Students in a teacher education class

Faculty


Meet the Faculty

Brian Christoffersen

Visiting Assistant Professor

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

Educational Background:

  • B.A., Elementary/Middle School Education, University of Northern Iowa
  • MEd, Educational Leadership, University of Texas, San Antonio
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: 
Exceptional learners (EDU 117)
Human Relations (EDU 187)                                                                                                             
Math Comprehension for Teaching (EDU 275)
Elementary Math Methods (EDU 335)
Strategies for Academic Success (SKD-15)
 
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 GeersDianna Geers

Visiting Assistant Professor

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

Educational Background: 

  • B.A., Elementary Education, Mount Mercy University
  • M.A., Special Education, The University of Iowa
  • M.A., Library and Information Science, The University of Iowa
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-MooreStacy Haynes-Moore

Assistant Professor 

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

Educational Background:

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

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)
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

Sarah Kress

Associate Professor, Chair

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

Educational Background:

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

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)
Expressive Methods (EDU 300)
Methods of Elementary Science (EDU 305)
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.


Betsy Kigin

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 

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

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

John Lawrence Hanson

  • B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • M.A.T., University of Iowa
  • Ed.D., University of Northern Iowa
  • Graduate Certificate in Sociology, Appalachian State University

Courses:
Exceptional Learners (EDU 117)

Megan Hanson

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

Courses:
Methods of Secondary Mathematics (EDU 313)
Mathematics Comprehension for Teaching (EDU 275)

Kim Hynek

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

Courses:
Secondary Business Methods (EDU 310)

Sean Neilly

  • B.A., History, University of Iowa, 1997
  • M.A., Social Studies Education, University of Iowa, 2001

Courses:
Secondary Social Studies Methods (EDU 312)

Suzanne Zahn

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

Courses: 
Methods of Secondary Language Arts (EDU 311)

Chad Zrudsky

  • B.A., Coe College, 2001
  • M.A.T., University of Northern Iowa, 2008

Courses:
Methods of Secondary Science (EDU 320)


Roger Johanson

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

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!