Avila School of Education Faculty & Staff

Dr. Karen Garber-Miller
Professor of Education
B.A., MidAmerica Nazarene University
M.A., Southern Nazarene University
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Office: 1029 Foyle, 816.501.3667
Karen.Garber-Miller@Avila.edu

Dr. Garber-Miller specializes in reading and the language arts. She teaches a variety of literacy, language arts, ESL, and methods courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. In recent years she has taught and participated in international education projects in Armenia, Botswana, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Haiti, Hungary, Mexico, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, South Africia, Swaziland, Thailand, Ukraine, and Zambia. She presents for the International Reading Association and other educational organizations as well as consults and provides professional development for K-12 districts. Dr. Garber-Miller serves on the board for the Kansas City Urban Youth Center, The Missouri Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, The Missouri State Council International Reading Association, and the Missouri Association for the Teachers of English. She advises elementary education students and supervises student teachers at Avila University.

Dr. Fred Geer
Professor of Education and Psychology
B.S.E., M.S., Emporia State University
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Office: 1027 Foyle, 816.501.3669
Fred.Geer@Avila.edu

Dr. Geer is Avila’s specialist in educational and psychological assessment. He has worked as a school psychologist and consultant for area school districts and as a Resource Specialist for North Central Accreditation. He teaches a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses and serves as the academic advisor for special education majors. Dr. Geer regularly supervises student teachers. He is also the faculty athletics representative.

Dr. Reulan Levin
Professor of Education
B.A., Luther College
M.A., Governors State University
Ed.S., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Ed.D., University of Kansas
Office: 1026 Foyle, 816.501.2431
Reulan.Levin@Avila.edu

Dr. Levin’s areas of expertise include multiculturalism, at-risk education and curriculum and instruction. She teaches courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Dr. Levin is a Fulbright Scholar who wrote curriculum for Senegal, West Africa for the United States Department of Education. She has taught in England and researched integrated thematic curriculum throughout the United Kingdom. Dr. Levin advises secondary education and middle school education students as well as student teachers.

Dr. Sue Ellen McCalley
Professor of Education and Psychology
B.S., Northwestern University
M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Office: 1025 Foyle, 816.501.2433
SueEllen.McCalley@Avila.edu

Dr. McCalley’s expertise is in special education. She has traveled internationally with educational groups to consult on special education development and treatment programs. In recent years, she has traveled to China, Russia, South Africa, India and Singapore. She is also a member of the Oxford Round Table on Children with disabilities, Oxford University, England. Dr. McCalley teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes in both education and psychology. She serves as the academic advisor for middle school and secondary education students and supervisor of student teachers.

Dr. Laura Sloan
Dean of the School of Education
B.A., M.S., Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Office: 1008 Foyle, 816.501.3663
Laura.Sloan@Avila.edu

Dr. Sloan serves as the Dean of the School of Education. Her content speciality is in literacy education. Dr. Sloan serves on the Higher Education Partnership, the Kansas City Regional Professional Development Center Board and the Kansas City Council of the International Reading Association. She is a current member of the Board of Directors for the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Dr. Sloan has served on the national board of American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, is a past president of the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and is a past chair of the Advisory Council of State Representatives. She also serves as an advisor for elementary education majors and supervises student teachers.

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Andria Stokes
Assisstant Professor
B.A., Univeristy of Missouri - Kansas City
M.S.Ed., University of Kansas
Office: 1030 Foyle, 816.501.3607
Andria.Stokes@avila.edu

Professor Stokes' speciality is cognitive education. Through facilitating deep understanding and conceptual thinking systems, she has made inquiry and constructivist learning her speciality. Her recent attainment of National Board Certification in Early Childhood and enrollment in the University of Phoenix doctoral program are proof of her commitment to life long learning. In recent years she has published the cognitive education program, Moving Toward Cognitive Excellence, Finding Out Real Knowledge a High School Literacy Program and has been a University of Kansas Cohert member: Creating Digital Portfolio Assessments for Students with Special Needs.

James Wenhart
Assistant Professor
B.A., M.A.E., Arizona State University Jim's Picture
Office: 1028Foyle, 816.501.2965
James.wenhart@Avila.edu

Profssor Wenhart received two degrees from Arizona State University. His Bachelor's Degree is in Early Childhood Education and his Master's Degree is in Elementary Education. Professor Wenhart has spent the past twelve years on the faculty at A.S.U. He was the Director of Teacher Education at Arizona State Polytechnic prior to arriving at Avila University. Mr. Wenhart specializes in early childhood education, classroom management, and educational issues. His responsibilities at Avila include teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses as well as the supervision of practicum students and student teachers.

Ann West
Director of Student Field Experiences
B.S., Missouri Western
M.S.Ed., Northwest Missouri State University
Office: 909 Foyle, 816.501.2432
Ann.West@Avila.edu

Mrs. West is an instructor for student teaching seminar, director of student teaching and internship for graduate and undergraduate programs, and supervisor for student teachers/interns. Mrs. West taught high school English and journalism for eight years in Missouri public high schools and served as an assistant principal for four years at Jefferson City High School. Additionally, Mrs. West directed the Kansas City Star’s Newspaper in Education (NIE) program for four years and served as their community relations director. Mrs. West is president of her own company, News Relief, Inc., specializing in Newspaper in Education curriculum.

[ Education Administrators ]

Deana Angotti
Director of Graduate Education
B.A., M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Office: 906 Foyle, 816.501.2446
Deana.Angotti@Avila.edu

Ms. Angotti serves as the Director of the Graduate Certification and Master’s Completion programs. She is the academic advisor for master’s completion and graduate certification students pursuing elementary education, special education and middle school education. Ms Angotti has taught undergraduate and graduate education classes and supervised Practicum and student teachers.

Sharon Henry
Assistant Director of Graduate Education and
Certification Officer
B.A., Avila University
M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City
Office: 910 Foyle, 816.501.2465
Sharon.Henry@Avila.edu

Ms. Henry serves as the Assistant Director of Graduate Education and is the Certification Officer. She is the academic advisor for graduate students seeking secondary teaching certification. She has taught middle school, high school, and college classes and helped to develop college curriculum and a charter school. She is past president of the Missouri Association of Junior and Community Colleges.

Rochelle Kroshus
Director of Teacher Certification Testing
B.A., M.A., Kansas State University
Office: 912 Foyle, 816.501.2960
Rochelle.Kroshus@Avila.edu

Mrs. Kroshus is Avila’s Director of Teacher Certification Testing. She serves as the site coordinator for the C-Base and Praxis exams. Mrs. Kroshus is the faculty sponsor for the Kappa Delta Pi and AEA education organizations and organizes workshops to assist recent Avila education alumni as they begin their teaching careers. She holds a teaching certificate in Missouri and Kansas. Mrs. Kroshus has worked as a special education teacher and transition specialist and has taught graduate education classes.

[ Education Staff ]

Karen Cox
Administrative Assistant for
Student Teaching/Internship
Placement
Office: 907 Foyle, 816.501.2420
Karen.Cox@Avila.edu

Mrs. Cox works as a liaison between student teachers/interns, school districts and Avila University in the student teacher placement process. She also handles student teaching correspondence and related administrative duties.

Margaret Longstreet
Administrative Assistant for Graduate Teacher Education Programs
Office: 908 Foyle, 816.501.2464
Margaret.Longstreet@Avila.edu

Mrs. Longstreet provides information about the graduate teacher education programs to prospective and current students. She assists students with the admission process and serves as the liaison between the students and their graduate education advisors.

Julie Saviano Julie Saviano's Picture
Office Manager for the School of Education
Office: 1010 Foyle, 816.501.2467
Julie.Saviano@Avila.edu

Mrs. Saviano is the office manager for the School of Education. She also assists with administrative tasks related to the Practicum course and TEXT Mentor program.