New schools: Meet the Chair of the School of Education and Human Development
Ruby Poffinbarger - Staff Writer
Alumna Dr. Tiffany Springer spent 20 years in education, beginning her career as a teacher, spending time as a principal, and eventually as a district administrator, before returning as a professor of education in 2023.
Springer said her experience in educational leadership led to her wanting to be the school chair “…this previous experience will help me navigate changes while serving and working alongside a variety of stakeholders as the college moves forward. We want to develop outstanding opportunities for our current and future students, but we must work together in order to do so. It is my goal to support my colleagues, work collaboratively as a high-functioning team, and develop a shared vision for the future of our school and college.” Her previous experience as an educator and school district administrator gave her a perspective on the programs within her school through hands-on interaction with the various careers students are being prepared for.
Springer portrait. Photo from MC website
The varied disciplines within her school relate to our individual and collective understanding of human interaction, learning, relationships, sense of self, advocacy, and human impact within our various learning and professional communities. “Ultimately, our students are going to go into fields where they are in service of others within the community spaces, through educationally focused endeavors, graduate research, or social services,” said Springer.
She stressed the importance of making sure that the education program did not take precedence over the other programs within the school. Before the creation of the schools, the education and psychology departments had already been working to support each other, thanks to the initial efforts made by Dr. Tom Sargent; now, the interaction of faculty and programs has served to accelerate and expand these efforts further. “This is a brand new structure for the college… I think this has brought different people together that may not have naturally had the opportunity to do so,” Springer said
Her advice for students entering one of these fields? “Students need to explore their options through various courses and hands-on experience, and I think that the School of Education and Human Development allows students to explore all the programs housed within the school and the way in which they can play out in a future career or research pathway… our school will give you the skills to do just that and more.”