tree charity with local community organizations.

While an undergrad at the University of Illinois , McMurry was a member of the Alumni Association's (UIAA) Student Ambassadors and the College's Student Advancement Group for Education. Upon receiving her bachelor's degree, McMurry was recognized by the UIAA as a Senior 100 recipient for her outstanding academic achievement, initiative, and leadership in campus/community activities. A few of her current academic honors and awards include membership in the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Delta National Education Honor Society. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois . Currently, she is pursuing an Advanced Certificate in General Administration at the University of Illinois .

Dawn Beyler, a former supervisor of Sunny McMurry and a current student in the Department of Curriculum Instruction, submitted the nomination.