Dr. Cynthia Schairer-Kessler

Assistant Professor

Coordinator of Curriculum & Instruction Master’s Degree Online Program

Education

• Doctor of Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Illinois State University, 2013
• Master of Education, Educational Leadership, University of Georgia, 2000
• Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, English Education, University of Illinois, 1991

Courses Taught

• Undergraduate:
  • Introduction to Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
  • Positive Communication in an Inclusive Classroom
  • Developmental Foundations of Adolescent Literacy
  • Professional Learning Community (II and III)
• Graduate:
  • Practicum for a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum
  • Instructional School Leadership
  • Trends and Issues in Education
  • Leading in the Digital Age
  • Practicum in School Leadership: K-12 Capstone

Academic Interests

• All aspects teaching and learning
• Social justice through education
• Compassion in education

Scholarly Activity

Peer-Reviewed Publications (pending)

Singleton, E., Dimmitt, T., Schairer-Kessler, C., Gray Smith, L. Communities of practice in the development of teacher education students’ cultural responsiveness has been submitted and is under review for the journal Educational Renaissance.

SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS

Dimmitt, T., Singleton, E., Schairer-Kessler, C., Gray Smith, L., Fullbright, R. (2021, October). Using agility to stay current in challenging times: how we are adapting our learning, teaching, and leading in teacher preparation in the COVID-19 era. Presented at Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting. Virtual.

Dimmitt, T., Singleton, E., Schairer-Kessler, C., Gray Smith, L., Fullbright, R. (2021, October). Reimagining teacher preparation in and after COVID-19. Presented at Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Virtual.

Gray Smith, L., Singleton, E., Dimmitt, T., Schairer-Kessler, C., Wall, T., Dixon, C. (2021, February). Intersectionality and compassion infused into teacher preparation program: here’s how. Presented at American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Annual Meeting. Virtual.

Singleton, E., Gray Smith, L., Schairer-Kessler, C., Dimmitt T., Wall, T., Dixon, C. (2020, October). Building compassionate teachers: using intersectionality to infuse justice and inclusivity into course content and field experiences. Presented at Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting. Virtual.

Singleton, E., Dimmitt, T., Gray Smith, L., Schairer-Kessler, C. (2020, October). The value of compassionate teachers: using intersectionality to cultivate justice and inclusivity into coursework. Presented at the Missouri Association for Colleges of Teacher Education Fall Meeting. Virtual.

Schairer-Kessler, C. (2020, November). Using Google Forms to create an exit ticket for class, but an entry ticket into community. Presented at Faculty Insights Workshop at Northwest Missouri State University. Virtual.

Schairer-Kessler, C. (2018, March). A quality afterschool program for underprivileged elementary school children: what we did and how we did it. Presented at Critical Questions in Education Conference, Portland, OR.

Crumpler, T. & Schairer-Kessler, C. (2006, May). Portfolios as performance assessment: explorations into the nature of representation through technology. Presented at Research Consortium, Urbana, IL

Student Group Advisement

• Living and Learning Community, Education
• Kind Individuals Dedicated to Students (K.I.D.S.)

Other Professional Experiences

• Currently serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (M.A.C.T.E.)
• Previously served:
  • University Supervisor, University of Illinois-Springfield, IL
  • Rater, Pearson Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), IL
  • Director of Children and Family Ministries, FUMC Peoria, IL
  • Assistant Professor, Remedial Writing, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL
  • Graduate Assistant, Secondary Methods course, Illinois State University, IL
  • Language Arts Teacher, Brookwood High School, Lawrenceville, GA
  • Teacher/Liaison, Adult Literacy Program, Gwinnett Technical Institute, GA
  • Language Arts Teacher, Indian River High School, Dagsboro, DE