The 2017 Dr. J Teaching Fellows with Sue Jamgochian (l-r), Erik Blundell, Danni McConnell, Hratch Melkonian, Erica Cano and Jessica Gala (not pictured: Alison Gomon and Evelín Servín)
The Teacher Education Program at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara has named its 2017 Dr. J Student Teacher Fellows:
In the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Track:
Erica Cano
Jessica Gala
Evelín Servín
In the Single Subject Teaching Credential Track:
Alison Gomon (English)
Danni McConnell (History and Social Sciences)
Hratch Melkonian (Mathematics)
In the Education Specialist Teaching Credential Track:
Erik Blundell
The Dr. J Student Teacher Fellowship honors the legacy of Dr. Richard Jamgochian, former Director of the Teacher Education Program. From 1968-1991 Dr. Jamgochian, or “Dr. J,” as he was affectionately known, was an enthusiastic and tireless advocate for teacher education in general and for the UCSB Teacher Education Program (TEP) in particular. Colleagues credit his personal management style for building and refining TEP, which prepared more than 5,000 teachers during his tenure and was cited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 1991 as “an exemplary program.”
Recipients of the fellowship not only must show promise as future teachers but also must exemplify the ideals that Dr. J promoted. According to Dr. J, teaching involves much more than imparting knowledge. He believed that teachers should see student self-actualization as their greatest goal.
The Dr. J Student Teacher Fellowships are offered by the Gevirtz School through the Teacher Education Program. TEP offers Multiple-Subject, Single-Subject and Level I Education Specialist Moderate/Severe Teaching Credentials with a Master’s Degree in Education. These programs provide future teachers with a solid theoretical foundation integrated with extensive fieldwork, leading to both a California State Teaching Credential and a Master’s Degree in Education.
Donations to the fellowship provide financial assistance to those who show promise of carrying on Dr. J’s dreams. For further information or to make a contribution to the Fund, you are encouraged to contact: Dr. Ann Lippincott at the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at annl@education.ucsb.edu or 805 893 3711.