鈥淚t is with great pleasure that I welcome Dr. Eells back to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. 鈥淎n esteemed and accomplished alum, Dr. Eells joins us at a very exciting time as we continue to elevate the standard of excellence in teacher preparation. I look forward to working with her toward our goal of becoming the top provider of day-one ready teachers in Arkansas.鈥�

Eells earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary and special education from Concordia College followed by a master鈥檚 degree in gifted and talented education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. She started her teaching career in Little Rock as a teacher of special education, art, and gifted and talented education at Christ Lutheran Church, but Eells said teaching has been her goal since she was a child.

鈥淚t seems like I have always been a teacher,鈥� Eells said. 鈥淓ven when I was in high school, I was teaching summer camp or Sunday School. It felt right to me even at that young age. My mother was a teacher, served as my first-grade teacher, and I saw her moving up through higher education. Everything I do, I can help people find a deeper understanding about themselves, and I really enjoy that.鈥�

She later moved to Chicago where she earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Her dissertation focused on the relationship between collective teacher efficacy and student achievement.

In 2007, Eells joined Concordia University Chicago, where she worked as a professor of educational psychology, chair of the psychology department, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Eells served as vice president for academic affairs and a professor of education at Concordia College New York. She returned to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2022 as a visiting professor of education and said she鈥檚 enjoyed catching up with former students and colleagues.

鈥淛ust this past summer, I taught one of my Christ Lutheran students at a graduate class at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� Eells said. 鈥淭hat is one thing that is fun about coming back to Little Rock. I鈥檓 seeing the kids I taught as adults at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock or out working in the community. It鈥檚 especially fun to see the students who have gone into teaching.鈥�

Eells said that she is happy to be in a leadership role at such an exciting time for the School of Education. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is partnering with the Little Rock and Jacksonville North Pulaski School Districts to start a teacher residency program this school year where 11 students will be training an entire year in the school districts. The goal of the program is to produce high-quality, highly trained teachers who are ready for their classrooms on day one.

The residency program is funded by a grant from Forward Arkansas. Since 2021, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has received more than $550,000 from Forward Arkansas to develop an innovative model focused on reimaging teacher education.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock also received a $3.5 million grant from the Windgate Foundation to endow the directorship of the School of Education in May. This gift will support the transformation of teacher education at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in its quest to become a premier provider of teachers in the state.

鈥淭he School of Education is at an exciting time for upward growth,鈥� Eells said. 鈥淚 am proud to support the faculty while they bring their expertise to help prepare the best teacher candidates in the state. I am looking forward to working closely with the Arkansas Department of Education to promote excellence in our schools.鈥�

Eells is married to Brandon Eells, an actor and photographer, and they have a daughter Lucy, who is a junior at Parkview Arts Science Magnet High School. Her father-in-law is the late Paul Eells, a popular sportscaster who was known as the 鈥淰oice of the Razorbacks鈥� for broadcasting University of Arkansas basketball games. Outside of work, Eells enjoys crocheting, reading, theater, working out, and watching the wildlife in her backyard.

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鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to the Windgate Foundation for their generous support of this effort,鈥� said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. 鈥淗igh quality teacher education has never been more important. This funding will help us sustain strong leadership for the program and will make possible further investment in innovative teacher preparation at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.鈥�

The Windgate Director of the School of Education will play a direct role in ensuring the School of Education graduates day-one ready teacher candidates. Primary goals will be strengthening partnerships with K-12 schools and state school districts, increasing enrollment, supporting curricular innovation and meaningful assessment, raising awareness of the program, and raising funds to support teacher preparation efforts.

鈥淲e were impressed with the work of Chancellor Drale and the education leadership team in articulating their vision and plan to transform teacher education,鈥� said Pat Forgy, executive director of Windgate Foundation. 鈥淭hese critical improvements will allow 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to provide a clear pathway for classroom-ready teachers in Arkansas. It is our honor to support this effort, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have in the years ahead.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for the support of the Windgate Foundation,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. 鈥淭hey have long been a friend to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. Their commitment to improving teacher preparation efforts will not only impact students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, but it will pay dividends for children in Arkansas for generations to come.鈥�

Since 2021, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has received more than $550,000 from Forward Arkansas to develop an innovative model focused on reimaging teacher education. The generous support from the Windgate Foundation allows the university to strengthen its transformative work by launching a national search for the first Windgate Director of the School of Education.

鈥淥ur faculty have worked incredibly hard to develop an innovative approach to how we approach teacher education and preparation,鈥� said Dean Estes. 鈥淭he new Windgate Director of the School of Education will play a critical role in expanding that work so that by the time our students graduate they will be fully prepared for a rewarding career that will help build positive learning environments for K-12 students throughout Arkansas schools.鈥�

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