Graduate Student Receives National Bilingual Teacher of the Year Award

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Irma De La Guardia

Irma De la Guardia has been named “Teacher of the Year” by the National Association of Bilingual Education.

A third-grade dual-language teacher at DISD’s Withers Elementary School, De La Guardia also pursues a graduate degree in Simmons’ Urban Education Leadership program. Congratulations to her for achieving the national distinction. To listen to a story about what she does in the classroom, click here.

SMU’s Research Day Yields Prizes for Simmons Students

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Jillian Conry, Paul Polanco, Vivianne Mogna, and Madhuri Bhupathi present work on Project ELVA (English Learner Vocabulary Acquisition), research funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and headed up by Dr. Doris Baker, principal investigator.
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Mu Huang discusses research on thermoregulatory dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

A group of Simmons graduate students presented their work during SMU’s Research Day 2015, with the following winning the Dean’s Award:

Dustin Allen in Aplied Physiology and Wellness for “The Effect of Multiple Sclerosis on Carotid Baroflex Control of the Heart Rate and Blood Pressure.”  Dr. Scott Davis is the advisor.

Mu Huang in Applied Physiology and Wellness for “Thermoregulatory Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during Moderate Exercise in a Thermoneutral Environment.” Dr. Scott Davis is the advisor.

Jillian Conry, Paul Polanco, Vivianne Mogna, and Madhuri Bhupathi in Teaching and Learning for “Project Elva,” English Language Vocabulary Acquisition. Dr. Doris Baker is the advisor and principal investigator.

Congratulations to them for recognition by the University.

HPISD Superintendent Joins Education Policy and Leadership Faculty

Orr.Dawson.CURRENTThe Simmons School welcomes Highland Park Independent School District Superintendent Dawson Orr, Ph.D., to the Department of Education Policy and Leadership, where he will serve as clinical professor and chair beginning this fall. He retires from HPISD in August.

Orr brings 25 years of experience as a superintendent that includes oversight of Pampa and Wichita Falls school districts in Texas, and the American School of Laguna Verde in Veracruz, Mexico.

“Dawson Orr’s practical experience and outstanding professional credentials will be helpful to our department as we move forward with research and best practices to prepare future school leaders,” says Dean David J. Chard. “During a comprehensive search for a candidate with expertise in school district leadership and administration, we were pleased to learn of Dr. Orr’s interest, leading to our discussions and his appointment to this important position.”

Orr, who has served on the department’s advisory board, succeeds Lee Alvoid, Ph.D., current chair.