SOPHE - Recognized by CAEP as a SPA for Health Education Teacher Preparation |
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Society for Public Health Education
March, 1, 2021 Volume 1, Issue 2
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Table of Contents
- Chair Introduction & Update
- Call for SPA Reviewers
- Hot off the Press
- Trainings
- Resources
- Calendar
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From the desk of SOPHE’s School Health Education SPA Director
Susan Goekler, Ph.D., RMCHES®, FAAHE, FASHA (aka Susan Wooley)
Welcome to this issue of SOPHE’s School Health Education Shorts.
For health education teacher preparation programs, 2020 was a challenging year. We had to quickly pivot to online learning and ensure our teacher candidates had high-quality opportunities to work with K-12 students in a virtual world. These are no easy feats – we are all learning together. Take a breath and a pat on the back.
Going forward, SOPHE is hosting webinars later this spring featuring educators and their successes with virtual and hybrid learning, as well as getting advice from colleagues on the front lines.
This “Short” includes insights on becoming a SOPHE SPA reviewer; the first applications will be reviewed by SOPHE in fall 2021. Dr. Deitra Wengert, Towson University, shares how being a reviewer has improved her professional contributions to her university and continuing education. To become a SOPHE SPA reviewer starting in fall 2021, send an email with your interest to schoolhealthspa@sophe.org, In addition to the valuable learning experiences, you can earn CHES/MCHES continuing education hours for your service. Please join us!
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Being a SPA Reviewer
By Deitra Elaine Wengert, Ph.D., MCHES® FASHA, FAAHE, FNAS*
Beginning with CAEP’s predecessor NCATE, I have been reviewing applications from health education teacher preparation programs for decades. So, when SOPHE invited me to continue as a program application reviewer for SOPHE, I immediately said Yes. Why did I agree, you might ask and why might others consider being a reviewer?
Why become a SPA Health Education Reviewer?
SPA reviewers promote educational excellence and equality in our nation’s college and university pre-service programs in health education teacher education. They become familiar with the SOPHE Standards and get to see how health education teacher preparation programs have applied the Standards and used them to develop assessments. The United States Department of Education underscores the importance of standards, assessments and accountability in accreditation. As a SPA reviewer, you will help ensure quality assurance in health education teacher education.
What to Expect from SOPHE
SOPHE is committed to quality assurance in the field and ensures that anyone interested in becoming a reviewer receives training on the Standards and on what to consider in assuring quality. SOPHE’s training includes conducting mock reviews that provide opportunities to apply the knowledge of SOPHE’s Standards and analyze assessments. First-time reviewers will be paired with experienced reviewers when they conduct actual reviews.
What is the Review Process?
During the review process, each reviewer Individually reads and evaluates assigned applications. Then teams of 2-3 reviewers meet virtually and share their findings. The team creates a combined report that summarizes the comments of each reviewer. Together the team makes the decision on whether the application and Assessment evidence provided sufficiently addresses SOPHE’s standards.
Benefits of Being a SPA Reviewer
The SPA review process itself is a learning experience for reviewers. Working with other teacher preparation professionals on a review team has enhanced my knowledge of professional standards and ways to help my teacher candidates succeed. One benefit is being able to understand how other programs have applied the SOPHE standards to support the training of Health Education Teacher Educators from a variety of geographic areas. My years of experience as a SPA reviewer also has helped me prepare stronger applications for my institution’s school health program when it was our turn to apply for recognition.
Being a SPA reviewer is an exciting learning opportunity and a way to serve the profession. I hope you will accept the challenge to join other Health Education Teacher Education professionals and become a SOPHE SPA reviewer.
Interested in Becoming a SPA Reviewer?
*Deitra Elaine Wengert, Ph.D., MCHES® FASHA, FAAHE, FNAS is a professor and School Health Education specialist at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. She served as the School Health Coordinator from 1984-2019. Dr. Wengert is the Department’s CAEP compiler for School Health Education. Nationally she has served as an accreditation reviewer for NCATE Board of Examiners on-site and off-site reviews (2004-2016), AAHE/NCATE Program (SPA) Reviewer and Auditor, AAHE-Special Program Reviewer for NCATE (2004- 2019) and AAHE-Special Program Auditor for NCATE (2004-2019).
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Enhancing School Mental Health through Training, Education, Assistance, Mentorship, and Support (TEAMS)
Now more than ever, schools play an increasing role in fostering and supporting the mental health and emotional wellness of young people. The Enhancing School Mental Health through Training, Education, Assistance, Mentorship, and Support (TEAMS) program, offered by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH), will provide training, resources, and technical assistance to LEAs interested in strengthening policies, practices, and infrastructure related to provision of school-based mental health services and supports
The program period will run from April 2021 through May 2022 and all activities will be conducted virtually.
The deadline for applications is March 19, 2021 by 6:00 pm CST.
Additional Information:
Contact Information:
Heather Stob
Program Manager, Child Safety, Health & Wellness
Dept. of Healthy Resilient Children, Youth & Families
American Academy of Pediatrics
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Upcoming SOPHE Webinar
Friday, March 5, 2021, 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
SOPHE Recorded Webinars
PowerPoint Slides
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New Emergency Management Virtual Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education
Preparation for SPA Recognition
SOPHE’s 2019 Health Education Teacher Preparation Manual is a guidance document for institutions seeking national recognition of their health education teacher preparation program. It includes a detailed description of the knowledge base underlying each of the six HETP standards and 28 components, information on the required assessments to show that teacher candidates can demonstrate the expected knowledge and skills, sample rubrics, exemplars and templates, and information on SOPHE’s SPA process. The manual is essential for faculty overseeing health education teacher preparation programs and can be useful for states and policymakers concerned with health education teacher performance.
Other Resources
Additional resources to assist professional preparation programs:
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Join us Tuesday, March 16, 2021, for a virtual CAEPCon, offering multiple synchronous and asynchronous sessions. CAEP staff, volunteers, and education preparation providers bring you the latest information on the standards, strategies, and processes needed to succeed in developing candidates that meet the needs of all K-12 learners. Sessions focus on:
· Virtual strategies
· The revised CAEP Standards
· The new CAEP Workbook
In addition, sessions aimed at Standards 1, 3 and 5 are provided. We break down areas where educator preparation programs have had problems, provide real-world examples, and offer tips for collecting and providing evidence used to meet the standards.
Whether you are a CAEP veteran or a novice, we have sessions to address all aspects of the accreditation process. CAEP is committed to advancing equity and excellence in educator preparation and we show how providers rise to the challenge to better serve candidates and K-12 learners.
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We are bringing the annual conference to you! You can participate from anywhere in the world!
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Framework: Challenges and Future amidst COVID-19
Friday, April 9, 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET
Speakers:
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Donna Harris-Aiken, senior advisor, Policy & Planning, US Department of Education (invited)
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Sharon Adams- Taylor, associate executive director, School Superintendents Association
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Vito Borrello-National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement
Moderator:
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Rosemary Reilly-Chammant, PhD., Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and president, SSDHPER
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