IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 29, 2007
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine:

Office: 724.738.4854

Cell: 724.991.8302

gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

SRU education dean earns 2007 Teacher Educator award

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Jay Hertzog, dean of the College of Education at Slippery Rock University, has been named Pennsylvania Teacher Educator for 2007 by the Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators. Hertzog is a respected expert on middle school education and an informed and concerned advocate for students and teachers.

            “Jay has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the way the children of Pennsylvania, if not the nation, are educated, in many venues,” said John Hicks, an SRU trustee and professor emeritus from the College of Education, who nominated him.

            “When my peers recognize my work, it’s always an honor,” said Hertzog. “I have consulted all over the U.S. and completed several national studies on the importance of successfully transitioning students from middle school to high school. I get one or two e-mails a week asking about middle school pedagogy and the transition process.”

            The PAC-TE is a professional association working to ensure that students at all levels have the opportunity to learn with highly qualified and effective teachers. It is comprised of 95 deans, faculty and department chairs from university education departments statewide who select and honor a top educator annually.

           Hicks, who graduated from and taught at SRU for 30 years, noted Hertzog’s accomplishments in developing articulation agreements between SRU and local community colleges, including Butler County Community College. 

            “This working arrangement included having the community college develop a program to assist with certification testing that has spread across the state,” Hicks said.

            Hertzog joined SRU in 1999. He oversees curriculum for more than 2,500 education majors and supervises 85 faculty members. He was instrumental in launching SRU’s principalship certification program and developing a science content course for elementary education majors. He also established a diversity committee for the college that works to implement diversity issues into curriculum and introduced an online master’s program in special education.

            Hertzog as published several papers and presented at numerous national conferences. 

            Before joining SRU, Hertzog was department chair and on the faculty at Augusta State University and Valdosta State University. He also taught and held administrative positions in public schools.

            His bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in education are from The Pennsylvania State University. He completed post-doctoral work in middle-level education at The University of Wyoming.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.