Dr. Jesslyn Hollar has been named associate dean for education preparation programs in the College of Education, Health and Human Studies at Southeast Missouri State University.
The Educator Preparation Office handles all functions related to the admission of students to the Teacher Preparation Programs, certification and field experiences. The office is also a clearing house for all curricular matters related to certification programs. All curricular changes are communicated to the state of Missouri through the Educator Preparation Office.
The associate dean for Educator Preparation Programs has a unique position in this University, said Dr. Pujol, dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Studies. Dr. Hollar brings a wealth of knowledge regarding teacher preparation to this position. She understands the certification process and has experience working with state office of elementary and secondary education. She has the background, interpersonal skills and temperament to be successful in this role.
She looks forward to connecting with faculty and students at Southeast, building relationships with community partners and visiting local schools, Hollar said.
I am looking forward to understanding how the Universitys Educator Preparation Programs operate, and enacting supports to strengthen teaching and learning, she said.
Hollar joins Southeast after having served as a teacher candidate assessment director, assistant professor of education and interim associate dean at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin, and as the director of Alternative Pathways to Teaching in the College of Education and Professional Studies at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. During her time at Edgewood, Hollar worked alongside colleagues to redesign the elementary education licensing program and streamline pathways into post-baccalaureate secondary education programs. As a faculty member, Hollar served on a task force for program prioritization and provided counsel on college-wide restructuring.
She served as president-elect of the Wisconsin Association for Colleges of Teacher Education from 2018-2020. A scholar of teacher education and teacher education policy, her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. Hollar has presented at conferences for the American Educational Studies Association, American Educational Research Association and Comparative International Education Society.
Hollar holds a doctoral degree in teacher quality and teacher education from the University of Washington, a Master of Arts in secondary English education and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in writing and international studies.
As associate dean, Hollar will direct the Educator Preparation Offices certification programs assessment, maintain contact with accrediting bodies and participate in community outreach.
Teaching is difficult work, but it is also rewarding and life-affirming. Young people need to know that and so do our communities, said Hollar. When a school hires one of our Southeast education program graduates, there should be something special about that new teacher or education leader. An educator prepared at Southeast acknowledges the privilege and power that reside in the practice of teaching. An educator prepared at Southeast honors the multiple lived experiences of students and is a fierce advocate for these children and young people.