Education Department Faculty

 

Dr. Donna Hardy Watson

Chair, Division of Education;

Director, Teacher Education Program

Status: Full-Time

Bio

Experience/Background

Middle school teacher – 16 years

Bluefield College Division of Education – 10 years

Degrees and Certifications

B.A., Summa Cum Laude in English and Mathematics, Bluefield College

M.S. in Education and Mathematics, Radford University

Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction/Mathematics Education at Virginia Tech

Dr. Watson holds a West Virginia Professional Teaching License with endorsements in English and Mathematics grades 7-12.

Professional Interests/Research

Dr. Watson is a long time active member of the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (past President); the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; West Virginia Mathematics and Science Education; Delta Kappa Gamma Society International; The Council of Presidential Awardees in Mathematics; and Phi Delta Kappa.

She has received numerous honors and awards including Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, McDowell County Teacher of the Year, Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award, Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Grant, and West Virginia Middle School Mathematics Teacher of the Year.

She regularly conducts workshops and makes presentations in mathematics education topics K-12 and educational technology.

Dr. Watson's dissertation, Learning Mathematics in Appalachia: Life Stories of Beginning Elementary Teachers, can be accessed at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09212005-181731/

Contact:

 

Phyllis J. Owens

Instructor, Division of Education;

Status: Full-Time

Bio

Experience/Background

WV School System as an English/writing instructor for 33 years

Adjunct with Bluefield State College and Marshall College of Graduate Studies

Adult Education Instructor in Tazewell County for 5 ½ years

Academic Coach with Mercer County for l ½ years

Degrees and Certifications

B.S. in Education with English and Library Science minors from Concord University

M.A. in English from Radford University

45 post-graduate hours from WVU and Marshall College of Graduate Studies

Professional Interests/Research

Mrs. Owens is a member and officer of Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, United Methodist Women’s president and communication officer for the southern district, actively involved in Trinity United Methodist Church, a volunteer with Blue Mountain Performing Arts, and an independent teacher consultant with emphasis in using reading and writing in the content areas. She has had articles published in the following professional journals: Adjunct Mentor, Writing for Success, West Virginia English Journal, and The Quarterly (Nat’l Writing Project)

She has received numerous honors and awards including American Legion Teacher of the Year, McDowell County Teacher of the Year, finalist for WV Teacher of the Year, Ashland Oil Teacher Achievement Award, and West Virginia English Language Arts Teacher of the Year, several grants that were used to improve educational opportunities for her students, and Tazewell County Adult Education Teacher of the Year (twice).

Contact: