Enriching Education: Voices of Reform - Educational Research to Inform and Reform

Why is it so hard to send my kid to a good preschool? That’s the question asked — and answered — by Hani Morgan, EdD, professor of education at the University of Southern Mississippi in her article in the latest issue of Voices of Reform: Educational Research to Inform and Reform journal. 

The journal provides educators with tools and research information for helping them become better teachers. It is published by the Nina B. Hollis Institute for Educational Reform (NBHIER) at Stetson University. Its mission is to find new ways to educate children by developing local incubation projects to test innovative ideas that impact K-12 classrooms with specific attention on closing the opportunity gap for children in marginalized settings.

The publication’s second issue features six articles and a book review about education policy and reform from scholars and practitioners inside and outside of the education field throughout the United States.

“The current issue features a good mix of authors who are not all educators and looking from a lens outside of education, which enhances the credibility of educators and educational research,” said journal editor Lou Sabina, PhD, assistant professor of education at Stetson. “The journal features articles about some extremely important education reform issues that are geared towards policymakers, and in theory, policymakers are the main influencers.”

Articles include:

“Why is it Hard to Send my Kid to a Good Preschool? The Shocking Truth about Early Education in America” by Hani Morgan, EdD, professor of education at the University of Southern Mississippi. Morgan explains how the preschool years are crucial for a child’s future success because the brain grows at a rapid rate during that time period and early childhood education is imperative and an essential investment.

“Using First-Year Seminar Courses to Improve Performance Funding Outcomes — A Case Study of the State of Florida” by Masha Krsmanovic, PhD, post-doctoral scholar at the University of Central Florida College of Community Innovation and Education’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. The author explores the importance of colleges and universities having first-year seminars, courses designed to assist first-year students with transitioning into their new academic environment and paving the way toward a timely graduation with the help of performance funding in Florida and nationally.

“Reinventing the Mission: The Vital Role of Academic Support in the Higher Education Accountability Era” by Joseph Huston, MA, director of the Academic Success Center at Seminole State College, discusses how incoming students are under-prepared for college, which creates a barrier for delivering effective undergraduate instruction.

“Future of the Professoriate” by Rick Ferris, PhD, MBA program director at the University of Charleston, and Robert J. Sweeney, PhD, professor of business at Wright State University. The paper examines the employment of professoriate at colleges and universities of the past and present as well as provides a vision for the future.

“Right-sizing Oklahoma School Districts: Examining District Size, Enrollment and Superintendent Compensation in Oklahoma School Districts” by James Machell, PhD, professor of professional studies, and Cheryl Evans, EdD, associate professor of professional studies at the University of Central Oklahoma. This article encourages elected state leaders and citizens to consider cost savings that could provide additional funding directed to classrooms.

“Teaching Asian-American Literature and American Multiculturalism in Singapore” by Hyo Kyung Woo, PhD, lecturer of Asian-American literature at Boston University. The paper discusses the difficulties and challenges of teaching Asian-American literature and American multiculturalism in Singapore.

Book review: “Ginicola, Smith and Fillmore: Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People” by Brigid Noonan, PhD, dean of the School of Health and Human Services at Nazareth College. The review of “Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+” inspires clinicians and educators to engage and support the LGBTQI+ populations.

The Voices of Reform: Educational Research to Inform and Reform journal is accepting submissions for its third issue, which will be publishing next fall. The journal is seeking scholarly, practitioner-oriented and scholarly-practitioner articles between 3,500-7,500 words. The journal is also seeking exceptional student education research articles.

About Stetson University

Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 5 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 list of Best Regional Universities (South), and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Review’s 385 Best Colleges, 2020 edition. Stay connected with Stetson on social media.