In response to changes in state regulations that have placed special attention on education in a child's early years, the University has established the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

Housed in the College of Education and Human Services, the department will better serve the needs of students who plan to teach at the preschool and elementary levels. Before the department was established, students could major in human ecology with a concentration in family and child studies/early childhood education. Early childhood education candidates will continue to major in human ecology with a concentration in family and child studies. In the near future, elementary candidates will be able to have other majors. The education methods courses have been moved to the new department, which offers early childhood certification and elementary certification.

The new department will focus specifically on how young children are taught; educational settings and instructional strategies that promote growth; and how family, community, program models, special learning challenges, and teachers' roles in the classroom impact a child's learning and development. New master's degree programs will be developed for those already working in P-8 settings.

"I am absolutely delighted that we have established this important new department," said AdaBeth Cutler, dean of Education and Human Services. "Within a few years, this will become one of our largest and most active departments."

Nancy Lauter is chair of the new department. "We will continue Montclair State's excellent tradition of developing powerful and innovative teaching programs that improve the lives of children and their families," she said.

The number of students interested in teaching the P-8 population has grown over the years. More than 125 students are on a waiting list to join the more than 300 undergraduates already enrolled in the program. And the numbers applying to the Graduate School are increasing dramatically, according to Lauter. More than 60 candidates applied to the post-baccalaureate and master's in teaching program this fall.

Lauter said the creation of a department was a logical step for the University based on new discoveries in the field and the new early childhood teacher certificate in the state. "Optimal learning conditions are a necessity for children left in the care of others while their parents work," she said.

Janey DeLuca, director of the University's Child Care Center, agrees.

"It's great that the University recognizes the value of the program it offers in early childhood and elementary education by developing its own department" said DeLuca, who has taught courses in Human Ecology for 14 years. One of those courses, language and literature for young children, gives students the opportunity to read to and observe the children at the Child Care Center.

Vincent Walencik of Curriculum and Teaching described the new department as "absolutely exhilarating."

"There is an overwhelming need for a department that concentrates on the early childhood and elementary education programs we offer at Montclair State, one of the only schools in the state, I believe, that links math, science and children in its teacher education program," he said. "The department has an outstanding group of faculty members who will bring their expertise in child development and creative arts to better serve students interested in teaching young children."

Faculty members in the department include Joanne Cote-Bonanno, director of the University's Modified Alternate Route P-3 Program; Fran Greb, who recently established a support group for new teachers, Dina Rosen, Loren Weybright and Liz Kendall, who were in Human Ecology before joining the new department; and Lucille Weistuch, who comes from Curriculum and Teaching as an early childhood special education specialist. Also teaching courses are DeLuca and Toni Spiotta, director of the Psychoeducational Center, who bring the experience of working with children and families. Ed Greene, a leading scholar-practitioner in the field of early childhood education with a special interest in urban communities and the use of technology, is a new faculty member, and Heidi Ferrar is on a one-year appointment after working for many years with state policy issues.

"Our faculty play a significant leadership role educating teachers in the state and beyond by developing timely and innovative programs in specific areas of early childhood and elementary education such as assessment, public policy and special education on both the graduate and undergraduate levels," said Lauter, who, along with some colleagues, is involved in statewide initiatives such as the Early Care and Education Coalition, an advocacy group that works toward improving programs for young children and families. The department also is working to develop an Early Childhood Education Leadership Institute to serve as a force in developing the next generation of early childhood leaders.

The department office is on the second floor of Finley Hall. A grand opening will be held Monday, March 18, featuring a lecture by Vivian Paley, a renowned early childhood teacher and author of several books. She is the recipient of the 1987 Erikson Institute Award and was named a MacArthur Fellow in 1989.

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