education
February 6, 2025
‘A remarkable Indiana woman’
Anita Stalter, a retired education professor and academic dean, unexpectedly died on Dec. 10, 2024. She was age 77. Stalter began at Goshen College in 1987 in the education department. First, teaching part time, and later becoming a full-time professor in 1989. She later served as the chair of the education department, and eventually became the interim dean of students. In 2001, Stalter became the first woman in the history of GC to be academic dean. She continued to serve as academic dean for 14 years until her retirement in 2015. A celebration of life service was held at the...
April 4, 2024
Paying attention: Educating with ADHD
Robina Sommers transitioned into higher education after teaching at public elementary and high schools for 30 years. She joined Goshen College faculty this fall as an assistant professor of education. In 2017, Sommers received an ADHD diagnosis that brought on a new set of challenges to her job as an educator. I sat with Mrs. Sommers to get her personal and occupational journey with ADHD. Sommers’ diagnosis came rather late in her life. She believes the delay was rooted in cultural discrepancies and educational expectations in her upbringing. “Growing up in India, everything was so structured that there was no...
February 15, 2024
Ehst named associate academic dean
Suzanne Ehst is transitioning from her role as professor and director of secondary education, as well as core curriculum director, to the role of associate academic dean. Beth Martin Birky, the current associate academic dean, is retiring at the end of this academic year. Ehst said, “I’m at a point in my life where I like that [administrative] work … collaboration with colleagues across campus and thinking of the bigger picture.” Moving to administrative responsibilities means moving away from teaching, which has been a part of Ehst’s life for many years. “I have been teaching in some form or another...
January 25, 2024
Navigating the student teacher experience
Before Goshen College students started thinking about returning to school, student teachers were already in full swing in the classroom last fall. Suzanne Ehst, director of secondary education, alongside Kathy Meyer Reimer, director of elementary education, oversaw the process and structure of student teaching. Ehst explained, “everyone gets oriented to the expectations, gathering all the information we need along the way, as well as running a few seminars that relate to what they are experiencing in the schools.” In the first weeks, the student teachers are doing small tasks to support the classroom teachers such as introducing themselves or doing...
January 18, 2024
Finding a voice in education
A penguin drawing with a scarf hangs in front of Roy Jackson’s desk. With a smile, he shares, “I have this thing for penguins; a student made this for me.” Adjacent to it is a colorful rendering of a skyscraper: “This student always titled their artwork … I save everything: every little picture, every note.” An Atlanta, Georgia, native, Jackson works in Church-Chapel 115E in the education department. His room is decorated with student artwork and photo collages. Jackson studied English at Western Michigan University, focusing on literature, creative writing and philosophy. His initial aspiration to become a college professor...
February 23, 2023
‘Don’t Say Gay’: Proposed education bill raises controversy in Indiana
A controversial education bill colloquially titled, ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ HB 1608, passed the Indiana House Education Committee on Feb. 20 and is now before the Indiana House of Representatives. The bill, authored by Rep. Michelle Davis, resembles a controversial Florida state law that is known colloquially as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Both Indiana’s bill and Florida’s law prohibit discussion and education in the classroom regarding gender and sexual orientation in certain grade levels and in other specific circumstances. Many people on campus have expressed their concerns about how the bill will impact the GC community. Suzanne Ehst, professor of...
January 26, 2023
Life lessons from children
Being the oldest sister of five has come with many responsibilities — for example, babysitting and bottle-making. Then there are bigger, heavier aspects, like being there to help them navigate their first break-up and holding back the “I told you so’s,” but also knowing when it is better to let them figure out life on their own. Having your younger siblings watch your every move and attempt to emulate you can also be a little suffocating. But, I have also found this to be encouraging at times. Then there are the minor, frivolous things like borrowing each other’s clothes without...
February 25, 2022
‘Education matters’: Proposed bill raises controversy
A controversial education reform bill titled “Education Matters,” HB 1134, passed out of the Indiana Senate Education Committee on Wednesday and is set to advance to the full Senate for debate next week. HB 1134 has gained the support of Joanna King (R-49), a representative from Goshen College’s district, who has already voted in favor of the bill. Indiana Sen. Linda Rogers (R-11), who represents some of Elkhart County, is the bill’s lead sponsor in the senate alongside co-sponsor State Sen. Blake Doriot (R-12), representing GC’s district. If passed, the bill will prohibit Indiana teachers from teaching lessons that suggest...
February 17, 2022
Teach Elkhart County works to diversify the teaching force
Think about one of your favorite teachers. Chances are, that teacher looks like you. Especially for students of color, having teachers that are as diverse as the students is a key part of feeling welcome in the classroom. Teachers of color have often been underrepresented, especially in Elkhart County, and Goshen College is working to change that — the Teach Elkhart County (Teach E.C.) program at GC supports a few of those inspired students as they become educators. Elisa Zwier, an assistant professor of education and the director of Teach E.C., explained that while the program may expand and adjust...
January 28, 2022
The Laboratory Kindergarten: A unique early education
The sight of young children playing and running around campus is a familiar one, but not many know that the students in Goshen College’s Laboratory Kindergarten located in the College Church are part of a very unique educational program. Since 1959 when the school was founded, children ages 4 to 6 from around the community have been learning through play. Kathy Meyer Reimer, a professor of education and chair of GC’s education department, was involved when the school transitioned from a private kindergarten to a partnership with the public school system in 2008. Because the school is part of the...