Parents bobbed for resources while kids bobbed for apples on Saturday at the first Tiger Family Fest.

Spread across the field behind the ParentLink office, more than 14 family-friendly businesses handed out free pamphlets and snacks to attendees and hosted activities. All gathered in an effort to promote family and community development. Health and safety advocates provided information and guidance for parents while kids played in haystacks and decorated pumpkins among other things.

Carol Mertensmeyer, director of ParentLink, said it held the event to raise funds and community awareness of the program's services and to celebrate Make-A-Difference Month, a national effort geared towards volunteerism and community engagement.

Kaila Perry is a 4th grader at Russell Boulevard Elementary School.  She is also one of the hundreds of students who enjoy Adventure Club.

"They make learning fun for me," Kaila says. "If you are doing math and you are stuck on a problem, they can make it to where you understand."

What Kaila might not realize is that this year Adventure Club reached an all-time record high; over 1,000 local children are enrolled.

Adventure Club has been described by Mid-Missourians as the best before and after school program in Columbia and the numbers support that idea. Dr. Linda Bennett, associate dean of the College of Education, says there are several things that set it apart and are possible reasons for the increased enrollment.

"One, it's in the schools where the children are already so there are no transportation issues," says Bennett. "Two, a lot of the educators in the program are going to be teachers, therefore they are trained and have experience."

After only a few months of on the job, Daniel Clay, Dean of the College of Education, is energizing faculty and staff to bring the college to even greater heights. Wednesday, nearly 200 faculty and staff gathered for a picnic outside Hill Hall to celebrate the start of a new school year.

“Dean Clay’s remarks were terrific and I think everybody’s going to appreciate having a strong vision for where we are headed this year,” said Ericka Lembke, associate professor of special education. “I thought it was a great kick-off to the year.”

Day on the Hill emphasizes collaboration and clinical experience

Daniel Clay, dean of the MU College of Education, traveled to Washington, D.C. along with 200 teacher educators from across the country to emphasize the importance of high-quality educator preparation programs as a critical part of improving K-12 schools.  The annual "Day on the Hill," sponsored by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), was held June 17. 

Linda Bennett, associate dean of the MU College of Education, and John Covington, superintendent of the Kansas City, Missouri School District joined Clay for legislative visits including the offices of Senators Christopher Bond and Claire McCaskill, as well as representatives from Missouri's 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 9th Congressional districts. 

"Colleges of education are a necessary part of addressing education concerns in our country, and it is important for our federal legislators to understand  the impact that the MU College of Education has on improving education in the state and nationally," said Clay.

AACTE is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to professional development for teachers and school leaders.  The 800-member institutions represent both public and private universities.

"The only way to improve education comprehensively in Missouri and nationally is to work collaboratively with our academic partners as well as state and federal legislators.  These meetings provided exactly that opportunity," he said. 

Concerns conveyed to legislators were largely related to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and included funding for both urban and rural education, flexible use of federal funds by schools, support for highly-effective verses highly-qualified educators, and the need for national core standards.

In addition, the group sought external funding for collaborative education initiatives.  "A mutual goal for MU College of Education and the Kansas City School District is to obtain external funding to support the development of highly effective educators throughout the state," Bennett said.  "This includes a significant clinical component for educator preparation to bridge theory and practice."

During the Day on the Hill, AACTE released Reforming Teacher Preparation: The Critical Clinical Component, a compilation of clinical practice efforts underway at nearly 70 schools, colleges, and departments of education in collaboration with local school districts.  According to the AACTE, "It provides examples of how teacher preparation programs are reorienting themselves around stronger pedagogy, classroom management skills, and extensive practice in teaching diverse learners." 

COLUMBIA, Mo. ­- Daniel Clay, associate dean for administration, research and innovative programs at Auburn University's College of Education, has been named as the dean of the College of Education at the University of Missouri. The appointment is effective June 1, 2010.

"Dr. Clay comes to us with a broad academic background and has personal connections to Missouri," MU Provost Brian Foster said. "In our visits, he saw the big picture, and I believe that he will provide very strong leadership. I'm excited about the future with him at the helm of the College of Education."

Clay received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the College of Saint Scholastica in Minnesota, and his masters degree and doctorate from MU. In 2008, he attended the Management Development Program at Harvard University. Prior to his appointment at Auburn, he worked as the associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Education and Human Services at Western Illinois University and was director of the University of Iowa Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program.