P-20 Task Force Members
The P-20 Task Force includes top leadership of NIU Outreach, the Provost’s Office, and five colleges. Co-chaired by Vice-President Anne Kaplan and Vice-Provost Earl Seaver, the P-20 Task membership includes the deans of five colleges that offer teacher preparation and professional development programs.
- Anne Kaplan , co-chair
Vice-President, Administration and University Outreach
- Earl Seaver, co-chair
Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs
- Christopher McCord
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Richard Holly
Acting Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts
- Shirley Richmond
Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences
- Lemuel Watson
Dean, College of Education
- Promod Vohra
Dean, College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
As the creators of the Center for P-20 Engagement, which emerged from NIU’s strategic planning process in 2009, the P-20 Task Force acts as the Advisory Board for the new center. The group works actively toward university-wide coordination of teacher preparation, professional development programs, and grant-funded projects. The P-20 Task Force has pursued four goals since its establishment by President John Peters in December 2001:
In quantifiable terms, in focused areas that build on NIU’s
existing strengths and in collaboration with schools, government,
business, healthcare, and communities, NIU’s P-20 initiatives will
- Increase students’ achievement of learning outcomes across a broad spectrum of curricular, extra-curricular, and behavioral expectations. “Students” includes those who are enrolled in P-12 schools, preparing at NIU for careers in education, taught by NIU graduates, and, occasionally, others studying at NIU.
- Improve teacher success on selected aspects of national standards for educators.
- Facilitate seamless transitions across the levels of the P-20 system.
- Conduct basic and applied research and assessment into the science of teaching and on education policy issues.
