
5th Annual
Conference on
Education and Poverty
@
Millersville University
Thursday, November 18- Saturday, November 20, 2021
PLEASE WEAR A FACIAL COVERING
Ann C. Gaudino, Ed.D., Director
Conference Committee:
Dr. Jason Davis, Early, Middle & Exceptional, Education
Dr. Jennifer Frank, Social Work
Dr. Laura Granruth, Social Work
Dr. Lauren Kaiser, Psychology
Dr. Margaret Mbindyo, Academic Advisement
Dr. Miriam Witmer, Educational Foundations
The purpose of the Conference on Education and Poverty is to share information, practices, policies, and research pertaining to working with students in poverty.
Click HERE for 2018 Conference Program
.
Welcome to the 2nd Conference on Poverty and Education.
We are pleased to share that our first conference in 2017 attracted over 300 participants and included 2 nationally renowned key note speakers, 2 panel sessions, a documentary film, and over 30 concurrent sessions! (Click HERE for 2017 program).
This conference brings together both scholars and practitioners in a multi-disciplinary research platform and forum for discussion to promote the well-being and education of children living in poverty.
This conference is a venue for those interested in an exchange of ideas focused to helping promote the education and lives of children living in poverty. University faculty, teachers, administrators, psychologists, social workers, other professionals, and community members are welcome to come together to focus on research and practice.
Proposals for sessions from scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders in all areas are sought. Proposals are double blind, peer-reviewed.
The conference features key note addresses from nationally renown experts, panel discussions, documentary film and discussion, concurrent sessions, and opportunities for networking.
We look forward to having you join us at the conference!
Sincerely,
Ann C. Gaudino, Ed.D., Conference Coordinator
Conference Committee:
Dr. Laura Granruth, Social Work
Dr. Hadi Halawa, Wellness & Sports Science
Dr. Ojama Edeh Herr, Special Education
Dr. Nakeiha Primus Smith, Educational Foundations
Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El, Psychology
Conference on
Education & Poverty
5th Anniversary
SCHEDULE / 2021
Thursday, November 18
Evidenced-Based Reform in Education
Film and Discussion
Free and Open to the Public: PLEASE WEAR A FACIAL COVERING
Lombardo Center
6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m
Opening Comments (via Zoom):
Dr. Christopher Morphew, Dean, Johns Hopkins School of Education
Panelists:
Dr. Ollie Dreon, Professor, Education Foundations
Dr. Laurie Hanich, Professor, Education Foundations
Dr. Ann Marie Licata, Asst. Professor, Education Foundations
Dr. Nanette Marcum Dietrich, Professor, Education Foundations
In Memoriam of Robert Slavin, Ph.D., 1950-2021
The first keynote speaker of this conference
Pioneer researcher in evidence based reform in education
Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Director, Center for Research and Reform in Education
Founder, Success for All Foundation
**Program subject to change at the discretion of the conference committee**
Friday, November 19
MU faculty and staff convene to discuss agendas.
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 20
**PLEASE WEAR A MASK**
8:00 a.m. Registration, Posters, & Breakfast
Hallway outside of Student Memorial Center, Reighard Multipurpose Room 114
Please visit these posters while you enjoy breakfast!
School Funding and Student Achievement
Presenter: Samantha Bechtel, BSE English Major
Increasing Teacher Technology Competence
Presenter: Jesse Rice, BSE English Major
Implementing Restorative Discipline in K-12 Schools
Presenter: Kathryn Shaffer, BSE English Major
Faculty Instructor: Dr. Miriam Witmer
8:30 a.m. Opening Welcome and Keynote
Reighard Multipurpose Room 114
Dr. Ann Gaudino, Introductions
Keynote:
Dr. Persida Himmele & Dr. Bill Himmele
Positive Alternatives to Problematic Practices
for Students in Poverty
9:30 a.m.- 9:40 a.m. Break
9:40 a.m.-10:25 a.m. Concurrent Session 1
SMC Room 118
Supporting Social Presence: A Phenomenological Study of Intermediate Elementary
Online Classroom Environments
Dissertation Prospectus Defense
Presenter: Nicole Reinking, Principal, Brecht Elementary School, Manheim Twp.
Doctoral Candidate, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
Faculty Committee Members: Dr. Rhonda Brunner, Dr. Ann Gaudino, Dr. Persida Himmele
Reighard Multipurpose Room 114
School/Family/Community Partnership Poster Session
Prepared for Success: Dawn Eby, Assistant Principal, Conestoga Valley SD
PBIS at Home: Theresa Ferry, Special Education Teacher, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District
Exploration Science: Colin Greenawalt, Biology Teacher, York County School of Technology
Piano Salon: Huixian Li, Piano Instructor, International Student
Community Careers Day: Mikaela Masser, Elementary Life Skills Teacher, Solanco SD
Building STEM Identity at Home: Patrick Munech, Principal Resident, School District of Lancaster
Parent Academic Academy: Jenna Philo, 3rd/4th grade teacher, School District of the City of York
Family Literacy Night: Amanda Richards, Kindergarten Teacher, Manheim Twp. SD
Extended Day Explorers: Melinda Vazquez-Markley, Principal Resident, School District of Lancaster
Master's Students in Educational Leadership, Millersville University
SMC Room 204
Equity Minded Leadership in Action: Exploring Tenets of Transformative Leadership in One School Leader Who is Bridging the Opportunity Gap for Historically Underrepresented Students
Presenter: Alex Smith, Director of Student Services, South Middleton School District
Doctoral Candidate, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
New Teacher Indution and Mentoring
Presenter: Tommy Henley, Director of High Schools, Hartford Public Schools, CT
Doctoral Candidate, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
SMC Room 202
Virtual and In-Person Achievement During the COVID-19 Pandemic
John Franzen, Supervisor of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Souderton School District
Community Schools Impact on Students and Families
Amber Abreu, Director of ELD, Lebanon School District
Paul Casseri, Superintendent, Lewiston-Porter Central School District
Jennifer Chamberlin, Student Services Teacher, South Middleton School District
Samantha Neidlinger, Asst. Principal, Steelton-Highspire School District
Doctoral Students, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
10:25-10:35 Break
10:35-11:20 a.m. Concurrent Session 2
Reighard Multipurpose Room 114
Steps Towards Achieving Equity in Curriculum Implementation
Presenters:
Samantha Armstrong, 4th Grade ELA/Social Studies Teacher, Muhlenberg School District
Amy Gattone, 4th Grade STEM Teacher, Muhlenberg School District
Tommy Henley, Director of High Schools, Harford Public Schools, CT
Steven Lied, 11th grade English Teacher, Hempfield HS, Hempfield SD
Lauren Lister, Graduate Student, Millersville University
Benjamin Mitchell, Social Studies Teacher, Hempfield HS, Hempfield SD
Patrick Muench, Principal Resident, School District of Lancaster
Stephanie Sfrisi, Special Education/Emotional Support, Lancaster-Lebanon IU13
Melinda Vasquez-Markley, Principal Resident, School District of Lancaster
Laura Zaharakis, Elementary School Counselor, Allentown School District
Master's Students in Educational Leadership
SMC Room 24
Family and Central Office Adminsitrator Perceptions of School-Family Engagement
in a High Poverty, Urban School District
Presenter: Camille Hopkins, Director of Schools, School District of Lancaster
Doctoral Candidate, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
Inspiring Action: The Power of Stories
Presenter: Chris Telesco, Teacher, Penn Manor Middle School
Master's Student in Educational Leadership
SMC Room 118
Champions for Teens Pilot Intervention: Increasing the Social Capital of Homeless Youth
Presenter: Christina Helfrick, MSW, LSW, Social Worker, Donegal School District
Doctoral Candidate, Millersville-Kutztown Universities, Social Work
Tonya Eberhart, Ph.D, University of Kansas Research on Learning
SMC Room 204
Examining the State of Poverty in a Rural School District
Chris Keeler, Director of Special Education, Solanco Public Schools
Doctoral Student, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
Examining the State of Poverty in an Urban Fringe School District
Amanda M Pressley, Asst. Principal. Susquehanna Twp. School District
Doctoral Student, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
SMC Room 202
A Comparative View of Poverty in Public vs Private School
Dawnmarie Ezzo, Elementary ELA Curriculum and Instruction Supervisor, Baltimore City Schools
Vincent Harper, Principal, Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg/Bishop McDevitt High School
Trisha Reed, Principal, South Middleton School District
Doctoral Student, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
The State of Poverty in the West Shore School District
Brian Granger, Principal, Allen MS, West Shore School District
Doctoral Student, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
11:20 -11:30 Break
11:30 - 12:15 p.m. Panel Discussion:
Positive Alternatives to Problematic Practices for Schools Serving Students in Poverty:
What We've Learned Since COVID
Reighard Multipurpose Room 114
Moderator: Dr. Tiffany Wright
Panelists:
Dr. David Christopher, Superintendent, Cumberland Valley School District, Alumnus of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Millersville & Shippensburg Universities
Dr. Dan Jurman, Executive Director, of Pennsylvania Office of Advocacy and Reform
Dr. Travis Waters, Assoc. Professor, Shippensburg University, Alumnus of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Millersville & Shippensburg Universities
END OF CONFERENCE
12:45 p.m. Dissertation Defense.
Room 204
The Relationship Between Teacher Emotional Intelligence and Classroom Climate in 4th Grade Elementary Classrooms
Presenter: Maria Miller, Principal, Green Ridge Elementary School, Cumberland Valley School District
Doctoral Candidate, Millersville-Shippensburg Universities, Educational Leadership
Faculty Committee Members: Dr. Rhonda Brunner, Dr. Sandra Deemer, Dr. Ann Gaudino
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS!
Millersville University
President’s Commission on Cultural Diversity & Inclusion
Department of Early, Middle & Exceptional Education
Department of Educational Foundations
Department of Social Work
Millersville/Shippensburg Educational Leadership Programs
Instructors of Student Presenters:
Dr. Rhonda Brunner, Shippensburg University
Dr. Sandra Deemer, Millersville University
Dr. Ann Gaudino, Millersville University
Dr. Persida Himmele, Millersville University
Dr. Wendy Kubasko, Shipensburg University
Dr. Ann Marie Licata, Millersville University
Dr. Karen Rice, Millersville University
Dr. Miriam Witmer, Millersville University
Dr. Tiffany Wright, Millersville University
Save the Date:
6th Annual Symposium on Educational Leadership
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Key Note Speakers

Persida Himmele, Ph.D.
Bill Himmele, Ph.D.
Authors of ASCD books:
Total Participation Techniques and
Why Are We Still Doing That? Positive Alternatives to Problematic Practices
Conference Director:
Ann C. Gaudino, Ed.D.
Millersville University
PO Box 1002
Millersville, PA 17551
ann.gaudino@millersville.edu
Conference Committee:
Dr. Jason Davis, Early, Middle & Exceptional, Education
Dr. Jennifer Frank, Social Work
Dr. Laura Granruth, Social Work
Dr. Lauren Kaiser, Psychology
Dr. Margaret Mbindyo, Academic Advisement
Dr. Miriam Witmer, Educational Foundations
