Innovator Vol. 35 No. 2 - Winter 04-05:

Dean's Note

Gifts to the University of Michigan School of Education come in many forms: good advice about our programs from an alumna serving as a cooperating teacher; a generous check from an emeritus professor; a warm welcome to join in partnership by a local superintendent, an invitation to apply for foundation funding after a presentation. Our alumni, friends, and supporters provide a steady flow of financial and intellectual sustenance for the life’s work of such a place: Teaching and learning. Researching. Tackling the complex problems facing public education for the sakes of young people everywhere.

Our Annual Report issue of Innovator gives us a chance to say, “Thank you so much for your generosity. Your financial support helped us to accomplish so much this year, and we’re grateful.” The Annual Report issue also allows us to take stock of our growth and progress as a learning community and as an institution, to celebrate our strengths, and to articulate our hopes for the future.

2004 finds the School of Education strong, with nationally recognized faculty, cutting-edge research and development projects, and talented students at the doctoral, masters, and undergraduate levels. Our ties grow stronger with other departments and professional schools on the UM campus, in recognition that some of the best work we do is collaborative and interdisciplinary. Stronger, too are our relationships with regional school districts, intermediate school districts, and other institutions of higher education, in recognition that the problems and issues of public education require diverse, grounded perspectives and collaborative action to address.

At the same time, like many other institutions of higher education in Michigan and other units on campus, we’ve had to engage in belt-tightening and trimming, as our state struggles with deficit. Now, more than ever, we depend on your largesse to do the following:

Provide scholarships for students who are determined to address the pressing issues and needs in public education

Endow faculty positions, so we can continue to retain our talented faculty

Enhance our technological capacities, so we can continue to integrate new technologies into disciplinary focused curriculum and instruction.

Expand our capacity to share findings and explore the implications of research in collaboration with teachers, administrators, and entire communities through outreach.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the donors who are listed in these pages. We welcome your gifts!

Karen Wixson

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