Dr. JoAnn Higginbotham, professor of education at Lee University, presented at the National Field Experience Conference (NFEC) on April 13 at the University of Northern Colorado.

Her presentation, titled “Preparing Pre-Service Teachers for Culturally Diverse Settings,” addressed the varied field experiences of pre-service teachers at Lee in the Teaching Diverse Learners’ class, cross-cultural trips, and international student teaching assignments. She highlighted the opportunities, as well as challenges, faced as a result of these experiences.

Also shared were two research articles from the Helen DeVos College of Education, published in the International Journal of Diversity in Education. The articles were “Facts and Feelings: Attitudes and Perceptions of International Student Teachers” and “Colored Fire: An Analysis of Teacher Candidates’ Beliefs about Teaching Diverse Learners Before and After a Required Diversity Course.”

The purpose of the NFEC is to share information, practices, policies, and research pertaining to teacher candidates’ experiences in school settings. This years’ accepted presentations addressed the preparation, supervision, and evaluation of teacher candidates for their knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for success in school settings.

Higginbotham has been a member of the Lee family since 1981. She teaches courses in the teacher education program as well as graduate courses in the master’s program. Her current research interests are reading, integrating the arts across the curriculum, and multicultural education. She directs the Thailand Summer Study Program, and supervises the student teaching program to Bangkok, Thailand. She is married to Andrew Higginbotham who teaches part time in Lee’s Health, Exercise Science, and Secondary Education Department.

In addition to her many academic articles, Higginbotham wrote a chapter in the book “Nurturing Pentecostal Families,” edited by Dr. John Vining and published by Pathway Press, and wrote two chapters in the book, “Can I Tell You My Story? Teaching in the Diverse Classroom.” She has two articles published in the International Journal of Diversity in Education and also serves as a referee for two education diversity journals.

For more information on Lee’s Helen DeVos College of Education, call (423) 614-8175.