Outstanding Alumni Recognized by the Neag School of Education<\/b><\/p>\n
The Neag School of Education Alumni Society and the faculty of the\u00a0Neag School of Education<\/a>\u00a0recognized outstanding alumni at the 16th Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at UConn.<\/p>\n \u201cThe evening was memorable as faculty and alumni gathered to formally recognize the achievements of some of our outstanding graduates,\u201d said Dean Thomas C. DeFranco. \u201cThe award recipients are educators and health professionals who have made significant contributions across all levels of education.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Neag School of Education is proud of all the recipients and their individual accomplishments,\u201d he continued. \u201cCongratulations to all of our honorees.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/b>Outstanding Early Career Professional<\/b><\/p>\n Jennifer C. Nelson<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Special Education Teacher in Ridgefield Public Schools in Ridgefield, CT.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Jennifer<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Nelson received her BS in special education in 2009 and MA in special education in 2010 from the Neag School of Education. Nelson currently serves as a special education teacher in Ridgefield Public Schools in Ridgefield, CT.<\/p>\n Working in the RISE program at Scotland Elementary School, Nelson\u2019s responsibility includes creating and initiating a specialized program for students with autism, oppositional defiant disorder, speech and language impairment, hearing impairment, visual impairment, developmental delay and multiple disabilities. She also collaborates with administrators, teachers, related service providers and students in designing and implementing district and school wide programs and interventions to promote positive student behavior.<\/p>\n Nelson\u2019s extensive experiences from student teaching, summer internship, paraprofessional and clinic placement brought her to schools in varied districts in the state, including Montville, Hartford, Willington, North Windham and Willimantic. Nelson is expected to graduate from the Applied Behavior Analysis Professional Development Program at Florida Institute of Technology. She holds a positive behavior supports certification gained from Neag School of Education in 2010.<\/p>\n Outstanding Early Career Professional<\/b><\/p>\n Jon Welty Peachey<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism at the University of Illinois.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Jon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n A 2009 Ph.D. alumnus in sport management, Welty Peachey is an assistant professor in the Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism at the University of Illinois. His research centers upon sport-for-development and social change, particularly examining inclusive leadership strategies, program design modalities, and program impact.<\/p>\n Welty Peachey\u2019s research interests arise from his years of work with the Institute for International Sport as vice president of international operations and program development. From 2001 to 2007, he oversaw program development, implementation and event operations for 35 international programs in 15 countries, including successfully leading the organization of the 2006 World Scholar-Athlete Games, which brought together 3,000 athletes and 800 coaches and volunteers from 185 countries for 10 days of competition at 32 venues.<\/p>\n Transitioning into the academic world, he continues to combine his work experience and research focus to help developing community-based organizations including Street Soccer USA, a sport-for- development program using the power of soccer to help homeless men and women enhance their quality of life.<\/p>\n Welty Peachey\u2019s work and research on sport for social and attitudinal change has brought him to countries including Greece, Germany and Cyprus as a guest lecturer and event management consultant.<\/p>\n Outstanding Kinesiology Professional<\/b><\/p>\n NiCole R. Keith<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Research Scientist at Indiana University Center for Aging Research; Investigator in Regenstrief Institute Incorporated; and Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of NiCole<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Keith received her Ph.D. in exercise physiology from Neag School of Education\u2019s Kinesiology Program in 1999. She is a research scientist at Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Investigator in Regenstrief Institute. She also holds the position of associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University-Purdue University.<\/p>\n Keith\u2019s research interest focuses on obesity, nutrition and cardiovascular physical fitness, examining various demographic groups especially for under-represented minorities. She has received grants and funding from varied governmental and sports medicine organizations including National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute on Aging, and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.<\/p>\n Keith is the founder of the mentoring program of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the world\u2019s largest sports medicine professional organization. As a fellow of ACSM, Keith organized the Leadership & Diversity Training Program, aiming to mentor and retain underrepresented minority members by recruiting more members from historically black colleges and universities, supporting underrepresented minority members\u2019 involvement at ACSM meetings, and pursuit of ACSM professional presentations, publications and fellowship. \u00a0Keith was a member of the Next Generation \u2013 Leadership Program for Faculty of Color at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis and the Dean\u2019s List for Outstanding Professional Accomplishments at the University of Rhode Island.<\/p>\n Outstanding Physical Therapy Professional<\/b><\/p>\n Michael L. Reed<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Director of HSS Florida and HSS Spine & Sport, Hospital for Special Surgery, NYC.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Michael<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Reed received his BS in physical therapy (summa cum laude) from the Neag School of Education in 1989. He received his MS and Ph.D. in physical therapy at the University of St. Augustine, before establishing his own private practice physical therapy clinics. He currently serves as the director of Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Florida, HSS Spine & Sport in NYC.<\/p>\n Reed is a member of the Continuing Medical Education Committee of the American Spine Society, and co-chair for the Society\u2019s 28th<\/sup>\u00a0annual meeting. Although not in academia, Reed continues to explore his research interest in physical therapy in the academic arena. His paper \u201cPerioperative Perspective of Spine Surgeons\u201d won the North American Spine Society\u2019s Best Paper Award in 2009.<\/p>\n Reed\u2019s particular interest in the field is the outcomes of patients with orthopedic problems. He is the founder and chairman of the Commitment to Outcomes Partnership and Surgical Outcome Support. Reed is also actively involved with the National Orthopedic Physical Therapy Outcomes Database of the American Physical Therapy Association.<\/p>\n Reed keeps excelling himself through continued education courses and self-directed learning activities. He is a licensed physical therapist, a board certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy, a certified manual therapist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified pilates-based rehabilitation practitioner, and a certified gyrotonic instructor. Reed is currently an MBA student at the University of Miami. He is also a graduate of Dale Carnegie Skills for Success with Highest Award for Achievement in 2012.<\/p>\n Outstanding School Educator<\/b><\/p>\n Sandra M. Bidwell \u2013\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Reading Recovery Teacher and Reading and Writing Instructional Support Teacher at Staffordville Elementary School in Staffordville, CT.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Sandra<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Bidwell is a reading recovery teacher and reading and writing instructional support teacher at Staffordville Elementary School, Staffordville, CT. She started her career as a mathematics teacher at Assumption Jr. High, Manchester, CT before transitioning to teaching reading and mathematics for Stafford Schools, where she has continued to teach since 1986.<\/p>\n Bidwell earned a master\u2019s degree in education in 1987 and a sixth year degree in professional education and reading in 1991 from the Neag School. Being a reading specialist for two decades, Bidwell has published multiple articles on using drama to improve motivation, comprehension and fluency, particularly for disabled readers. She actively serves as a beginning educator support team and teacher education and mentoring program mentor to numerous student teachers and beginning teachers. She also leads the district\u2019s New Teacher Committee.<\/p>\n When she\u2019s not teaching in the classroom, Bidwell actively volunteers within the community, including leading the community group at Staffordville School Parent Teacher Organization to develop surveys on improving home\/school communication. Bidwell\u2019s work earned her to present at the National Conference of the International Reading Association and an award from Connecticut Reading Association for Excellence in Teaching Reading in 2012. She was Stafford\u2019s Teacher of the Year in 2011.<\/p>\n Outstanding School Administrator<\/b><\/p>\n Louis F. DeLoreto \u2013\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Principal of Edwin O. Smith High School (Region 19) in Mansfield, CT.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Louis<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n DeLoreto earned his sixth year certificate in educational leadership in 2000 and a Ph.D. in educational administration in 2012 from Neag School of Education. He has served as the principal of Edwin O. Smith High School (Region 19) in Mansfield, CT. since 2001.<\/p>\n Centered around students \u201cat risk\u201d, DeLoreto\u2019s work in the past 12 \u00bd years has increased students\u2019 SAT participation and performance levels, and increased post-secondary enrollment among graduates at E.O Smith. As one of the first schools in Connecticut to adopt the Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) model, under DeLoreto\u2019s leadership E.O. Smith has significantly reduced the number of disciplinary infractions and administrative sanctions placed on students. He is currently working to make E.O. Smith High School a leading institution in personalizing the educational experience for its students and providing multiple pathways to success.<\/p>\n DeLoreto started his career as a social studies teacher at Hartford Public High School from 1993 to 1995, and at East Harford High School from 1995 to 1999, before serving as an assistant principal at Wethersfield High School at Wethersfield, CT for three years. DeLoreto has been a regular presenter at New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC) conferences. He is also a founding member of the League of Innovative Schools, a regional professional learning community for New England secondary schools.<\/p>\n Outstanding School Superintendent<\/b><\/p>\n Paul S. Freeman \u2013\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Superintendent of Guilford Public Schools in Guilford, CT.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Paul<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Freeman has served as the superintendent of Guilford Public Schools in Guilford, CT since November 2011. His work in Guilford \u2013 which has earned him the respect of colleagues, faculty, parents and students \u2013 has included efforts in advocating for extensive embedded professional development, expanding in-house special education services in order to improve the quality of learning for students with special needs, and working to thoughtfully shape and adopt changes in a teacher evaluation system that will support teachers and facilitate deep levels of student learning moving forward.<\/p>\n A Connecticut educator for 20 years, Freeman started his career teaching middle and high school English in Woodbridge, CT and later moved to an administrative role as an assistant principal in East Lyme in 1998. From there he progressed to principal and assistant superintendent. He served as superintendent in Griswold from 2009 to 2011.<\/p>\n Freeman graduated from Neag School of Education in 2009 with an Ed.D. in educational leadership. He has been a professor of practice in the school\u2019s Executive Leadership Program and Five Year Integrated Bachelor\u2019s\/Master\u2019s Program since then. \u00a0He is a member of a team of professors currently developing a partnership with Queen Rania\u2019s Teachers\u2019 Academy in Aman Jordan, bringing UConn\u2019s principal preparation program, for the first time, into the Middle East.<\/p>\n Freeman also actively serves as an executive board member of LEARN, a regional educational service center serving 25 school districts in southeastern\/shoreline Connecticut. In 2010, Freeman received the James P. Garvin Distinguished Service Award from the New England League of Middle Schools.<\/p>\n Outstanding Higher Education Professional<\/b><\/p>\n Sally M. Reis \u2013\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Letitia Neag Morgan Chair in Educational Psychology; and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor, UConn<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Video of Sally<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Having graduated in 1981 from the Neag School of Education with a Ph.D. in education psychology, Reis started her teaching career at UConn in the same year. Before joining UConn, she served as an educator and administrator in the Torrington Connecticut school district for 10 years. Reis is best known for her world-renowned research and tireless advocacy for academically talented and high potential students through the Neag Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development. Reis is currently the University\u2019s vice provost for academic affairs, along with being a professor in educational psychology, and institute co-director of Confratute \u2013 Summer Institute on Enrichment Learning and Teaching.<\/p>\n Reis has been recognized numerous times for her exceptional talent, including being recognized with the International Award for Research from the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children in 2013 and she was named Educator of the Year by Connecticut ASCD (the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) in 2010. She is a distinguished scholar of the National Association for Gifted Children and a fellow of the American Psychological Association, two of the highest honors in her field. She is also a Teaching Fellow and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor at UConn, two of the University\u2019s highest honors for faculty.<\/p>\n Reis has traveled extensively across the country and internationally conducting workshops and providing professional development for school districts on enrichment programs and talent development programs.<\/p>\n Outstanding Professional<\/b><\/p>\n Felice M. Duffy \u2013\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney\u2019s Office for the District of Connecticut in New Haven, CT.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n