Faculty

Meet the Faculty

Marlene Bartlett

Director of Student Teaching

Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 414A
Phone: 319.350.5361
Email: mbartlett@coe.edu

Educational Background:

M.A., Masters in Administration, Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa
Special Education Classes, University of Northern Iowa
B.S., Elementary Education and Special Education, Iowa State University

Courses I teach at Coe?
Student Teaching in Art at the Secondary School (EDU-481)
Student Teaching in Physical Education at the Secondary School (EDU-482)
Student Teaching in Art at the Elementary School (EDU-483)
Student Teaching in Physical Education at the Elementary School (EDU-485)
Student Teaching in the Senior High School (EDU-489)
Student Teaching in Middle School or Junior High School (EDU-490)
Student Teaching in the Upper Elementary Grades: Grades 3-6 ( EDU-491)
Student Teaching in the Primary Grades: Grades K-3 (EDU-492)

Teaching Background:
Classroom Teacher,
Special Education Teacher
Principal
Supervisor for Student Teachers
Director of Student Teaching

What is your favorite Coe tradition?
I am so fortunate to be able to support the last part of the journey for our students to become teachers in their field. The quality of students graduating from Coe are the best of the best. They have tremendous professors that instill in them a strong work ethic and desire to become a quality educator. My favorite part of the journey is participating in their final presentation to their professors. They provide evidence to their professors of the knowledge and experience they have encountered as they practiced these skills in student teaching. The students leave Coe with an impressive depth of understanding of educating their future students in their field and making a difference in many lives.

Brian Christoffersen

Visiting Assistant Professor

Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 409B
Phone: 319.399.8510
Email: bchristoffersen@coe.edu

Educational Background:

MEd, Educational Leadership, University of Texas, San Antonio
B.A., Elementary/Middle School Education, University of Northern Iowa

What are your research and academic interests?

Social emotional learning, mental health and emotional intelligence are my primary research areas. Academic interests include elementary mathematics pedagogy and teaching, student engagement and educator well-being.

Courses I teach at Coe:
Human Relations (EDU 187)
Educational Psycology & Development (EDU 195)

Math Comprehension for Teaching (EDU 275)

Elementary Math Methods (EDU 335)

Methods of Elementary Social Studies (EDU 365)

Educator Background:

Classroom Teacher (7 years) (grades 4-5)

Elementary Vice Principal (3 years)

Elementary Principal (10 years)

Education Liaison (5 years)

Education Program Supervisor (3 years)

Education Professor (5 years)

What special activities are you involved in at Coe?

I enjoy meeting prospective students and their parents on campus tours and school visit weekend events. We need great new educators in the field and I'm inspired when helping others explore their passion. We have extensive field experience opportunities for our Coe Education students at our diverse local schools in the Cedar Rapids area. I enjoy collaborating with area teachers to help mentor pre-service teachers and grow their skills on their journey to becoming the best teacher they can be. As a lifelong learner, I'm very active in faculty development activities both as a participant and facilitator.

What is your favorite Coe tradition?

I wouldn't say this is a tradition, however, my favorite thing is engaging in active learning with Coe students. It is so fulfilling and inspiring, making a significant positive impact on those who will be doing the same for hundreds of young humans over the course of many years. "Education is the profession that creates all others." There's nothing more rewarding than that.

Dianna Geers

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 402A
Phone: 319.399.8124
Email: dgeers@coe.edu

Educational Background:

M.A., Library and Information Science, The University of Iowa
M.A., Special Education, The University of Iowa
B.A., Elementary Education, Mount Mercy University

Courses I teach at Coe?

Exceptional Learners (EDU 187)

Methods of Elementary Social Studies (EDU 365)

Diagnostic Reading (EDU 395)

Teaching Background:

Classroom Teacher (19 years) Special Education, English Language Arts, Social Studies and

Gifted & Talented

Teacher Librarian and Accessibility Co-Lead (14 Years)

Teaching Endorsements:

K-6 Teacher Elementary Classroom

K-8 Teacher English/Language Arts

K-8 Reading

K-8 Mildly Disabled

K-8 Multicategorical Special Class with Integration

Ages 5-21 Consultant: Multicategorical Resource-Special Class

K-8 Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate

PK-12 Talented and Gifted

K-12 School Teacher Librarian

What special activities are you involved in at Coe?

Two of the classes I teach also include a "lab" component where the students apply what they are learning while they work directly with learners at the Jane Boyd Community Center. I love the experience the Coe students get while also being able to support a great community organization. I also attend the weekly Zumba class that is offered in the CRC at Coe!

What is your favorite Coe tradition?

I would have to say convocation. To see all of our faculty and staff celebrating all of our new students at the beginning of a new school year is so hopeful and inspiring. It's an honor to welcome new learners on campus.

Stacy Haynes-Moore

Assistant Professor, Chair

Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 404
Phone: 319.399.8263
Email: smoore@coe.edu

Educational Background:

Ph.D., Language, Literacy, and Culture, The University of Iowa
M.A.T., English Education, The University of Iowa
B.A., Communications Journalism, Truman State University

What are your research and academic interests?
Sociocultural theory and critical discourse analysis influence my approaches to research. Some of my academic interests include issues of equity in curriculum and assessment; teachers' classroom instruction; student writing and literacies; and teacher education.

Courses I teach at Coe?
Educational Foundations (EDU 105)
Human Relations (EDU 187)
Foundations of Reading (EDU 241)
Literature K-12 (EDU 270)
Methods of Secondary English Language Arts (EDU 311)
Practicum (EDU 215)

Teaching Background:
Classroom Teacher (21 years) Language Arts and Journalism
Program Adviser, Student Journalism
Instructional Coach (Secondary Grades 9-12)
District Content Lead (ELA Secondary Grades 6-12)

What special activities are you involved in at Coe?
I teach courses that involve student participation with our local schools and community. We visit and observe K-12 classrooms and also learn from a variety of nonprofits that extend and enrich understandings of youth, families, and community. For example, some site visits and speakers include Feed Iowa First, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Mother Mosque of America, Kids on Course, African American Museum of Iowa, Catherine McAuley Center, and Forest School at Indian Creek Nature Center.

What is your favorite Coe tradition?
Opening day! A favorite anticipated moment is meeting my students and beginning to hear their stories about who they are and who they may want to be as future teachers.

Sarah Kress

Associate Professor, Licensing Official

Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 409C
Phone: 319.399.8813
Email: skress@coe.edu

Educational Background:

M.A., Educational Leadership, Drake University, 2006
PK-12 Principal
PK-12 Special Education Supervisor
Evaluator
K-6 Teacher Elementary Classroom
K-8 English/Language Arts
K-8 Reading
B.A., Elementary Education, Coe College, 1999

What are your research and academic interests?
Connecting current brain research with instructional practices is an ongoing interest. Motivation of all learners is also an area that I enjoy teaching. I also focus on teaching differentiation strategies and accelerating skills of all learners.

Courses I teach at Coe?
Practicum in Elementary Education (EDU 215)
Content Area Language and Literacy (EDU 260)
Expressive Methods (EDU 300)
Methods of Elementary Science (EDU 305)
Methods of Elementary Language Arts (EDU 345)
Methods of Elementary Reading (EDU 355)
Diagnostic Reading (EDU 395)

What special activities are you involved in at Coe?
Many of the classes I teach involve a hands-on field experience in area classrooms; I enjoy visiting students in the classroom. Observing, providing feedback and discussing teaching with Coe students is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. I enjoy seeing the work Coe students do with their students and being available to provide assistance and ongoing feedback each time they teach.

What is your favorite Coe tradition?
The ringing of the victory bell. Not only is this tradition a link to Coe’s past and my own experience here, heard across campus, it is a reminder of the hard work our students do in and out of the classroom.

Molly Staeheli

Assistant Professor

Contact Information:
Office: Stuart 402A
Phone: 319.399.8426
Email: mstaeheli@coe.edu

Educational Background:

Ed.D., Educational Practice and Innovation, University of South Carolina, 2023
M.A., International Mass Communication, University
of Minnesota, 1999
M.S. Ed, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), City College of New York
B.A., Psychology, Communications, Asian Studies Minor, St. Olaf College, 1995

What are your research and academic interests?
My entire background in education has been working with multilingual learners and their families. The goal of much of my work with the U.S. State Department was to build bridges between culturally, ethically, and linguistically diverse populations of Eastern Europe. My recent research takes theories of multicultural education and culturally relevant pedagogy and applies them to the public school setting to better understand and improve the effectiveness of English language teaching at the secondary level.

Courses I teach at Coe?
Educational Foundations (EDU 105)
Human Relations (EDU 187)
English Language Learners (EDY 237)

What special activities are you involved in at Coe?
As a former college athlete, I am excited to attend Kohawk games and matches, I am also excited to learn about the various student organizations such as the International and Outdoor Clubs.

What is your favorite Coe tradition?
The story of the Flunk Day tradition is pretty great, and I'm excited to actually witness this event. I think the bell ringing is pretty cool too. Excited to watch Kohawks through their journeys!

Betsy Kigin

Field Placement Coordinator

Contact Information:
Office: 409A Stuart Hall
Email: bkigin@coe.edu
Phone: 319.399.8575

Educational background:

B.A., University of Iowa

Special activities involved with at Coe:
I've been with the Education Department for over 21 years and have enjoyed getting to know students and placing them in area schools for their field experiences and student teaching. Working and collaborating with my colleagues is one of my strengths. Recently, I served as a staff mentor with Coach Atwater in his First Year Seminar course. I was able to share my love of yoga by leading students in a FYS class.

Outside interests:
On most days you can find me in the ARC over the noon hour working out. I love to hike, bike, do yoga and bake cakes. You can often find me reading a bestseller in my free time and streaming movies during the cold winter months. Last year I was able to spend some time in Florida walking on the beach and enjoying the sunsets.

Mandi Gaylord Robertson

M.A.T., University of Northern Iowa
B.A./B.S., University of North Dakota

Courses:
Methods of World Language K-12 (EDU 321)

Megan Hanson

M.A., University of Northern Iowa, 2015
B.A., Coe College, 2009

Courses:
Methods of Secondary Mathematics (EDU 313)

Kim Hynek

M.A., Graceland University, May 2005
B.A., Coe College, 1993

Courses:
Secondary Business Methods (EDU 310)

Suzanne Zahn

M.A.T., University of Iowa
B.A., Marquette University

Courses:
Methods of Secondary Language Arts (EDU 311)

Ann Jameson

M.A.T., 2009
B.S., Missouri State University, Wildlife Conservation & Management, 2003

Courses:
Methods of Secondary Science (EDU 320)

Roger Johanson

Professor of Education, Emeritus

Educational Background:

Ph.D., Cornell University, 1979, Curriculum and Instruction, Math Education and Educational Research Methods
M.S., Cornell University, 1976
B.A., Luther College, 1971, Math and Psychology

Terry McNabb

Professor of Education, Emerita Associate Dean of the Faculty

Educational background:

Ph.D., University of Iowa, Educational Psychology (1986)
M.Ed., University of Virginia, Counselor Education (1975)
B.A., Western Michigan University, History and Sociology (1972)

Teaching Background:
High school American and World History (Farmington, Michigan and Bangkok, Thailand)
Middle school Social Studies (Charlottesville, Virginia)
High school Counseling (Ruamrudee International School, Bangkok, Thailand)

Classes Taught at Coe
Educational Psychology

Research and Academic Interests:
Appropriate application of neuroscience findings to education
Academic motivation
Uses and misuses of standardized testing in schools
Research on memory and student learning

Special Activities at Coe:
Associate Dean of the Faculty (2010-2016)
J-term trips to England and Thailand (1998, 2000, 2002)
Led Asian Studies term in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam (2008)

Favorite Coe memory/tradition:
I love the opening of the school year when faculty applaud the first-year students into the college and the end of the school year when we applaud them into the next part of their lives. Commencement is both thrilling and sad, but one Coe tradition I love is that so many students stay in touch with their professors!