Dr. Paula Conroy Dr. Paula Conroy graduated with her Ed.D. in Special Education: Severe Needs Vision from the Division of Exceptionalities and Bilingual/ESL Education in 2000, here at UNC. Dr. Conroy serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Exceptionalities and Bilingual/ESL Education Special Education. Dr. Conroy coordinates the special education program for severe needs and orientation and mobility. She believes "all students are learners, it is just the method we use to help them along that changes." Her research interests focus on literacy for second language learners who are visually impaired. Dr. Conroy stated that she enjoys being at UNC, where she can work with nationally renowned faculty in special education and at the same time remain with her family in Boulder. Prior to coming to UNC, Dr. Conroy spent 13 years in the Boulder Valley School District as a teacher for students with visual impairment and an orientation and mobility specialist. Jennifer Geringer Jennifer Geringer joined the Department of Educational Psychology, the new location of the Early Childhood programs, in 2001. Dr. Geringer graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Ph.D. in Educational Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Geringer's experience includes teaching kindergarten and preschool students. While completing her master's and doctoral degrees she also taught several college courses. After graduating she served as a visiting Assistant Professor at Northern Arizona University. Dr. Geringer teaches early childhood classes including Early Childhood Curriculum, The Child Within the Family, Classroom Management, and Parent Involvement. The focus of Dr. Geringer's research involves storytelling and children's literature, as well as early childhood education. This summer Dr. Geringer will teach a story telling class that she developed. When describing her teaching philosophy, Dr. Geringer explained her goal is "to help students create their own understandings." She strives to create an environment in which her students not only learn from her, but also from each other. Dr. Matthew Zbaracki Dr. Matthew Zbaracki has joined the Department of Reading. He hails from Ohio State University where he completed his Ph.D./Ed.D. in Children's Literature. Prior to that time, he completed his master's degree in Bilingual Education at the University of Colorado at Denver. Dr. Zbaracki has taught 4th through 6th grade Bilingual Education in Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Schools. Dr. Zbaracki currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Children's Literature, Language and Literacy Development, and Child Literacy. Dr. Zbaracki is a "qualitative researcher" with his focus of study being children's literature and how humorous literature engages children in reading. Dr. Zbaracki brings to UNC knowledge of reading, word study, and teacher education. Dr. Zbaracki believes, as does his mentor, Marve Gloch, Ph.D., that "Hands on is minds on." This demonstrates his belief of the importance of getting students actively involved in learning. |