Joann Schmitt
Education
- B.S.Ed.: Speech/Language Handicapped, California University of Pennsylvania
- M.Ed.: Elementary Education, Cal U
- M.P.M.: Educational Leadership, Heinz School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University
Biography
Schmitt has worked with the Pittsburgh Public Schools assisting Gayle Griffin, the Fort Pitt Elementary School principal named as one of Pittsburgh Magazine's Top 7 Professional Women, through an association with Carnegie Mellon University. She provided speech/language support services to pre-K through age 21 for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, as well as gifted support services for K-8. She was an elementary classroom teacher for the Ringgold School District.
At Cal U, she works with area school district superintendents, principals and elementary teachers to recruit volunteer classroom teachers to host primary field students, intermediate field students and elementary observation students. She also assigns elementary teacher candidates in these elementary schools for field experience or observation purposes. Schmitt works with area early childhood preschools and day care centers to recruit early childhood teachers to host early childhood field students and observation students. She assigns early childhood teacher candidates in these preschools and day care centers for field experience or observation purposes. Partners include Fayette County Head Start and Mon Valley YMCA.
Courses
- Parent and Community Involvement in Education
- Introduction to Elementary Education
- Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- Teaching Social Studies
- Foundations of Education
- Primary Field Experience
- Intermediate Field Experience
- Supervisor of Education Service Interns
Research Interests
Schmitt is interested in discovering how best to increase parental involvement in elementary and early childhood educational settings to improve student achievement and teacher-parent relationships.
Service Learning Projects
Schmitt, for the second time, is directing a successful workshop, All Aboard Kindergarten, for parents of pre-K students in the Ringgold School District. Participating schools include Donora Elementary Center, Gastonville Elementary Center and Monongahela Elementary Center. Teacher candidates enrolled in Parent and Community Involvement in Education develop and present hands-on workshops to pre-K parents while the pre-K children are introduced to their teachers. Some topics covered include kitchen math, doing science at home, parents as learning models, and launch into reading and writing.
Academic Department(s)
- Department of Early, Middle and Special Education
Academic Program(s)
- B.S. Education in Early Childhood/Middle Level Education Services
Quotable
"The best part of my job is witnessing the academic, social, and emotional growth of my students at Cal U while they are committed to making teaching their life profession. Their enthusiasm, dedication and passion for teaching are reflected by their strong work ethic and determination to ‘make a difference with children in the schools.' Our students ‘blossom' as they advance through the elementary/early childhood education program offered at Cal U. It is personally rewarding to observe the smiling faces in Keystone while recognizing that the faculty on the third floor made a positive difference in student lives because we care!"
