University of the PACIFIC

One of the nation’s leading experts on early childhood education, Dr. Frances O’Connell Rust, will discuss better ways to prepare preschool and kindergarten teachers before they enter the classroom on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at University of the Pacific.

The event will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Benerd School of Education (room 208). It is free and open to the public. Registration and a reception leading up to the event will start at 4 p.m. The event will include a presentation by Rust followed by a question-and-answer period.

Rust is currently on leave from Erikson Institute, a Chicago-based graduate school that specializes in early childhood education. Before taking leave, she served as senior vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at the institute. Previously she was a professor of teacher education at New York University. In her research, Rust explores the need for updating and improving teaching programs, the lack of consistency in how education students are taught and the divide among educators on the best ways to reform teacher education.

“We are delighted to have one of the country’s leading education experts speak about early childhood education,” said Harriet Arnold, an associate professor in Pacific’s School of Education. “It’s an issue that affects every young child in this country and is vital to our children’s future success.”

During her 40-plus year career, Rust has founded two early childhood schools, directed undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs at Columbia University's Teachers College and other institutions, and has served on numerous editorial boards including the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education and Teacher Education Quarterly. In November 2008, she received the Outstanding Teacher Educator Award from the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. 

The event is organized by the Pacific Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (PASCD) and co-sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa’s Pacific chapter, San Joaquin County Office of Early Childhood Development Division, and the Delta Pacific Early Childhood Development Project, a joint effort between Pacific and San Joaquin Delta College.